This legislative session, young adults shared their stories 52 times at the Colorado State Capitol on behalf of YI Rocky Mountain. Our office and young adult membership advocated for 32 policies addressing equity, health care (including the social determinants of health), higher education, and the workforce.
Before the session even began, Rocky Mountain Director Kyra deGruy Kennedy, uplifted the voices of young adults across the state by advocating for an extension of CO’s pandemic Remote Testimony policy – HR1002. This was a critical step in making the public testimony process significantly more accessible to young adults across the state in light of historic barriers due to locations, disabilities, schedules, and caregiving responsibilities.
Young Invincibles began as a health care organization back in 2008, and that legacy has never been more important than it is today. In each of our priority areas, YI Rocky Mountain’s policy work is influenced by the social determinants of health, namely: economic stability, education, health care access and quality, and community.
9 Successful Lead Bills
Health Care & The Social Determinants of Health
The following health care bills are building the foundation for an ongoing effort by the Collaborative Community Response (CCR) which aims to bridge the gaps in fragmented health and human services.
- HB22-1278: Behavioral Health Administration
- HB22-1302: Health-care Practice Transformation
- HB22-1281: Behavioral Health-care Continuum Grant Program
- HB22-1356: Small Community-based Nonprofit Grants Program
These bills begin to build the infrastructure for cross-sector systems of care, regional health connectors to support collaboration among local community-based organizations, and implement care management to address the social determinants of health.
Higher Education
The education bills we led on expanded access and affordability of higher education for youth across the state, including students with disabilities and experience in the foster care system. The expansion of the ASCENT program will enable approximately 1,000 additional Colorado students over the next two years to take concurrent enrollment (college courses) for free during a fifth year of high school.
- SB22-008 Higher Education Access for Foster Youth
- HB22-1002 Fifth Year High School Concurrent Enrollment ASCENT Program was fully incorporated into HB22-1390 Public School Finance
- HB22-1255 Advancing Success for Students with Disabilities ~ Signed by Governor
Civic Engagement
Support Bills
Health Care
Access and affordability continue to be huge barriers for young adults to consistently obtain high quality health care. The following bills work to increase insurance coverage, address reproductive and gender inequity, mitigate the high cost of prescription drugs, and increase access to rural dental care.
- HB22-1370 Coverage Requirements for Healthcare Products
- HB22-1279 Reproductive Health Equity Act ~ Signed by Governor
- HB22-1055 Sales Tax Exemption Essential Hygiene ~ Signed by Governor
- SB22-009 Program Allow Redispensing of Unused Drugs
- SB22-219 Regulate Dental Therapists
Higher Education
Colorado continues to have high postsecondary attainment rates with large equity gaps across race and class. Higher education degrees significantly improve one’s earning potential, and also have long term impacts on mental and physical health outcomes.
- HB22-1049 Prohibit Transcript & Diploma Withholding ~ Signed by Governor
- HB22-1366 Improving Students Post Secondary Options
- HB22-1107 Inclusive Higher Ed Opportunities
- HB22-1215 Study of Expanding Extended High School Programs
- HB22-1155 In-state Tuition For CO High School Graduates
- SB22-192 Opportunities for Credential Attainment
- SB22-003 Community College Nursing Bachelor Degree Eligibility ~ Signed by Governor
- Second Chance Pell 2022 Federal Renewal ~ This is a federal initiative that Colorado participated in prior to the pandemic in 2020. YI has been a strong advocate for re-engaging in the pilot program and providing higher education opportunities to systems-involved young adults. As of April 2022, three institutions of higher education are participating in 2022/2023. Selected schools may begin accessing Pell Grants as early as July 1, 2022.
Workforce
In addition to the economic opportunities connected to our previous policy priorities, such as SB22-192 Opportunities for Credential Attainment, SB22-003 Community College Nursing and SB22-219 Regulate Dental Therapists, our advocates worked on a number of workforce initiatives.
- HB22-1220 Removing Barriers to Education Preparation
- HB22-1010 Early Childhood Educator Tax Credit:
- HB22-1295 Department of Early Childhood ~ Signed by Governor
- SB22-086 Expansion of Consumer Debt Protections ~ Signed by the Governor
- SB22-230 Public Bargaining Union Expansion
Although we had incredible wins this year, there is still so much work to be done. Here at YI Rocky Mountain, we believe in fighting for changing the systems of inequity, and systems change is a long-term commitment. We’ve already begun our research, roundtables, polling, and surveying for next year’s session and are planning for our next cohort of incredible young adult leaders.
Thank you for your continued support. We believe that every young adult has a story to tell, and that with the right inspiration, empowerment, and skills – that story can literally change the world. This year, our young people did just that. See what bills we are still waiting to be signed by Governor Polis in our tracker.