Archive for the ‘Evie Hudak’ Category

President Shaffer Announces Interim Committee Appointments

Thursday, May 28th, 2009

DENVER—    President Brandon Shaffer announced his legislative appointments to the interim committees which will be looking into important issues in the state before the start of next session in January, 2010. 

Interim Committee Assignments:

Long- Term Fiscal Stability Commission:
Chair:   Sen. Rollie Heath     
Members:   Sen. John Morse

Economic Opportunity Poverty Reduction Task Force: 
Vice Chair: Sen. Paula Sandoval
Members: Sen. Betty Boyd
  Sen. Evie Hudak
 
Interim Committee on School Finance:
Members: Sen. Bob Bacon          
  Sen. Chris Romer      
  Sen. Nancy Spence

Interim Committee on School Safety:
Members: Sen. Michael Johnston
    
Early Childhood & School Readiness Legislative Commission:     
Members: Sen. Mary Hodge      
  Sen. Evie Hudak      
  Sen. Pat Steadman 

Health Care Task Force:  
Members: Sen. Gail Schwartz
  Sen.  Abel Tapia
  Sen. Joyce Foster

Hospice and Palliative Care in Colorado:   
Members: Sen. Lois Tochtrop
  Sen. Linda Newell      
  Sen. Suzanne Williams

Task Force on Home Care:
Members: Sen. Gail Schwartz   

Interim Committee to Study Issues Related To Pinnacol Assurance:     
Chair:   Sen. Morgan Carroll    
Members:  Sen. Mary Hodge      
  Sen. Lois Tochtrop

Interim Cmte on Developmental Disability Waiting List: 
Members: Sen. Linda Newell
  Sen. Moe Keller   

Legislative Task Force on Business    
and Personal Property Tax (BPPT):   
Members: Sen. Suzanne Williams      
  Sen. Rollie Heath

Sen. Joyce Foster

Electronic Device Recycling Task Force:  
Members:  Sen. Dan Gibbs      
  Sen. Pat Steadman

Posted in Betty Boyd, Bob Bacon, Brandon Shaffer, Chris Romer, Dan Gibbs, Evie Hudak, Gail Schwartz, John Morse, Linda Newell, Lois Tochtrop, Mary Hodge, Michael Johnston, Moe Keller, Morgan Carroll, Pat Steadman, Paula Sandoval, Rollie Heath, State Senate, Suzanne Williams | No Comments »

GOV. RITTER ENACTS SWEEPING EDUCATION REFORMS

Thursday, May 21st, 2009

Sens. Hudak, Sandoval and Williams join the Governor

521-ed-bs-20

 
New laws will increase graduation rates, help secure federal education funding
 
Gov. Bill Ritter today signed into law a comprehensive package of education-reform measures, including bills to help reduce the dropout rate, allow students to simultaneously earn a high school diploma and a college associate’s degree, and give Colorado a better chance of landing federal “Race to the Top” funds.
 
“In my first State of the State Address, I set out aggressive and bold objectives for education, including cutting Colorado’s dropout rate and achievement gap in half over the next 10 years and doubling the number of college degrees earned by Colorado residents,” Gov. Ritter said.
 

(more…)

Posted in Chris Romer, Education, Evie Hudak, Paula Sandoval, Rollie Heath, Suzanne Williams | No Comments »

BIOSCIENCE AND BEER

Wednesday, May 13th, 2009

PRES. SHAFFER PARTICPATES IN BIOSCIENCE TOUR

DENVER—Senate President Brandon Shaffer (D-Longmont) joins 15 legislators and other professionals in the bioscience industry to continue education about the growing biotech industry in Colorado.    There are 400 bioscience companies in Colorado: 400 growing businesses that provide reliable jobs and economic stability in the state. 

This tour will include a trip to Amgen’s Longmont Facility. Amgen is a leading human therapeutics company in the biotechnology industry and will talk about its work in Colorado.  (For more information:  http://www.amgen.com/ )

The Amgen tour will be followed by a trip to the Left Hand Brewing Company in Longmont to explain how bioscience impacts other industries.

