DENVER – This evening, Senate Bill 22-101 was defeated in the Colorado Senate State, Veterans, and Military Affairs Committee while Senate Bill 22-073 was laid over for action only.
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Senate Bill 22-101, sponsored by Senator Jim Smallwood (R-Parker), would have established a $5 million grant program for public school districts, boards of cooperative services, charter schools, and institute charter schools to provide financial assistance to hire more school resource officers.
“Last week, Democrats stood on the steps of the Capitol and told Coloradans that school safety was one of their top priorities this session,” said Senator Smallwood. “Today, we discovered that their words were little more than lip service. School resource officers are popular and effective. I’m disappointed that Democrats wouldn’t let this bill advance to the Senate floor for a full debate.”
According to the Federal Commission on School Safety, SROs are “best positioned to respond to acts of violence,” and Susan Payne, the founder of the successful Safe2Tell program, has been reported as saying, “SROs are critical to reducing the school-to-prison pipeline” with their focus on preventing crime at its earliest possible point. Testifying in favor of SB22-101 today were the County Sheriffs of Colorado and the Colorado School for the Deaf and Blind.
SB22-101 died on a party-line, 3 to 2 vote.
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Senate Bill 22-073, sponsored by Senator Bob Rankin (R-Carbondale), would initiate a feasibility study to investigate the potential of bringing small modular nuclear reactors (SMRs) to the State of Colorado, a move that would both diversify our power grid and further reduce our state’s dependence on fossil fuels.
“I am hopeful,” said Senator Bob Rankin. “I am hopeful that Democrats give careful consideration to this bill after hearing from professors, professionals, and experts in the field. I’m willing to work with Democrats however I can to get this bill across the finish line.”
In an opinion editorial published Tuesday morning, Judi Greenwald, the executive director of the Nuclear Innovation Alliance, stated that, “An essential first step to adopting advanced nuclear energy is for state policymakers, communities and stakeholders to understand the benefits of nuclear innovation…Colorado can start exploring this promising opportunity with a feasibility study for SMRs, as proposed in SB22-073.”
“Nuclear support has become a bipartisan issue in Washington for the first time in close to 40 years,” said Arthur Hyde of Segra Capital Management during his testimony. “Representatives on both sides of the aisle are beginning to understand the importance of investing in our nuclear future and are acting with a sense of urgency.”
“A variety of potential advanced reactor technologies are currently under development by companies across the United States and will be ready for commercial deployment by the end of this decade,” said Dr. Patrick White of the Nuclear Innovation Alliance during his testimony.
“Ultimately, I believe that Senate Bill 22-073 will not only put Colorado on the forefront of clean energy innovation, but it also opens the door for significant investment in this beautiful state,” said Christopher Barnard, National Policy Director of the American Conservation Coalition. “To me, that sounds like a win-win for both the people and for the planet.”
SB22-073 has earned the support of organizations such as the American Conservation Coalition, Americans for Nuclear Energy, the Nuclear Innovation Alliance, Generation Atomic, the Colorado Rural Electric Association, and others.
SB22-073 was laid over for action only following hours of testimony. It will be brought up for action only – potentially including amendments – on Thursday, February 17th, upon adjournment.
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Both Senate Bill 22-101 and Senate Bill 22-073 are part of the Senate and House Republicans “Commitment to Colorado” legislative package that was unveiled in January.