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PHCC COVID-19 Resources

We continue to share with you information and resources to help you through these trying times. 

For updated information, click here to visit our COVID-19 Resources page.

 

2020 Colorado Legislative Session Final Report

By Elisabeth Rosen, PHCC Colorado Lobbyist

The normal 120-day session called it quits Monday, June 15th after 84 days, though it was 160 days in the making. The General Assembly began the 2020 Legislative Session on January 8th and came to a historic end on June 16th after the Capitol was forced to shut down on March 14 for over two months. 711 pieces of legislation were introduced, with over half postponed indefinitely due to the constraints of the pandemic.

When the session began, Democrats laid out some of its priorities for the year, including repealing the death penalty, stricter rules on vaccine exemptions and passing new air quality standards (which all passed) and new gun reforms, creating a public heath insurance option, creating a statewide paid family and medical leave program, and funding transportation projects (which did not pass). 

The public option, family leave, gun reforms and transportation were among the vast majority of items that ended up unresolved. Most major pieces of legislation that passed were in response to COVID-19 and the resulting economic fallout. Democratic leadership chose which bills were to move forward using the rules “fast, friendly and free”. 

However, many significant policy changes did come in the final two days of session including:

  • Housing relief 
  • Ending tax breaks for corporate interests 
  • Referred measure for taxing tobacco and vaping products

Topics covered in this report include:


Budget 

The Joint Budget Committee was tasked with the daunting task of figuring out a $3.3 billion shortfall, which is approximately 25% of the state budget the General Assembly has 4 discretionary control over.


COVID-19-related Policy 

Many of the bills introduced in May upon the resumption of session were aimed at the state’s recovery from the health and economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.


Business & Employment 

Many of the COVID-19 related bills would also fit under this section as they relate to business and employment.  


Capital Construction 

Several bills were passed including Lease-purchase Issuance For Capital Construction, Fund Controlled Maintenance Projects, Distribution of HB20-1377 Capital Construction Fund Money.


Police Reform & Death Penalty 

In light of the recent events surrounding the Black Lives Matter movement, the killing of George Floyd and other Black people by law enforcement, the protests and rioting, Bill SB20-217 Enhance Law Enforcement Integrity was passed. This bill requires local law enforcement and the Colorado State Patrol to use body-worn cameras and release recordings to the public, and to conduct data reporting about certain incidents and contacts with the public. The POST Board must revoke peace officer certification for certain violations. The bill limits the acceptable use of force by all peace officers and creates a duty to report excessive use of force. And more...


Other topics covered including:

  • Environment & Energy
  • Housing 
  • Health Care Policy 
  • Human Services 
  • Opioid & Substance Use Disorders 
  • Police Reform & Death Penalty 
  • School Finance & Education 
  • Tax Reform
  • Transportation


Looking Forward

Interim committees have been suspended for this coming summer and fall. We expect there to be much stakeholder work to be done on various topics including more potential legislation related to COVID-19. National and state elections are scheduled for November 3, 2020. The 1st Session of the 73rd General Assembly is scheduled to convene January 13, 2021.


The full report is available for PHCC Members. Click here for full report.

If you are not a PHCC member but would like to access the full report, fill out this form here and a copy will be emailed to you.

 
 

COVID-19 Webinar Series: Safety in Action – An Example From the Job Site: July 2, 2–3 p.m. (EDT)

As worksites continue to open up across the country, construction employers, unions, and other industry stakeholders are looking for ways to slow the spread of COVID-19 on job sites. As part of a COVID-19 series, this webinar features a panel presenting updates on how NIOSH and CPWR are responding to COVID-19, as well as an example of the steps that the Oregon COVID-19 Joint Construction Safety Task Force are taking to protect workers. Learn more and register here.
Presented by:
Chris Trahan Cain, CIH, CPWR Executive Director
G. Scott Earnest, Ph.D., P.E., C.S.P., Associate Director for Construction,Office of Construction Safety and Health, NIOSH
Matt Eleazer, President, BAC Local 1 Oregon/Washington/Idaho/Montana and a member of the Oregon COVID-19 Joint Construction Safety Task Force
 

International Code Council - From the ICC GR Monthly Update - July 2020

Code Council and RESNET water rating index standard approved by ANSI

The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) has announced that it has approved the RESNET/ICC Standard 850-2020. This new ANSI standard sets the technical specifications for the inspection, testing and labeling of a home’s water efficiency. The release of this standard comes at a time when water resources are becoming increasingly strained in many parts of the country with the cost of water prices increasing faster than that of energy prices. The potential for water cost savings through water efficiency measures is available in nearly all regions of the U.S. The ANSI/RESNET/ICC Standard 850-2020 will also serve as the technical requirements for RESNET’s residential water efficiency rating system, known as HERSH2O. The national roll-out of HERSH2O will be announced soon with additional information available at RESNET HERSH2O. More information is included here.

 

PHCC Affiliate, Viega Hosts Online Training

Attendees can earn credits and certifications, get questions answered in realtime.

Contractors who want to increase their knowledge and add skills can now receive Viega LLC training online and interact with trainers. 

While Viega’s seminar centers in Colorado and New Hampshire are temporarily closed due to COVID-19, the company is making the valuable training available for free to contractors, distributors and others.

Viega, the leading manufacturer of pipe fitting installation technology, is offering classes in such subjects as ProPress, MegaPress and PureFlow PEX, as well as radiant and flushing systems training. The classes are taught by Viega’s expert instructors. Some courses earn Continuing Education Units while others offer the opportunity to test for industry credentials from Viega.

 Classes are free, but registration is required. For a schedule of Viega classes through June and to learn more, click here. 

Viega also has launched TechTalk LIVE!, an online version of the Q&A column that appears in issues of Viega Voice. Viega trainers and master plumbers Troy Locke and Bo DeAngelo host the Zoom webinars, discussing topics and answering questions from attendees in real time.

TechTalk LIVE! webinars are held at noon or 6 p.m. Central Time, every other Wednesday. The sessions are free, but registration is required. A playlist of previous sessions can be found here. Those who sign up for each week’s broadcast will get Zoom link and sign-in information. The links to register can be found on Viega’s social media channels a week before each session.

 
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