Bell Policy Center testimony

2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2006 Legislative Status Report

Federal immigration legislation - Testimony to the alternative hearing on immigration, the Untold Stories of Colorado Immigration, by Robin Baker, Aug. 29, 2006
"Our analysis found that undocumented immigrants living in Colorado paid between $159 million and $194 million in state and local taxes in 2005.
"Based on our analysis, the estimated 225,000 to 275,000 undocumented immigrants living in Colorado cost state and local governments nearly $225 million in 2005 for federally mandated services.
"Our findings show that undocumented immigrants living in Colorado pay an estimated $159 million to $194 million in taxes, an amount that is equal to 70 to 86 percent of the $225 million per year in K-12 education, emergency medical care and incarceration costs."

HB 06-1351 - Continue the Statewide Teen Pregnancy and Dropout Prevention Program, by Robin Baker to the Senate Health and Human Services Committee, March 30, 2006
"Evaluation data from HCPF show that Colorado’s two pregnancy prevention pilot programs have been highly successful in reducing teen pregnancies. HCPF data show that at-risk teens enrolled in the Hilltop Community Resources, Inc. Teen Companion Program in Mesa County and the Montrose Memorial Hospital Teaching Prevention-Promoting Involvement Teen Companion Program in Montrose and Delta counties have about a 1 percent pregnancy rate compared to a 23 percent pregnancy rate for at-risk teens not enrolled in the program."

HB 06-1062 - State Policies Related to Immigration Reform and Collection of Citizenship Data for Public School Students Enrolled in Kindergarten through 12th Grade, by Rich Jones to the House State, Veterans and Military Affairs Committee, Feb. 21, 2006
"We need to rationalize our policies so that more immigrant workers can enter the country legally to fill these jobs and work above board without fear of exploitation or deportation. Until we take that critical first step, I assure you that we will not solve any of the problems discussed here today."

HB 06-1327 - Alternative Base Period for Calculating Unemployment Insurance Benefits in Colorado, by Rich Jones to the House Business Affairs and Labor Committee, Feb. 20, 2006
"Using the alternative base period is projected to result in 1,340 workers being immediately eligible for unemployment benefits in FY 06-07 who otherwise may have had to wait an additional 13 to 25 weeks to claim them. This allows them to receive their unemployment benefits when they are laid off and need the money."

SB 06-134 - Eliminate Asset Test in Colorado Works Program, by Rich Jones to the Senate Health and Human Services Committee, Feb. 10, 2006
"Economic studies show that asset tests for programs such as TANF, food stamps, Supplemental Security Income and Medicaid discourage savings when the limits are lowered and increase savings when they are raised. Households likely to be eligible for means-tested programs and subject to asset limits tend to adjust their savings in response to changes in these limits."

SB 06-046 - P-16 Education System, by Frank Waterous to the Senate Education Committee, Feb. 1, 2006
"We believe that this “P-16” approach holds the promise of helping the state close its achievement gaps and prepare more students to go to and succeed in college. Among the strengths of a P-16 system are the potential to align efforts at all educational levels, support standards and assessments, reduce the need for remediation, and lower dropout rates."