| State-issued IDs, Medicare and Small Business Grants |
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| Not only will you get a new driver’s license, but we’ll even drive you to the DMV. Need help navigating Medicare or other health insurance? No problem. We’ll even pay your premiums for 12 months. Want to start a small business when you get released? We’ve got a grant program for you as well as business consulting services. These could be the perks of being “formerly incarcerated.” HB21-1215: Expansion of Justice Crime Prevention This bill would create a training program in business, finance and entrepreneurship for the formerly incarcerated. It includes ongoing consulting and small business grants. We OPPOSE this bill. SB21-146: Improve Prison Release Outcomes There’s plenty wrong with this bill, but one of the most offensive clauses would require the Dept. of Corrections to ensure that any inmate who is 65 years of age or older and is being released from prison is enrolled in Medicare or another health insurance program prior to release. The DOC shall pay any insurance premiums and penalties for up to 12 months from the start of coverage. We OPPOSE this bill. SB21-153: Department of Corrections Offender ID Assistance Program This bill requires the DOC to assist offenders in acquiring state-issued ID cards (including those issued to “undocumented residents”) upon release. Not only that, but “the assistance may include providing transportation to an office that issues IDs.” We OPPOSE this bill. As if those weren’t bad enough: SB21-062: Jail Population Management Tools This bill “allows” law enforcement officers to issue a court summons in lieu of arrest. With some exceptions, an officer would no longer be allowed to arrest someone for a misdemeanor offense, a class 4, 5, or 6 felony, or a level 3 or 4 drug felony. Motor vehicle thefts are up over 100% in some Colorado counties. This bill won’t help that statistic. We OPPOSE this bill. Here are ALL the bills we’re watching this week |
