2021 Legislator Report Card

How did your State Representatives and Senators vote on bills that impact equity, inclusion, and justice?

Citizens Project monitors and takes positions on legislation that impact equity, inclusion, and justice. In 2021, Citizens Project took positions on 30 bills in the Colorado General Assembly. This report card identifies how each State Legislator from El Paso County voted on those bills.

2021

Legislator Report Card

El Paso County Delegation

citizensproject.org

Representative Senator

Dennis Hisey Shane Sandridge SD 2 HD 14 [email protected] [email protected] 303-866-4877 303-866-2965 Paul Lundeen Dave Williams SD 9 HD 15 [email protected] [email protected] 303-866-4835 303-866-5525

Andres Pico Larry Liston HD 16 SD 10 [email protected] [email protected] 303-866-2937 303-866-2737

Tony Exum, Sr. Pete Lee HD 17 SD 11 [email protected] [email protected] 303-866-3069 303-866-6364

Marc Snyder Bob Gardner HD 18 SD 12 [email protected] [email protected] 303-866-2932 303-866-4880

Tim Geitner

HD 19 [email protected] El Paso County 303-866-2924

Terri Carver Delegation to HD 20 [email protected] the Colorado 303-866-2191 General Mary Bradfield HD 21 [email protected] Assembly 303-866-2946

Elections

Multilingual Ballot Access for Voters House Bill 21-1011 This bill requires the Secretary of State and Clerk of Recorders of certain counties to provide multilingual ballot access. Additionally, a multilingual ballot hotline will be established in order to provide access to translators and interpreters.

Citizens Project: Support El Paso County Sponsors: Lee, Exum, Snyder OUTCOME: Became law EL PASO COUNTY DELEGATION VOTES: With Citizens Project– Liston, Lee, Exum, Snyder Against Citizens Project– Hisey, Lundeen, Gardner, Sandridge, Williams, Pico, Geitner, Carver, Bradfield

County Commissioner Districts Gerrymandering House Bill 21-1047 This bill creates more transparency regarding county commission meetings while providing the opportunity for public involvement. Additionally, the bill establishes requirements for drawing districts to align with federal requirements, address potential commission member conflicts of interest, and prohibit gerrymandering. Finally, the bill recommends that counties establish independent county commissioner redistricting commissions.

Citizens Project: Support El Paso County Sponsors: Lee, Exum, Snyder OUTCOME: Became law EL PASO COUNTY DELEGATION VOTES: With Citizens Project– Lee, Exum, Snyder Against Citizens Project– Hisey, Lundeen, Gardner, Sandridge, Williams, Pico, Geitner, Carver, Bradfield

Excused: Liston

Elections, cont.

Ranked Choice Voting in Nonpartisan Elections House Bill 21-1071 This bill facilitates ranked choice voting in local elections by allowing municipalities to refer municipal elections using instant runoff voting as part of a coordinated election.

Citizens Project: Support El Paso County Sponsors: Exum, Snyder OUTCOME: Became law EL PASO COUNTY DELEGATION VOTES: With Citizens Project– Lee, Exum, Snyder Against Citizens Project– Hisey, Lundeen, Liston, Gardner, Sandridge, Williams, Pico, Geitner, Carver, Bradfield

Elections and Voting Senate Bill 21-250 This bill amends several elections laws in order to solidify and expand voting accessibility. It modernizes and improves the voter registration and voting system. Some of the amendments include creating procedures for automatic voter registration, amending requirements related to political party organization, repealing the ability of an unaffiliated candidate for president to be nominated by paying a fee, updating requirements for voter service and polling centers, and amending procedures for recall petitions and elections.

Citizens Project: Support El Paso County Sponsors: Lee, Exum, Snyder OUTCOME: Became law EL PASO COUNTY DELEGATION VOTES: With Citizens Project– Lee, Exum, Snyder Against Citizens Project– Hisey, Lundeen, Liston, Gardner, Sandridge, Williams, Pico, Geitner, Carver, Bradfield

Elections, cont.