     WHAT:    Bioscience Tour

     WHEN:   Thursday, May 14th, 2009,   1pm- 5:30pm

   WHERE: (1pm) Amgen Longmont Facility: 4000 Nelson Rd, Longmont, CO 80503
     (2:50pm) Left Hand Brewing Company: 1265 Boston Ave Longmont, CO 80501

      WHO:   Pres. Brandon Shaffer  
  Sen. Betty Boyd
  Sen. Evie Hudak
  Sen. Lois Tochtrop and others
  
Visuals: Legislators will be putting on boots and goggles to tour Amgen. 
**Please contact: Diana Sherman-Palmer to get permission to bring cameras into the Amgen facility (303-810-9050). 
Legislators will also take part in a beer tasting and BBQ at Left Hand Brewery

Schedule:   Thursday, May 14th, 2009
• 12:00 p.m. – Depart the Capitol – Bus will be located on the West side of Grant Street at Noon
• 12:10-12:45 p.m. – Travel to Amgen Longmont Facility and Bioscience 101 Discussion
• 12:45 p.m. – Arrive at Amgen
• 1:00-1:40 p.m. – Welcome and Overview
• Amgen’s corporate focus and culture - Dave Bengston, Vice President of Colorado Operations
• What Amgen Makes - Overview of our process of bringing medications to market - Jim Skrine, Sr. Director
• 1:45-2:30 p.m. – Tour of Cell Culture process - Lowell Jackson, Director of Manufacturing
• 2:40 p.m. – Bus Departs Amgen and heads to Left Hand Brewery
• 2:50 p.m. – Arrive at Left Hand Brewery
• 2:50-4:00 p.m. – Tour of Left Hand and Beer Tasting
• Presentation from Mark Lupa, Partner, Tango Ventures and High Country Ventures, How Bioscience Impacts Other Industries
• 4:00-5:30 p.m. – BBQ at Left Hand Brewery
• 5:30 p.m. – Depart Left Hand Brewery
• 6:00 p.m. – Arrive at the Capitol

Posted in Betty Boyd, Brandon Shaffer, Energy, Evie Hudak, Jobs, Lois Tochtrop | No Comments »

HUDAK’S FORECLOSURE BILL SIGNED INTO LAW

Tuesday, April 21st, 2009

HB 1227 signed by Gov. Ritter today

h-evie-hudak-1DENVER—    Today, Governor Bill Ritter signed HB 1227, sponsored by Senator Evie Hudak (D-Westminster) and Rep. Jerry Frangas (D-Denver), into law.  The bill expands the definition of “equity skimming” to include the collection of rent on a foreclosed property by any person other than the property owner. 

“We need to protect people from predatory practices in the housing market, especially in this current economic situation,” said Senator Hudak.  “I am thrilled to see Governor Ritter sign this bill into law today.”

Posted in Evie Hudak, In the News | No Comments »

COMING SOON: PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT IN KIDS’ EDUCATION

Monday, March 23rd, 2009

HB 1057 passes on 2nd reading in the Senate

h-bob-bacon-1DENVER—  Research shows that when parents are involved in their kids’ education, they have higher grades, test scores and graduation rates. Twelve other states have parental involvement laws, and recent polling shows that 69% of Colorado adults support the idea of ensuring unpaid leave.  HB 1057, sponsored by Senator Bob Bacon (D-Fort Collins) in the Senate, passed 2nd reading today.
HB 1057 would allow workers to take 18 hours of unpaid leave during the academic year to attend parent teacher conferences, drop-out prevention programs or disciplinary issues without worrying about losing their jobs.  This bill would only apply to businesses with 50 or more employees and businesses where the leave would not endanger others’ health or safety (eg. people in the medical/ health care fields) and the employee would need to give their employer one week’s notice.

