Colorado’s 2008 legislative session is coming to a close this week. This Week @ Metro has been tracking several legislative measures that will affect higher education in the state. When passed, all of the bills will head to Gov. Ritter’s desk for action.

Ritter to have on campus signing of bills for funding for the Auraria Science Building
The two bills that are needed to provide funding for the completion of the Auraria Science Building and other higher ed capitol construction projects have passed. A signing ceremony with Governor Bill Ritter is planned for Monday, May 12, at 1:30 p.m. Watch for further details in your e-mail.

Authority of Auraria Boards on capital construction projects
The legislature passed Senate Bill 180, sponsored by Sen. Josh Penry and Rep. Don Marostica, in April. The bill authorizes the Auraria Higher Education Center and Metro State to issue bonds and enter into lease-purchase agreements for capital construction on campus. This bill is relevant to funding for both the Science Building renovation/addition and the upcoming changes to campus expected to occur under the Auraria Master Plan.

Federal mineral lease payments to fund capital construction in higher education
A trio of measures related to the use of federal mineral lease payments to fund specific higher education capital construction projects is expected to be finalized Tuesday night (May 6). These include Senate Bills 218 and 233 and House Joint Resolution 1042.

• Senate Bill 218 would reorganize the funding stream from federal mineral leases on land owned by the state and make some of these funds available for higher education construction projects.
• Senate Bill 233 sets up some money from the federal mineral lease payment stream and authorizes certificates of participation for capital construction in higher education.
• House Joint Resolution 1042 lists the prioritized projects to be funded with the federal mineral lease payments. It includes state funding of $63.6 million for the Science Building addition and renovation.

Long bill
The legislature approved the long bill, the detailed and lengthy state budget for 2008-09 (House Bill 1375). Funding for higher education was based in part on the NCHEMS model, and Metro State received $5 million from the state’s general fund (see http://www.mscd.edu/~collcom/artman/publish/budget_twv5032608.shtml).

In-state tuition for U.S. citizens
Senate Bill 79, sponsored by Sen. Paula Sandoval and Rep. Tom Massey, concerning in-state tuition for U.S. citizens, regardless of their parents’ residency status (see http://www.mscd.edu/~collcom/artman/publish/sandoval_twv5013008.shtml), passed late Monday night. The bill eliminates parents’ Colorado residency status as a requirement for in-state tuition rates for students who are U.S. citizens, under the age of 23 and have attended for the final three years and graduated from a Colorado high school.

While addressing the issue of students whose parents are undocumented, the legislation would also help those who are dealing with other unique circumstances that prevent proving their parents’ domicile in Colorado, such as students who are not in contact with their parents. President Stephen Jordan testified in favor of the legislation in January.

Roadrunner license plates
Senate Bill 143, which adjusts the special license plate requirements, has passed, making the Metro State license plate available to all students, faculty and alumni.

The Roadrunner license plate was in danger of being eliminated due to a requirement that 3,000 of any alumni special license plates had to be issued within one year. The bill changes the requirement to 500 plates issued by March 1, 2011. According to Assistant Vice President for Alumni Relations Cherrelyn Napue, there are more than 900 Metro State plates on the road currently.

Sen. Ron Tupa and Rep. Jerry Frangas sponsored the bill, and received support from numerous legislators including Rep. Joe Rice, who is a Metro State alumnus.

Before anyone can purchase a plate from the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), they need to purchase a voucher from the Metro State Alumni Association. Vouchers for current students and alumni who graduated within one year are $25. Vouchers for all others are $50. These voucher fees will go towards scholarships as well as support academic programs. In addition there is a one-time $50 DMV fee for special plates.

To purchase your Roadrunner license plate, contact the Office of Alumni Relations to receive your voucher, 303-556-8320 or www.mscd.edu/~alumni/.

Realigning of K-12 content standards to better prepare students for college
Senate Bill 212, which would realign Colorado’s K-12 content standards to better prepare students for college, is expected to be finalized this week. The bill is described at http://www.mscd.edu/~collcom/artman/publish/edreform_twv5040208.shtml.

Fiscal fix to go to voters
House Speaker Andrew Romanoff’s plan to untangle a constitutional knot of spending limits and mandates (see http://www.mscd.edu/~collcom/artman/publish/fundingbill_twv5042308.shtml) failed to get enough votes in the legislature to put the issue to voters. Therefore Romanoff said he plans to put bring the issue to voters by backing a similar measure filed as a citizens’ ballot initiative. The plan would have lifted some of the spending restrictions of the 1992 Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights and repealed Amendment 23’s mandated spending on K-12 education. To get onto the ballot as a citizens’ initiative, backers will need to gather 76,000 valid signatures.