Voter Proof of Citizenship Requirement House Bill 21-1086 This bill would have required all voters to provide proof of citizenship in order to vote in an election. Only registered electors who have presented a county clerk and recorder with proof of citizenship would be able to receive regular mail ballots or vote in person.

Citizens Project: Oppose El Paso County Sponsors: None OUTCOME: Lost *Bill did not move beyond committee.

Colorado Ballot Signature Verification Act Senate Bill 21-010 This bill would have required a witness to verify the validity of an elector who is unable to sign their mail ballot, and would have additionally required the county clerk to verify the witness’s signature.

Citizens Project: Oppose El Paso County Sponsors: None OUTCOME: Lost *Bill did not move beyond committee.

HUMANLGBTQIA+ SEXUALITY

Gender Identity Expression Anti-discrimination House Bill 21-1108 This bill updates the law on gender-based discrimination to include prohibiting discrimination based on gender expression and gender identity.

Citizens Project: Support El Paso County Sponsors: Lee, Snyder OUTCOME: Became law EL PASO COUNTY DELEGATION VOTES: With Citizens Project– Lee, Exum, Snyder Against Citizens Project– Hisey, Lundeen, Liston, Gardner, Sandridge, Williams, Pico, Geitner, Carver, Bradfield

Restoration of Honor Act Senate Bill 21-026 This bill will allow the restoration of honor to those previously discharged from the military due gender or sexual identity, thereby qualifying many LGBT veterans for state programs and benefits.

Citizens Project: Support El Paso County Sponsors: Lee, Snyder OUTCOME: Became law EL PASO COUNTY DELEGATION VOTES: With Citizens Project– Hisey, Lundeen, Liston, Lee, Gardner, Exum, Snyder, Geit- ner, Carver, Bradfield Against Citizens Project– Sandridge, Williams, Pico

ImmigrationEQUALITY/DIVERSITY

Replace the Term Illegal Alien House Bill 21-1075 This bill removes the term "illegal alien" from public contracts for services, and replaces the term with "worker without authorization."

Citizens Project: Support El Paso County Sponsors: Lee, Exum OUTCOME: Became law EL PASO COUNTY DELEGATION VOTES: With Citizens Project– Hisey, Lee, Exum, Snyder Against Citizens Project– Lundeen, Liston, Gardner, Sandridge, Williams, Pico, Geitner, Carver, Bradfield

Extortion of Immigrants Engaging in Lawful Acts House Bill 21-1057 This bill makes it illegal to use someone's immigration status as a way to extort them. Employers and others can no longer legally threaten to report a person's immigration status to law enforcement in order to induce the person to perform an act, refrain from performing a lawful act, or give money or another item of value.

Citizens Project: Support El Paso County Sponsors: Hisey, Lee, Exum, Snyder OUTCOME: Became law EL PASO COUNTY DELEGATION VOTES: With Citizens Project– Hisey, Lundeen, Liston, Lee, Gardner, Williams, Pico, Ex- um, Snyder, Geitner, Carver, Bradfield Against Citizens Project– Sandridge

Immigration, cont.EQUALITY/DIVERSITY

Housing Public Benefit Verification Requirement House Bill 21-1054 This bill enables people to obtain public or assisted housing benefits even if they cannot verify lawful presence in the U.S.

Citizens Project: Support El Paso County Sponsors: Lee, Exum OUTCOME: Became law EL PASO COUNTY DELEGATION VOTES: With Citizens Project– Lee, Exum, Snyder Against Citizens Project– Hisey, Lundeen, Liston, Gardner, Sandridge, Williams, Pico, Geitner, Carver, Bradfield

Immigration Legal Defense Fund House Bill 21-1194 This bill provides a fund for legal representation for undocumented individuals, who do not currently have guaranteed right to council in immigration proceedings. Many in immigration proceedings are unable to advocate their case without the guarantee to a lawyer; consequently, many people facing deportation and detention go before a judge alone. This statewide legal defense fund provides a fund which awards grants to qualifying nonprofit organizations that provide legal advice, counseling, and representation for those in immigration proceedings who cannot afford a lawyer.

