ISRAEL is the beneficiary of a new bill approved by the Colorado legislature that expands the state treasurer’s scope to invest in double-A rated Israeli bonds.

Read the full story at Intermountain Jewish News.

 Our great state suffered a major setback last week when my colleagues on the Senate Business, Labor and Technology Committee decided to vote against 21st century Colorado in favor of 20th century business as usual.

Read the rest of Representative Williams’ Guest Commentary at the Denver Post.

This sends a message to the rest of the country that Colorado welcomes continued investment, new high-tech companies and job growth from rapidly evolving internet technologies.  It also updates statues that have not changed since 1995 to reflect today’s technologies.

Internet protocol is the language of the internet.  It is the “packets of data that deliver voice, video or data over the web.  IP-enabled services bring us many benefits that are used every day, including Wi-Fi and the ability to videoconference with family and friends across the globe.

This bill will ensure that Colorado is not burdened by unnecessary regulations that deter investment, innovation and increased competition for consumers.

To read the full bill or follow its progress through the senate, click here.

We should encourage fair business practices to ensure that an equitable state contract procurement process exists. We need to expand our innovative approaches to encourage the growth of minority, women, veterans and disabled persons enterprises. The state of Colorado has never in its history performed a disparity study.  Colorado is a state that blazes a trail of innovation, and to continue to do so we need diversity and innovation in the market place. This study will determine if there are inequities in the state procurement process that we must then address with future legislation to continue to move forward.

Representative Joe Salazar and myself have worked with the Colorado Department of Personnel & Administration as well as more than a dozen other organizations throughout Colorado to develop this piece of legislation and will continue to partner with them on this important study.

You can see the bill in its entirety and follow its progress as it moves to the Senate here.

·      Monetary compensation in the amount of 70,000 dollars is given for each year wrongfully served.  An additional 50,000 dollars is granted for each year that a person awaited execution.  Finally, for each year someone served on parole, probation, or as a registered sex offender for a wrongful conviction they will receive 25,000 dollars.

·      Tuition waivers at state institutions of higher education, including four-year institutions and two-year technical schools.

·      Compensation for child support payments owed by the exonerated person that became due during his or her incarceration, and interest on child support arrearages that accrued during his or her incarceration but which have not been paid.

·      Reasonable attorney fees.

·      The amount of any fine, penalty, court costs, or restitution imposed upon and paid by the exonerated person as a result of his or her wrongful conviction or adjudication.

This compensation attempts right a wrong made by the state by providing tools to those wrongfully convicted and help them to integrate back into society.

This month we passed the halfway mark of this year’s session.  This month I have worked with a group of my fellow legislators to introduce a package of Home Owner’s Association (HOA) reform bills.  This is a true concern for my constituents. We have worked with many stakeholders to ensure that these are common-sense solutions that will balance the interests of HOAs with homeowners’ rights.

I am carrying two of the four bills in this package. The first of these will regulate community managers.  Currently, HOAs and their community association managers are not required to be licensed.  With this piece of legislation, HOA managers will be licensed under the Division of Real Estate within the Department of Regulatory Agencies. In order to get this license, a person will have to pass an exam showing they have a working knowledge of standard budgeting practices and laws concerning consumer protection.

The second bill that I am carrying deals with the debt collection process by requiring HOAs to establish consistent debt collection policies as it relates to unpaid assessments. Under this act, HOAs will be required to provide clear information abouttheir unpaid assessments and offer payment plans to struggling homeowners.

On Wednesday some of my colleagues, Reps. Fields
and Ryden and Sen. Balmer, and I spoke with the press
about these proposed reforms.

 

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See the interview at the Denver Post.

Colorado is a state of many pleasant surprises. We’ve made great history, despite the opinions of many who assume we are governed by outdated Rocky Mountain stereotypes. We’ve transformed ourselves from sleepy rural plains to bustling Gateway to the West, a blossoming tech corridor with a world class airport.

Read Representative Williams’ full op-ed at the Denver Post.

Robert Dewey spent almost 18 years in prison for a murder he did not commit. Now he spends his time waiting. Waiting for food stamps, or his monthly $698 disability check. Swallowing painkillers and waiting for his wrenched back to stop aching. Waiting for the state to repay him for lost time.

 

Read more at The New York Times.