Will allow employees of Colorado businesses with 50 or more employees to take less than 18 hours of unpaid leave during an academic year to attend their children’s parent-teacher conferences and other academic activities. Leave is limited to six hours per month, and can only be taken in increments of three hours or less.

• Update: March activity - HB 1057 passed out of the Senate Education Committee with some amendments on March 12; Referred Amended to Senate Committee of the Whole; 03/17/2009 Senate Second Reading Laid Over Daily; 03/23/2009 Senate Second Reading Passed with Amendments; 03/24/2009 Senate Third Reading Passed; 03/25/2009 House Considered Senate Amendments - Result was to Not Concur - Request Conference Committee

Will create a statewide program that would allow high school students to easily take college courses with uniform financial and accountability standards; giving students an incentive to graduate from high school and also to get a head start on college.

• Update: 3/18/09 was introduced on 3/18 and assigned to education; 04/02/2009 House Committee on Education Refer Amended to Appropriations;04/09/2009 House Committee on Appropriations Refer Amended to House Committee of the Whole 04/13/2009 House Second Reading Laid Over Daily

Colorado Senate Voted to Defeat Tuition Equity Legislation Senate Bill 170
This defeat was a blow to all who believe in access to higher education for all Colorado students and youth.  A diverse alliance of Coloradans will continue the work with lawmakers at the state capitol and with the Colorado Congressional delegation to win the DREAM Act at the federal level in 2009.

The Colorado Birth Control Protection Act Waiting for Governor's Signature
SB 225 passed out of the Colorado Senate on March 5, moving to Governor Bill Ritter's office, awaiting his signature. State Rep. Anne McGihon and state Sen. Betty Boyd crafted SB 225 to prevent future legal or constitutional challenges similar to Amendment 48, the failed 2008 ballot measure that sought to grant constitutional rights to fertilized eggs.  The bill codifies "contraception or a contraceptive device as a medically acceptable drug, device, or procedure used to prevent pregnancy."