Kevin Priola, Colorado State Legislator House District 30

This session, I will be sponsoring a number of bills that I hope will have a significant impact on the people of Colorado. For your convenience, copied below are brief summaries of select bills I will sponsor this year.

Off-Highway Vehicle Bill

This bill will expand access to off-highway vehicles by allowing them to share dirt roads with other modes of transportation instead of relying on trailer transportation from trail to trail. This will ease an unnecessary restriction on the freedom and mobility of those of you who enjoy these vehicles. It will also help to protect our environment and increase tourism in the state.

PERA Solvency

The solvency of the Public Employees' Retirement Association (PERA) trust fund is very much in need of improvement. This legislation will save taxpayer dollars and improve the stability of the fund for future retirees and their families.

Gun Bill Permitless Carry

This bill will allow gun-owners in Colorado to carry a concealed weapon without a permit. Allowing people to carry without a permit not only expands on our Second Amendment rights, but it also helps decrease crime. Vermont, Wyoming, and other states have passed permitless carry laws in the last few years, and many more are working to get them passed in order to make their states safer.

One of the main focuses of the GOP this legislative session will be to ensure the growth and sustainability of businesses in the state of Colorado. The following are just a few of the bills to look out for in 2012.

CLEAR Act-"Creating Level Expectations for Application Review"

The purpose of the CLEAR Act is to simplify the permit application process. I've spoken with many small business folks around the state, and I've heard from people like Chris Kraft who pointed out that "businesses shouldn't have to spend additional time and resources to re-file an application because a rule changed during their first application review." Small businesses are major part of the solution to the recession, and the government should be working with small business owners to help them obtain permits, rather than setting up obstacles that make it more difficult.

Require Regulatory Analysis of Proposed Rules Prior to Rulemaking Hearing

Year after year, we see new rules adopted that put a strain on Colorado businesses. This bill would require a stiffer evaluation process for proposed rules prior to the rules being heard in a legislative hearing. This would give legislators a chance to take a closer look at how new rules might affect business before approving them, since many of the rules might have negative effects like increased costs for our Colorado businesses.

SUCCESS Act-"Stopping Unnecessary Costs and Creating Sustainability for Small Business"

The SUCCESS Act is another way in which we will strive to work with the businesses in our state. This act allows businesses to fix certain infractions within a specified period of time before having a fine imposed upon them, and it also creates limitations for the imposition of fines. It's vital that we encourage our Colorado businesses, and the SUCCESS Act will ensure that the government is not unfairly penalizing these job creators who are so essential to Colorado's economic recovery.

 Responsible Budgeting

Fellow Representative Don Beezley and I agree that "fiscal responsibility and sound management are key to Colorado's economic future." As we continue to rebuild and grow our economy, we need to make sure that the government--like the rest of us--is living within its means and properly budgeting its funds. This bill encourages controlled spending, increased saving, and better prioritizing in our state government. This will ensure that Colorado is more fiscally responsible and better prepared for any future economic dips.