2020 #COleg: Polis signs 14 bills Monday affecting water, law enforcement and the economy — The Summit Daily News

From The Summit Daily News (Taylor Sienkiewicz):

Gov. Jared Polis held five bill-signing ceremonies Monday, June 29, across Colorado for 14 bills. Topics ranged from employee benefits to education to grants, but several stuck out as directed at rural and mountain communities like Summit County…

The Rural Economic Development Initiative Grant Program, is more wide-reaching. The Colorado Legislature site says the grants would be for projects that create new jobs, specifically for “projects that create diversity and resiliency in the local economies of rural communities.” These jobs can be created through a new employer or the expansion of an existing employer, including local governments and organizations or individuals working in partnership with a local government.

“The Rural Economic Development Initiative is critical to helping rural communities with less than 20,000 people plan and invest in local projects to create jobs and economic opportunity,” Polis said at the press conference…

Polis also signed conservation bills Monday, including the Colorado Water Conservation Board Construction Fund Project. The bill provides funding for certain projects, such as the Colorado water loss control initiative or the watershed restoration program.

Summit County Commissioner Karn Stiegelmeier described the bill as “complicated but collaborative” and focused on a lot of big-picture projects. She added that some of these projects will impact Summit County, including one piece of the bill that designates funds to snowmaking.

Now that the money is allocated, Stiegelmeier said there are lots of “projects on the ground” that could receive funding. She said the county has applied for funding through its Open Space & Trails department before and that the Blue River Integrated Management Plan and the Swan River Reclamation Project have received funding.

Polis signed the following bills Monday, June 29:

House bill 20-1119: State Government Regulation of Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances

Senate bill 20-026: Workers’ Compensation for Audible Psychological Trauma

SB20-057: Fire Prevention and Control Employee Benefits

HB20-1184: Sunset Colorado Seed Act

SB20-002: Rural Economic Development Initiative Grant Program

SB20-030: Consumer Protections for Utility Customers

HB20-1229: Peace Officers Standards and Training Board Scholarship Rural and Small Law Enforcement

SB20-003: State Parks Improvement Appropriation

HB20-1403: Colorado Water Conservation Board Construction Fund Project

SB20-201: Species Conservation Trust Fund Projects

HB20-1366: Higher Education Funding Model

HB20-1109: Tax Credit Employer Contributions to Employee 529s

SB20-095: Middle School Students Concurrent Enrollment Information

HB20-1424: Social Equity Licensees in Regulated Marijuana