Senator Linda Newell
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2013 Session Highlights

Additional information, including full bill text, is available on the website of the Colorado State General Assembly. Use this link to access Senate Bills from 2013. Use this link to access House Bills from 2013. 

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“As we start to see the economy improve and the
revenues increase, we’ve been able to refill the cuts
from previous years in education, tax credits, and other
areas. Also this year, we have increased funding for
improvements in child protection, health care, and
mental health while reducing where funding is not
needed as much anymore.”

Bills Sponsored by Sen. Newell

CHILD PROTECTION AGENDA

Child abuse reporting hotline and training (HB 13-1271):
Colorado ranks 17th highest in the nation for

children experiencing abuse and neglect. This is the first step in creating a statewide child abuse reporting

hotline system, and it provides a consistent standard of competency for those answering calls. By making it

easier for people to call, and with better training of hotline workers, this bill should help prevent child injury

and death.



Strengthening child fatality reviews (SB 13-255): This bill improves the process for analyzing child fatalities

in Colorado to identify potential system improvements in protecting children. For the first time, we will

have statewide consistent best practices of child fatality reviews in order to prevent child deaths.



Drug-endangered child definition (SB 13-278): This bill directs the Substance Abuse Task Force to

recommend a definition of a “drug-endangered child” in the context of child abuse or neglect. This

definition will assist child protection workers, family courts, and mandatory reporters in identifying and

reporting situations that would be applicable.




Youth in foster care and identity theft protection (SB 13-047): Children in foster care are almost three

times more likely to experience identity theft due to the exposure of their records throughout their young

lives. This bill expands protections from my SB 10-120 in 2010 to prevent kids from being victimized again.




Health care for children, relief for parents (SB 13-008): This bill eliminates the waiting period for the Child

Health Plan+ so that parents losing their health insurance will be able to get their children covered

immediately in CHP+. This gives parents relief and saves taxpayer dollars by avoiding emergency room

visits.

PROTECTION OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND SEXUAL ASSAULT VICTIMS

Civil protection orders and domestic orders (HB 13-1259): This bill elevates safety as a primary concern in

domestic relations cases involving children, and streamlines and strengthens the civil protec􀆟on order

process. It also adds sexual assault to the definition of domestic violence protection orders.

JUVENILE JUSTICE

Restorative justice (HB 13-1254): This bill expands the restorative justice program in Colorado, with the

goal of keeping children out of the juvenile justice system. Restorative justice emphasizes repairing the

harm to the victim and community caused by criminal acts of juveniles and adults. Victim and offender

participation in restorative justice conferences is completely voluntary and has shown dramatic reductions

in recidivism.

With our new Senate district being so “purple,” I have done my best to continue to listen to all sides of the issues.
Between knowledge gained from your voices, and my study of possible policies, I vote accordingly. Through town halls,
community speaking engagements, and countless conversations with many of you, I have remained committed to serving
Senate District 26 to the best of my ability.



Additional Legislation

Sponsored by Senator Linda Newell

Increasing efficiency and cost savings

HB 13-
1079: Over the years, we have had successes and major

failures in our selection and implementation of IT systems, costing us

millions of dollars. HB 1079 establishes the Joint Technology

Committee, creating more effective oversight of our IT systems.



Helping small businesses

HB 13-1208 gives more flexibility to the funding of creative districts

in Colorado, allowing for the small creative businesses to expand.

Creative industries are the 5th largest employment sector in the state

and positively affect the local economies and community cultures.



Easing access to voting

HB 13-
1147 creates an avenue for voter registra􀆟on at public

colleges. As students of all ages enroll for their classes, they will

now be able to register to vote at the same time.




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