Press Room

Senate passes bill to support Colorado jobs and help prepare the future workforce

Thursday, April 21 2011

“We need to do everything we can to spur growth and continue to build on the economic progress we have made.”

DENVER – Today, the Senate passed a bill to help the state of Colorado address the issue of job outsourcing. Senate Bill 185, sponsored by Senator Mike Johnston (D-Denver), requires an additional clause in all state contracts between a government department and vendor, requiring that notification be given of any duties or labor performed outside the United States.  
 
Senator Johnston offered the following comment on the passage of Senate Bill 185 by the Senate:

“This bill is about supporting Colorado jobs and ensuring that we prepare the future workforce with the education and skills they need to compete in the global job market.

Colorado is in the midst of an economic recovery. We need to do everything we can to spur growth and continue to build on the economic progress we have made. This bill will encourage companies that perform work for the state of Colorado to hire Colorado workers, and it will help the state target investments to build up the workforce and bring more jobs to the state.”

The bill applies to all state contracts worth $250,000 or more and requires all business vendors to report outsourced duties and provide an explanation why those duties are being outsourced. This information will be made available on the official websites of state departments.

Senate Bill 185 passed the Senate on third reading, final passage today, and now goes to the House for consideration.