Immigration, cont.EQUALITY/DIVERSITY

Protect Personal Identifying Information Kept by

State Senate Bill 21-131 This bill seeks to prevent unfair data sharing practices, which have threatened the safety and privacy of Coloradans whose information could be shared between state agencies and Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Specifically, this bills requires certification by entities to access state databases and confirmation that they will not use records for civil immigration purposes. Additionally, the bill states that release of identifiable information to a third party requires a judicial warrant, court order, or subpoena, while limiting the amount of personal identifying information collected by state agencies in the first place.

Citizens Project: Support El Paso County Sponsors: Lee, Exum OUTCOME: Became law EL PASO COUNTY DELEGATION VOTES: With Citizens Project– Lundeen, Lee, Gardner, Exum, Snyder Against Citizens Project– Hisey, Liston, Sandridge, Williams, Pico, Geitner, Carver, Bradfield

Remove Lawful Presence Verification Credentialing Senate Bill 21-077 This bill allows people to apply for state or local licenses, certificates, or registration without needing to verify lawful presence. This will allow people to obtain occupational licenses and pursue career goals regardless of immigration status.

Immigration, cont.EQUALITY/DIVERSITY

Remove Barriers To Certain Public Opportunities Senate Bill 21-199 This bill repeals existing provisions that require a person to demonstrate lawful presence in the US in order to be eligible for certain public benefits and changes the law such that lawful presence is not a requirement for eligibility for state or local public benefits. Additionally, the bill repeals the provision in current law that prohibits a state agency or political subdivision from contracting with someone who knowingly employs persons who are undocumented.

Citizens Project: Support El Paso County Sponsors: Exum, Snyder OUTCOME: Became law EL PASO COUNTY DELEGATION VOTES: With Citizens Project– Liston, Lee, Exum, Snyder Against Citizens Project– Hisey, Lundeen, Gardner, Sandridge, Williams, Pico, Geitner, Carver, Bradfield

EconomicELECTIONS/VOTING Justice

Elimination of Subminimum Wage Employment Senate Bill 21-039

This bill prohibits employers without special certificates from the U.S. Department of Labor to pay an employee below minimum wage. The bill additionally phases out the ability of employers with special certificates to pay subminimum wage, and prohibits all employers from paying subminimum wage by July 1, 2025, regardless of holding a special certificate.

Citizens Project: Support El Paso County Sponsors: Hisey, Exum, Snyder OUTCOME: Became law EL PASO COUNTY DELEGATION VOTES: With Citizens Project– Hisey, Lundeen, Liston, Lee, Gardner, Exum, Snyder, Bradfield Against Citizens Project– Sandridge, Pico, Geitner, Carver

Excused– Williams

Agricultural Workers’ Rights Senate Bill 21-087 Historically, farmworkers have been excluded from basic worker protections such as overtime, union rights, and minimum wage. This bill seeks to include farmworkers in labor protections to which other workers are entitled. Some of the new protections include: authorizing agricultural employees to organize and join labor unions and engage in collective bargaining, removing the exemption of agricultural workers from state and local minimum wage laws, requiring overtime pay, granting meal breaks and rest periods, requiring access and transportation to service providers, requiring health protections to workers, creating an agricultural work advisory committee, and creating remedies and enforcement mechanisms for aggrieved employees.

Citizens Project: Support El Paso County Sponsors: Exum OUTCOME: Became law EL PASO COUNTY DELEGATION VOTES: With Citizens Project– Lee, Exum, Snyder Against Citizens Project– Hisey, Lundeen, Liston, Gardner, Sandridge, Williams, Pico Geitner, Carver, Bradfield

Economic Justice, cont.

Local Government Authority Promote Affordable

Housing Units House Bill 21-1117 This bill allows cities and counties to plan for and regulate development or redevelopment in order to promote new affordable housing unit construction.

