Past Priorities, Progress, & Wins

Past Priorities, Progress, & Wins

2021 Policy Priorities

In 2021, the Policy & Legislative Advisory Network’s (PLAN) policy priorities were focused on the Partnership’s first global target, ensuring that by 2025, 50% of Adams and Broomfield County adults will earn a postsecondary credential.

To achieve this, the PLAN indicated the state must support the placement of low-income job seekers into paid training, reduction of education completion gaps, mitigation of the Cliff Effect, expansion of high-quality child care, and implementation of statewide data tracking systems. The priorities were as follows:

1. Increase Credentialing Opportunities
2. Support Businesses to Expand Credential Attainment Opportunities
3. Support and Expand Online Credentialing and Location-Neutral Jobs

Click the below to view the 2021 Policy Priority Overview.

View Here

These policy priorities were endorsed by the following network partners:

17th Judicial District – District Attorney’s Office 27J Schools Adams 12 Five Star Schools Adams County Education Consortium Adams County Government Adams County School District 14 Adams County Sheriff’s Department Adams County Regional Economic Partnership

Anythink Libraries Arvada Chamber of Commerce City of Commerce City City of Federal Heights City of Thornton City of Westminster Colorado Department of Higher Education Crossroads Church Daniels Fund Dentons

Early Childhood Partnership of Adams County (ECPAC) Front Range Community College Kids First Health Care Maiker Housing Partners Neon Rain Interactive North Suburban Medical Center Westminster Public Schools

2021 Policy Wins

The 2021 Colorado Legislative Session ended on Tuesday, June 15, 2021, with over 670 bills introduced. It will certainly go down as one of the most consequential sessions in recent memory, as Democrats — who are in their third year in the statehouse majority — changed everything from the tax code to the criminal justice system and the state’s transportation funding mechanism. Looking to next year, January 12, 2022, has been set as the convening date for the Second Regular Session of the 73rd Colorado General Assembly.

In 2021, Rocky Mountain Partnership actively participated in the 2021 legislative session for the first time. Below, you’ll find a few quick takeaways on the work of the Policy & Legislative Advisory Network and the Rocky Mountain Partnership over the last six months.

Click on the button below to view the 2021 Legislative Session in Review.

View Here

All 9 Bills Supported by RMP Passed

During the 2021 Colorado Legislative Session, the Policy & Legislative Advisory Network identified nine bills in line with the Partnership’s policy priorities for formal endorsement by the Partnership. All nine of the bills supported by the Partnership passed! The bills were:

HB21-1117 Local Government Authority Promote Affordable Housing Units HB21-1134 Report Tenant Rent Payment Information To Credit Agencies HB21-1222 Regulation Of Family Child Care Homes HB21-1258 Rapid Mental Health Response For Colorado Youth

HB21-1294 K-12 Education Accountability Systems Performance Audit HB21-1330 Higher Education Student Success SB21-027 Emergency Supplies For Colorado Babies And Families SB21-148 Creation Of Financial Empowerment Office SB21-232 Displaced Workers Grant

Presented Priorities to 8 Regional Lawmakers

One of the PLAN’s goals for 2021 was to build out relationships with the legislative delegation in the geographic footprint of the Partnership. The Backbone Team held introductory calls with eight different state legislators, where they were onboarded to the work of the Partnership and the policy priorities established for 2021. The lawmakers who held meetings with the Partnership include:

Rep. Adrienne Benavidez Rep. Shannon Bird Rep. Yadira Caraveo Rep. Matt Gray

Rep. Dafna Michaelson-Jenet Rep. Kyle Mullica Sen. Dominick Moreno Sen. Faith Winter

Plus, Senator Moreno joined the Policy & Legislative Advisory Network for their meeting in April to discuss the state budget.

The Partnership contacted each member of their legislative delegation to pursue a meeting and is still working to schedule with those lawmakers they have not yet met with.

Held First Credential Attainment Town Hall

In April 2021, the Policy & Legislative Advisory Network hosted a Credential Attainment Town Hall to convene statewide experts and discuss why credential attainment is an essential focus to improve economic and social mobility in our region. It also provided the community with action steps to take and identified the continued need for collective work in this area. Nearly 70 people logged on to watch! The Town Hall panelists included:

•  Peter LiFari, Executive Director of Maiker Housing Partners| RMP Steering Committee Co-Chair| RMP Co-Champion for Community Voice
• Joe Barela, Executive Director, Colorado Department of Labor and Employment
• Raymond Gonzales, Adams County Manager | RMP Steering Committee Co-Chair | RMP Co-Champion for Economics & Workforce Development
• Dr. Tricia Johnson, Vice President-Westminster Campus, Front Range Community College | RMP Co-Champion for Education & Training
• Dr. Kim Poast, Chief Student Success and Academic Affairs Officer, Colorado Department of Higher Education
• Andrew Tucker, Director of Postsecondary Readiness, Colorado Department of Education
• Jennie Rodgers, VP & Market Leader for Enterprise Community Partners, Inc.

Click on the button below to Watch the 2021 Credential Attainment Town Hall Event.

Watch Here

Hosted Advocacy 101 Trainings

In March, the Co-Champions and Chair of the Policy & Legislative Advisory Network held three Advocacy 101 trainings. They helped participants go back to the basics of the legislative process, learn how to make their voice heard, add some new advocacy tools to their toolbox, and more.

The Partnership hosted over 30 participants across the three events! Plus, attendees went home with an advocacy toolkit to move the work forward in their own spheres.