Issues and Bills addressed:

* Ki Lynn broached the contents of the Health and Human Services committee meeting. The Health and Human Services committee focused on Rocky Mountain Health - a community based health care plan in Grand Junction; the plan has received national recognition as an example for country-wide healthcare reform.

* The HR committee discussed a bill introduced to the Statehouse by Rep. Daniel Kagan. The bill would improve the living/working conditions of Colorado sheepherders, many of whom receive only $750 salary per month and live in trailers without running water or electricity for extended periods of time. We discussed contacting the American Civil Liberties Union and Colorado Legal Services, as well as some of the ranchers who employ these herders.

* The committee discussed SB 10-089, a bill requiring the State School Board to draft a Religious Bill of Rights and distribute it among all schools. The committee expressed a need to more closely inspect the tenets of this bill before supporting its passage.

* The committee discussed the suspect constitutionality of SB 06-90, which obligates police officers to report suspected illegal immigrants to the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement Office. Unfortunately though, the bill has already passed into state law.

* The committee discussed SB 10-107, which requires Colorado high schools with Native American mascots to either receive permission to continue use of their mascot from the Colorado Commission of Indian Affairs or change their mascot entirely before July 1st, 2013. The committee acknowledged the need to minimize any offense felt by American Indians, but expressed concern that the fine for neglecting to change a mascot may be too onerous for already struggling school budgets.