Sen. Bob Bacon is the Senate sponsor of the bill.  “The business community has recognized that workers who are good citizens as well as capable workers are good for business.  This bill isn’t just about parents, or schools, or kids.  This bill is about helping our entire society,” said Sen. Bacon.  “We’ve heard in so many places that businesses need to have an educated work force.  This is a small step to nurture the education of the youngsters.   In addition, smart  citizens and an effective work force greatly helps down the road in reducing other costs, like prisons or unemployment.”

Senator Evie Hudak  (D-Westminster) has worked in education for the last 20 years and has been on the state PTA Board of Directors for the last 15 years.  She voted to support HB 1057: “When there are meetings in the school determining the future of the child, whether it’s for special education, individual education plans, or a disciplinary meeting or to talk about how the student is doing and whether he or she will pass, the parents need to be there.  Parents need to and want to be involved in those conversations.  If we don’t get the parents’ input on plans for their kids, they’re going to fail in school.  That puts a huge burden on their future and our entire society.   Parental involvement is vitally important to the success of kids in schools.”
Representatives Andy Kerr, Terrance Carroll, and Dennis Apuan are the House Sponsors.
HB 1057 will be on 3rd and final reading in the Senate tomorrow.

Posted in Bob Bacon, Education, Evie Hudak, Jobs | No Comments »

GOV. RITTER AND SEN. WILLIAMS INTRODUCE COLORADO ASCENT BILL

Friday, March 13th, 2009

 313-ascent-31
AURORA ― Gov. Bill Ritter, legislative leaders (Sen. Suzanne Williams, Sen. Evie Hudak and Sen. Rollie Heath) and education advocates today introduced Colorado ASCENT, new bipartisan legislation that will allow high school students statewide to earn a diploma while simultaneously completing a college associate’s degree.
 
The bill, co-sponsored by Sen. Suzanne Williams and Reps. Mike Merrifield and Tom Massey, establishes a statewide concurrent-enrollment plan that gives high school students an opportunity to earn a college degree while finishing high school.
  
“Too many Colorado students are dropping out and too few are pursuing degrees,” said Sen. Williams, D-Aurora. “The ASCENT program will make sure Colorado’s workforce is as strong and bright as Colorado’s students. We need to ensure that our high school students also become our college graduates.”

(more…)

Posted in Education, Evie Hudak, Jobs, Rollie Heath, Suzanne Williams | No Comments »

THE 6% SOLUTION : Senate Bill 228 passes Senate Finance Committee; heads to the Senate

Tuesday, February 24th, 2009

DENVER – Today, Senator John Morse (D-Colorado Springs) presented Senate Bill 228 before the Senate Finance Committee. The bill is a common sense approach to eliminate the 6 percent General Fund appropriations provision, also known as Arveschoug-Bird. This legislation will help Colorado to avoid making the current budget cuts permanent, maximize federal recovery dollars and get the state’s economy back on track more quickly by addressing current economic realities.

SB 228 passed on a 4-3 vote. Voting yes were Senators Heath(D), Hudak(D), Isgar(D), and Sandoval(D). Voting no were Senators Brophy( R), King( R) and Sheffel (R ).

(more…)

Posted in Budget, Evie Hudak, Jim Isgar, John Morse, Paula Sandoval, Rollie Heath | No Comments »

HUDAK INVOLVED WITH PARENTS FOR STUDENT SUCCESS

Tuesday, January 27th, 2009

DENVER - Legislators like freshman Senator Evie Hudak (D-Arvada), recognize that parental involvement is linked to student achievement and that school districts, leaders and teachers often struggle to increase student achievement and reform our education system with little to no input from parents of the most vulnerable students. Hudak’s parental involvement bill is common sense legislation that will address what can often be a challenging issue to legislate.

Studies show that parental involvement is linked to student achievement. Senate Bill 09-090 creates the state’s first state parental involvement council. The bill also requires parent representation on several different district and state education boards. In addition, the representation must be indicative of the student demographics of the said school or district. (more…)

Posted in Education, Evie Hudak | No Comments »