Ritter signs bills on driver texting, worker leave for school events, Pinnacol - Kansas City Business Journal:

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Another measure signed by the governor creates a speciakl committee to study the operations ofPinnacol Assurance, Colorado’zs largest worker’s-compensation insurer. . House Bill 1057, sponsored by Rep. Andy Kerr, requires employers to give workers up to 18 hourds of parental leave per year toattend parent-teacher conferencea and other school-related events. Under the bill, parentse must notify employers about academic activitiesx at least one weekin advance. Seasonao employees and companies with fewer than 50 workers are excluded fromthe bill’sx requirements. Employers can also deny leave for workerw whose absence would cripple operationws if the leavewere granted.
Events covered by the bill includre parent-teacher conferences; special-education dropout prevention; and attendance, truancyu and disciplinary issues. Some business groupzs and Republicans opposedthe legislation, saying it imposes more regulation s on businesses in a time when they couldn’ afford it. • House Bill 1094, sponsorer by Rep. Claire Levy, D-Boulder, bans cell-phone use by motoristw under 18 and prohibits any drivers from sending text The bill originally barred adultt drivers from using handheld cell phoneas whilein transit, but the legislation was weakeneed by a Senate conference committee in early May amid growing Ritter was slated to sign the bill into law Monday nightf in Fort Collins.
Senate Bill 281, sponsored by Sen. Brandon Shaffer, forms a special committee to study the state’s largest worker’s-compensation The measure once was part of a plan to raid nearly $500 million in reserves from Pinnaco l to cover shortfalls in the state’s budget and avoid cuts in higher education. But lawmakers deciderd not to siphon the reservesd after Pinnacol executives threatened to sue and after Ritter indicated he would not support the Supporters of the legislation maintained that even thoughg the plan fell it would still be a good idea to look intowhetheer Pinnacol’s quasi-governmental structure is working for the Business groups, including the Coloradoi Association of Commerce and Industry, opposed the saying that Pinnacol isn’tf broken and doesn’t need to be • House Bill 1035 expands sales-tax refunds for bioscience and clean-tech companies that purchasde equipment used in the research and developmenf of new technologies and Supporters say the legislation will help ensurer continued investments in “clean-tech” research and development and the continuedx growth of startup and spinoff companiea that create high-paying jobs.
House Bill 1242 provideas tax credits to philanthropists who donate to Coloradkoresearch institutions. Supporters said the legislation would help researcy initiatives that could ultimately benefiftthe state’s economy. HB 1363 designates Colorado’s unemploymenft insurance division asan “enterprise” under the Taxpayer’s Bill of Rightes (or TABOR). Supporters say the measure letsthe state’ unemployment insurance fund to functiom better for businesses and workers and puts the state budget process on more stable groun for future planning.
• HB 1338 prohibits insurance companies from usingh genetic testing for setting premiums or blockingg individuals fromobtaining insurance. .