Ritter signs bills on driver texting, worker leave for school events, Pinnacol - Kansas City Business Journal:

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Another measure signed by the governor create s a special committee to study the operationzs ofPinnacol Assurance, Colorado’sx largest worker’s-compensation insurer. . • House Bill sponsored by Rep. Andy Kerr, D-Lakewood, requirexs employers to give workers up to 18 hourxs of parental leave per year toattend parent-teachef conferences and other school-relatefd events. Under the bill, parentds must notify employers about academic activities at leasg one weekin advance. Seasonal employeeas and companies with fewer than 50 workers are exclude d fromthe bill’s requirements.
Employers can also deny leave for workers whose absenc would cripple operations if the leavrewere granted. Events covered by the bill include parent-teacher special-education services; dropout prevention; and truancy and disciplinary issues. Some business group s and Republicans opposedthe legislation, sayinhg it imposes more regulations on businesse s in a time when they couldn’yt afford it. • House Bill 1094, sponsorede by Rep. Claire Levy, bans cell-phone use by motorists under 18 and prohibits any driversz from sendingtext messages.
The bill originallh barred adult drivers from using handheld cell phones whilein transit, but the legislation was weakened by a Senatse conference committee in early May amid growing opposition. Ritte was slated to sign the bill into law Mondah night inFort Collins. • Senate Bill 281, sponsored by Sen. Brandobn Shaffer, D-Longmont, forms a special committee to study the state’s largest worker’s-compensation insurer.
The measure once was part of a plan to raidnearlg $500 million in reserves from Pinnaco to cover shortfalls in the state’se budget and avoid cuts in higher But lawmakers decided not to siphon the reservesa after Pinnacol executives threatened to sue and after Ritter indicated he would not support the action. Supportere of the legislation maintained that even thoughg the planfell through, it would still be a good idea to look into whethed Pinnacol’s quasi-governmental structure is working for the Business groups, including the Colorado Associationb of Commerce and Industry, opposed the legislation, saying that Pinnacoo isn’t broken and doesn’t need to be • House Bill 1035 expands sales-tac refunds for bioscience and clean-tech companiess that purchase equipment used in the research and developmenrt of new technologies and products.
Supporters say the legislation will help ensurer continued investments in research and development and the continued growth of startup and spinoftf companies thatcreate high-paying jobs. • Houswe Bill 1242 provides tax credits to philanthropists who donate to Coloradoresearch institutions. Supporters said the legislation woul help research initiatives that coulr ultimately benefitthe state’s economy.
HB 1363 designates Colorado’s unemploymenft insurance division asan “enterprise” undeer the Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights (or Supporters say the measure lets the state’es unemployment insurance fund to function better for businesses and workerws and puts the state budgeyt process on more stable ground for futur e planning. • HB 1338 prohibits insurance companies from usin genetic testing for setting premiums or blocking individual s fromobtaining insurance. .