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:
- Increase Credentialing Opportunities
- Support Businesses to Expand Credential Attainment Opportunities
- Support and Expand Online Credentialing and Location-Neutral Jobs
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Click the below to view the 2021 Policy Priority Overview. |
These policy priorities were endorsed by the following network partners:
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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.
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Click on the button below to view the 2021 Legislative Session in Review. |
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:
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:
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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.
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Click on the button below to Watch the 2021 Credential Attainment Town Hall Event. |
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.
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Kayah Swanson, RMP Senior Director of Policy & Advocacy, serves as the Project Manager for this effort. Contact Kayah at KayahSwanson@RMPBackbone.org with additional questions or to learn more. |