Separation of Church and State

Protect Human Life at Conception House Bill 21-1017 This bill would have outlawed abortion in Colorado and would have enacted penalties against physicians performing the procedure.

Citizens Project: Oppose El Paso County Sponsors: Sandridge, Williams OUTCOME: Lost *Bill did not move beyond committee.

Education

Prohibit American Indian Mascots Senate Bill 21-116 This bill prohibits the use of American Indian mascots by public schools and public institutions of higher education, except for the following circumstances: an agreement prior to June 30, 2021 exists between a federally recognized tribe and a public school, a public school is operated by a tribe or with their approval and existing within a reservation, or a tribe is able to create and maintain a relationship or agreement with a public school emphasizing education and positive cultural exchange (this agreement may allow a mascot only determined at the discretion of the tribe’s governing body).

Colorado American Indian Tribes In-state Tuition Senate Bill 21-029 This bill requires state institutions of higher education to offer in-state tuition to students who are members of an American Indian tribe with historical connections to Colorado. Additionally, the student is eligible to apply for the Colorado opportunity fund stipend, state-funded financial aid, and may be eligible for private financial aid. Citizens Project: Support El Paso County Sponsors: Lee, Exum, Snyder OUTCOME: Became law EL PASO COUNTY DELEGATION VOTES: With Citizens Project– Hisey, Lundeen, Liston, Lee, Exum, Snyder, Geitner, Bradfield Against Citizens Project– Sandridge, Pico, Carver

Excused– Gardner, Williams

Policing

Jail Population Management Tools Senate Bill 21-062 This bill aims to reduce arrests, cash bail, and jail populations by allowing issuances of summons prior to court proceedings rather than incarceration. The bill prohibits an officer from arresting someone solely for an alleged commission of a traffic offense, petty offense, municipal offense, misdemeanor offense, class 4, 5, or 6 felony, or level 3 or 4 drug felony unless other conditions necessitate. The bill prohibits issuance of monetary bonds for municipal offenses, misdemeanor offenses, class 4, 5, or 5 felonies, or level 3 or 4 drug felonies unless other conditions necessitate. The bill requires courts to issue personal recognizance bonds for failure to appear or for failure to comply with conditions parole hearing. Finally, the bill allows sheriffs to manage jail populations in order to keep the population as low as possible.

Citizens Project: Support El Paso County Sponsors: Lee OUTCOME: Lost EL PASO COUNTY DELEGATION VOTES: *Bill did not move beyond committee.

Policing, cont.

Changes to Felony Murder Senate Bill 21-124 Under current law, when the death of a person is caused by a participant without deliberation, the defendant may be charged with a class 1 felony of 1st degree murder. This bill would change the felony offense to a class 2 felony instead, which does not require life without parole. Rather, this bill allows judges to use discretion in sentencing based on the nuances of each case.

Citizens Project: Support El Paso County Sponsors: Lee, Snyder OUTCOME: Became law EL PASO COUNTY DELEGATION VOTES: With Citizens Project– Lee, Snyder Against Citizens Project– Hisey, Lundeen, Liston, Gardner, Sandridge, Williams, Pico, Exum, Geitner, Carver, Bradfield

Measures to Address Law Enforcement Accountability House Bill 21-1250 This bill makes changes and updates to SB20-217, a law enforcement accountability bill from 2020. Some of the changes include moving the date by which body cameras must be worn by all officers to an earlier date, clarifying circumstances for when a body camera must be operating and provisions for release of footage, stating sanctions for failure to comply with body camera laws, expanding the definition of officer contact with a person and adding information that must be reported, revising the process for officer suspension, prohibiting retaliation if an officer discloses information showing danger to public health or safety or violation of law committed by another officer, expanding the ability to sue Colorado state patrol, notifying law enforcement agencies if a new employee has a misconduct record, among other changes.

