Colorado politics: Colorado lawmakers advance broad police accountability bill

DENVER (AP) — Colorado’s House has overwhelmingly passed legislation to improve police accountability and transparency following an emotional debate that followed weeks of protests over the death of George Floyd.

The bill requires all local and Colorado State Patrol officers who have contact with the public to be equipped with body cameras by July 1, 2023. And it requires that unedited body cam footage be released to the public within 21 days of a misconduct complaint being filed.

The bill also bans the use of chokeholds and bars police from aiming tear gas or rubber bullets at protesters’ heads.

The bill has broad support in both chambers, and Gov. Jared Polis is expected to sign it.

Denver school board votes to remove cops from schools

DENVER (AP) — Denver Public Schools will phase out the use of police officers in school buildings by the end of the next school year because of concerns about how minority students are treated by police.

The school board voted unanimously Thursday night in favor of a resolution that requires the number of school resource officers to be reduced by 25 percent by the end of 2020 and completely gone by June 4, 2021.

School guards will still provide security around the district and the money saved by not paying for police officers will be spent on staffers like counselors and social workers.

Colorado governor opposes tax changes rushed by Democrats

DENVER (AP) — Majority Democrats in Colorado’s Legislature are rushing through a bill in the last week of the session that would suspend or reduce several business tax credits and corporate incentives to generate millions of dollars for public schools.

Republicans and chambers of commerce across the state were caught off guard by the bill, which was introduced on Monday.

Gov. Jared Polis also has voiced his skepticism, saying Thursday that he sees no way for it to become law.  

Critics call the bill a job-killing venture at a time when the coronavirus pandemic has slammed the economy.

Supporters argue it would close tax loopholes for the rich. 

Ethics panel fines former Colorado Gov. Hickenlooper $2,750

DENVER (AP) — Democratic U.S. Senate candidate John Hickenlooper has been fined $2,750 for ethics violations a Colorado commission says he committed as governor.

Hickenlooper accepted a private jet flight to an official event and received benefits he didn’t pay for at a meeting of government, business and financial leaders in Italy.

Hickenlooper has long denied the allegations, which were brought by a conservative group, and testified that he was only performing his duty as governor by promoting Colorado’s economy when the violations occurred.

Hickenlooper faces a June 30 primary against former state House Speaker Andrew Romanoff. The winner takes on incumbent GOP Sen. Cory Gardner.