DENVER (KDVR) — Lawmakers have lower than a few weeks left to complete up work for this legislative session.
On Monday, they took up issues like drug affordability and tax incentives for utilizing clear vitality over carbon, with the aim being finished the primary week of Might. Home members had been additionally engaged on some key payments associated to employment rights.
Unemployment advantages
Earlier within the day, representatives on the ground labored on a invoice seeking to broaden unemployment advantages. Within the afternoon, they checked out tightening enforcement of the state’s equal pay legislation.
If the unemployment dependency allowance measure passes, beginning in 2026, dependents of an individual receiving unemployment advantages begin at $35 per week per dependent. Eligible dependents could be youngsters or individuals over 18 who’re incapable of working. That $35 quantity could be adjusted for inflation.
Equal pay and job transparency
The equal pay invoice was in committee Monday afternoon. The measure is an replace to a legislation handed in 2019 that was designed to stop pay inequities by ensuring jobs publish correct descriptions and salaries on postings.
The brand new invoice seems to enhance issues, like:
- increasing backpay from three years to 6 years for underpaid work
- requiring transparency round job vacancies
- ensuring the Division of Labor and Employment has the instruments to research complaints of pay inequity and implement the foundations surrounding the equal pay legislation.
Advocates say the state can enhance on ensuring guidelines are adopted.
“A giant level that got here from our members was that, sure, they liked the preliminary transparency measures, however they had been experiencing they wanted extra,” stated Kaitlin Altone, 9 to five Colorado senior organizer. “What occurred after that preliminary posting, how can they actually take the mandatory steps to place their preliminary hat within the ring after which additionally as soon as a hiring choice was made, what occurred?”
“All the pieces within the invoice that they’re attempting to implement from what they already had earlier than is nice,” stated Edith Mata, a former sanitation employee turned 9 to five organizer. “Simply because I feel the transparency is essential, since a variety of the time, I feel employers make their very own choice with out passing it again by the staff, and a variety of occasions, that simply loses a possibility for us.”
Colorado was one of many first states to enact a pay transparency legislation. Supporters hope to proceed constructing that momentum by the brand new measure that cleared committee 8-3.