Citizens Project: Support El Paso County Sponsors: Lundeen, Lee, Gardner, Exum, Snyder OUTCOME: Became law EL PASO COUNTY DELEGATION VOTES: With Citizens Project– Hisey, Lundeen, Liston, Lee, Gardner, Exum, Snyder Against Citizens Project– Sandridge, Williams, Pico, Geitner, Carver, Bradfield

Health Equity

Family Planning Service for Eligible Individuals Senate Bill 21-025 This bill expands income eligibility for family planning services to cover moderate income individuals. It requires the department of health care policy and financing to seek federal authorization to provide family planning services to non-pregnant individuals whose income does not exceed the state’s current effective income level under the children’s basic health plan. Citizens Project: Support El Paso County Sponsors: Lee OUTCOME: Became law EL PASO COUNTY DELEGATION VOTES: With Citizens Project– Lee, Gardner, Exum, Snyder Against Citizens Project– Hisey, Lundeen, Liston, Sandridge, Williams, Pico, Geitner, Carver, Bradfield

Reproductive Health Care Program Senate Bill 21-009 This bill creates a reproductive health care program that provides contraceptive methods and counseling to patients. The bill expands access to family planning services by allowing the state to provide contraceptives for undocumented individuals through Medicaid. Citizens Project: Support El Paso County Sponsors: Lee, Exum OUTCOME: Became law EL PASO COUNTY DELEGATION VOTES: With Citizens Project– Lee, Exum, Snyder Against Citizens Project– Hisey, Lundeen, Liston, Gardner, Sandridge, Williams, Pico, Geitner, Carver, Bradfield

Health Equity, cont.

Equity Strategic Plan Address Health Disparities Senate Bill 21-181 This bill bolsters an existing health disparities grant program by transferring funds to help reduce risk of disease and health disparities in underrepresented populations and by awarding grants to community organizations to reduce health disparities in underrepresented communities through policy change to address the social determinants of health. The bill additionally requires the office of health equity to conduct regular assessments concerning health disparities and inequities in Colorado, studying the social determinants of health. The report will recommend strategies to begin to address health inequities and subsequently, the governor will convene the health equity commission to develop an equity strategic plan and coordination in equity work across state agencies.

Citizens Project: Support El Paso County Sponsors: Lee, Exum, Snyder OUTCOME: Became law EL PASO COUNTY DELEGATION VOTES: With Citizens Project– Hisey, Lee, Exum, Snyder Against Citizens Project– Lundeen, Liston, Gardner, Sandridge, Pico, Geitner, Carver, Bradfield

Excused– Williams

Equal Access

Equal Access Services For Out-of-home Placements House Bill 21-1072 This bill requires service providers to youth in out-of-home placement to provide fair and equal access to all programs and benefits, in a manner that is culturally responsive. This bill also outlines nondiscrimination protections for adoptive and foster parents.

Citizens Project: Support El Paso County Sponsors: None OUTCOME: Became law EL PASO COUNTY DELEGATION VOTES: With Citizens Project– Lee, Exum, Snyder Against Citizens Project– Hisey, Lundeen, Liston, Gardner, Sandridge, Williams, Pico, Geitner, Carver, Bradfield

Drivers’ Licenses for Foster Children House Bill 21-1084 This bill requires the state department of human services to reimburse counties for the cost of driver's education classes for youth in foster care.

Citizens Project: Support El Paso County Sponsors: Hisey, Exum OUTCOME: Became law EL PASO COUNTY DELEGATION VOTES: With Citizens Project– Hisey, Lundeen, Liston, Lee, Gardner, Sandridge, Wil- liams, Pico, Exum, Snyder, Geitner, Carver, Bradfield Against Citizens Project– None

Equal Access, cont.

Colorado Laws for Persons with Disabilities House Bill 21-1110 This bill adds language to Colorado statutes concerning persons with disabilities to strengthen protections from discrimination on the basis of disability. Changes include prohibiting exclusion of a person with a disability from participating in services, programs, or activities of a public entity or state agency, requiring public entities and state agencies to develop accessibility plans and guidelines, and requiring any Colorado agency with the authority to promulgate rules to not promulgate rules with any less protection than what is outlined in the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.

