Dear Friends,

These are the bills I sponsored and were passed during the 2010 legislative session. I strongly believe the 10 bills that I sponsored – and the 31 bills I co-sponsored – will benefit all people of Colorado. From making health insurance information more understandable to protecting consumers, these bills improve our quality of life.

I am proud to be named the Legislator of the Year by the Junior League of Colorado for sponsoring HB10 – 1021 (see below); to receive the 2010 Legislative Appreciation Award from the Jewish Community Relations Council; and receive a certificate of appreciation from the Metro Wastewater Reclamation District for sponsoring a good government piece of legislation. I also am scheduled to receive a Woman of Distinction Award by the Girl Scouts of Colorado this coming October for which I am very honored.

I will be working out of my home this summer as usual. You can contact me via email at joyce@joycefoster.com or at my home number (303) 343-6868 if you have questions or concerns. I will be working without a staff until session starts again in January and am taking care of my own calendar, so please be patient.

I appreciate your continued support and look forward to the 2011 session.

• HB 10 - 1149 — The Regulation Prior to Disposal of Sources that Emit Radiation (Hullinghorst/Foster)
  Passed and Signed by the Governor on May 26th
  Quick Synopsis: Bill concerns regulation prior to the disposal of sources that emit radiation.
   
• HB 10 - 1414 — Report Identity Injectable Drug Diversion (Benefield/Foster)
  Passed and signed by the Governor on June 5th
  Quick Synopsis: Bill requires that a health care facility report information identifying any individual responsible for the diversion of injectable drugs that were intended for use by patients of the facility.

  *See reaction to the above legislation from Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment Executive Director Martha E. Rudolph here.*
   

• HB 10 - 1021 — Required Coverages for Reproductive Services for Health Insurance Policies (Frangas and McCann/Foster)
  Passed and signed by the Governor on May 26th
  Quick Synopsis: The bill requires entities issuing individual sickness and accident insurance policies in the state to provide the same coverage for maternity care that is currently ordered under group sickness and accident insurance policies to provide coverage for pregnancy management, including contraceptive counseling, drugs, and devices. The bill excluded abortion procedures and services for pregnancy termination.

  *I am thankful for the support of March of Dimes, NARAL and Planned Parenthood on this bill.*
   

• HB 10 - 1004 — Standardization of Health Insurance Information (Massey/Foster)
  Passed and signed by Governor Ritter on April 20th
  Quick Synopsis: Standardization of health insurance forms by establishing a standard format for the policy format and explanation of benefits provided by the health insurance carrier.
   
• HB 10 - 1005 — Home Health Care Through Telemedicine (Massey/Foster)
  Passed and Signed by the Governor on June 7th
  Quick Synopsis: Makes telemedicine eligible for reimbursement under the state’s medical assistance program.
   
• SB 10 - 117 — Medicaid Coverage for Over-the-Counter Medications (Foster/Primavera)
  Passed and signed by the Governor on May 17th
  Quick Synopsis: Bill adds over-the-counter medication identified through drug utilization review process provided under Medicaid when the medications are prescribed by a licensed practitioner or a qualified licensed pharmacist.
   
• HB 10 - 1425 — DPS Post-Retirement Employment Limit (Miklosi/Foster)
  Passed and signed by the Governor on May 27th
  Quick Synopsis: The bill provides an exemption from the postretirement employment limit for a PERA retiree who was an hourly employee of DPS or a DPS charter school when the merger took effect, so long as the retiree continues to be employed by the same pre-merger employer. The bill requires such a retiree to make the working retiree contribution required by law and requires the DPS or DPS charter school to make the applicable employer contribution, amortization equalization disbursement, and supplemental amortization equalization disbursement.
   
• SB 10 - 053 — The Exemption of Weighted Votes from Voting Requirements Governing the Board of Directors of a Metropolitan Sewage Disposal District (Foster/Acree)
  Passed and signed by the Governor on March 10th
  Quick Synopsis: To provide more equal representation to the 1.6 million people who live in Metro’s service area, while maintaining the benefits of a smaller board of directors.
   
• SB 10 - 142 — Local Sales Tax Appeal Time Limit (Foster/Gerou)
  Passed and signed by the Governor on March 29th
  Quick Synopsis: Current law required a local government to issue a deficiency notice to a taxpayer when sale or use taxes are due. This bill requires any protest to the deficiency notice to be filed with the local government within 30 days after the notice.
   
• SB 10 - 159 — Defendant’s Statements at a Community Corrections Hearing (Foster/Miklosi)
  Passed and sent to the Governor on May 20th
  Quick Synopsis: Bill reaffirms a victim’s right to make an oral statement and permits a board to allow an offender to submit a written statement to the board and to have a person give an oral statement on the offender’s behalf to the board concerning the transitional referral to community corrections.
   

Before the end of summer I will once again be hosting a Hot Dog Party with Henry the Hot Dog Man and look forward to seeing you all there. I will send out further information at a later date. Have a safe and relaxing summer.

Joyce Foster
Colorado Senate District 35