Citizens Project: Support El Paso County Sponsors: Lee, Exum OUTCOME: Became law EL PASO COUNTY DELEGATION VOTES: With Citizens Project– Hisey, Lundeen, Liston, Lee, Gardner, Pico, Exum, Snyder, Geitner, Carver, Bradfield Against Citizens Project– Sandridge, Williams

EL PASO COUNTY DELEGATION VOTES

Remove Barriersto Certain Public Opportunities

County Commissioner County Districts Gerrymandering Public Housing Verification Benefit Requirement

Extortion of ImmigrantsEngaging in Lawful Acts Gender Identity ExpressionIdentity Gender Anti

Voting Rankedin Choice NonpartisanElections

ColoradoBallot Signature Verification Act*

VoterProof of Citizenship Requirement*

ProtectPersonal IdentifyingInformation

ProtectHuman Life Conception* at

RemoveLawful Presence Verification

MultilingualBallot Accessfor Voters

ImmigrationLegal Defense Fund

Restoration Honor of Act

Replacethe TermIllegal Alien

Electionsand Voting

District

Credentialing

KeptbyState

discrimination

Representative

HD X X X X X X X X X X X X X S Shane Sandridge 14 HD Dave Williams 15 X X X X X X X  X X X X X S HD X X X X X X X  X X X X X Andres Pico 16 HD S S S S   S S S S S S S Tony Exum Sr. 17 HD S S S S S S S S Marc Snyder 18      HD X X X X X  X  X X X X X Tim Geitner 19 HD X X X X X  X  X X X X X Terri Carver 20 HD X X X X X X X X X X X Mary Bradfield 21   Senator

Dennis Hisey SD 2 X X X X X   S X X X X X

X X X X X  X  X X  X X Paul Lundeen SD 9 SD X X X X X X X X Larry Liston 10     SD S S  S S S S S S S S S  Pete Lee 11 SD X X X X X  X  X X  X X Bob Gardner 12

EL PASO COUNTY DELEGATION VOTES

EqualAccess Services for Outof Home Placements

ColoradoAmerican Indian In Tribes Elimination of SubminimumWage Employment

Strategic Equity Address Plan Health Disparities

FamilyPlanning Service for Eligible Individuals

ColoradoLaws for Persons with Disabilities

Measuresto Address Law Enforcement

Drivers

Local GovernmentAuthority Promote

ReproductiveHealth Care Program

JailPopulation Management Tools*

Prohibit AmericanIndian Mascots

AgriculturalWorkers

Changesto Felony Murder

’ ’

AffordableHousing Units

Licensesfor Foster Children

District

Accountability

’ ’

Rights

state Tuition

Representative

HD X X X X X X X X X X X  X Shane Sandridge 14 HD X X X X X X X  X Dave Williams 15 HD X X X X X X X X X X X   Andres Pico 16 HD S S S S S X   S S  S S Tony Exum Sr. 17 HD S    S  S   S    Marc Snyder 18 HD Tim Geitner 19 X X X X  X X X X X X   HD X X X X X X X X X X X   Terri Carver 20 HD Mary Bradfield 21  X X X  X X X X X X   Senator

S X X X X X X X S Dennis Hisey SD 2    

X X X X X X X X Paul Lundeen SD 9      SD  X X  X  X X X X   Larry Liston 10 SD   S  S S S S S S S    Pete Lee 11 SD Bob Gardner 12  X X X X   X X X   *Bill lost. Not all legislators had a chance to vote.

KEY

Vote with Citizens Project position

X Vote against Citizens Project position

_ No opportunity to vote

S Sponsor for Citizens Project supported bill

S Sponsor for Citizens Project opposed bill

Citizens Project is a fearless, bold advocate and an engaging voice that empowers and challenges our entire community to embrace equity, inclusion, and justice.

citizensproject.org