Press Room

Gov. Ritter Signs Sen. Gibbs and Rep. Scanlans' I-70 and Mountain College Bills

Thursday, May 27 2010

BRECKENRIDGE ─ Gov. Bill Ritter visited Colorado Mountain College’s Breckenridge campus today to sign into law five bills sponsored by local legislators Sen. Dan Gibbs (D-Summit County) and Rep. Christine Scanlan.

The measures will help ease ski-weekend traffic on Interstate 70, allow Colorado Mountain College to offer baccalaureate degrees and encourage children to get outdoors and enjoy the state’s unmatched recreation and natural opportunities.

 “Sen. Gibbs and Rep. Scanlan have been strong leaders, great partners and bold advocates for their constituents,” Gov. Ritter said. “Their bills will improve our transportation and education systems, strengthen our economy and boost our overall quality of life. I am proud to sign these bills into law here in their district.” 

The bills are:  

Senate Bill 101, Colorado Mountain College (Gibbs/Scanlan) will allow five baccalaureate degrees to be offered by Colorado Mountain College. 

“Colorado Mountain College is an invaluable resource to our communities. Students, including myself, have enjoyed what CMC has to offer for years. It is time to extend those benefits to all those who wish to seek them on a four-year track,” said Sen. Gibbs.  

“Currently, mountain communities are exporting their residents because they can’t get four-year degrees in their towns,” Rep. Scanlan said. “This new law will stimulate our local economies by home-growing our own college grads who may become teachers or business owners in our communities. And we’ll increase rural accessibility. I have taken CMC classes myself, including when I was working as a ski lift operator, and I know first-hand that the college is great at offering classes that promote jobs in the community.”

SB 184, I-70 Zipper Lane (Gibbs & Romer/Scanlan & S. King) will study the feasibility of adding reversible or so-called “zipper,” lanes to the Interstate 70 corridor to relieve congestion.

SB 196, Minimum Speed on I-70 (Gibbs/Scanlan) sets the minimum speed on I-70 that is 25 mph less than the maximum speed on the same stretch of highway.

“Anyone who has driven through the mountains on I-70 has experienced the hassle and congestion. To solve the traffic problems on I-70, we will have to work together and seek creative solutions. These bills are two examples of the innovative, resourceful thinking we need to reach a permanent solution. I’m proud of the work we have done and what these bills will do for the lives of people who live along the I-70 mountain corridor and people who visit our mountain communities,” said Sen. Gibbs.

House Bill 1131, Kids in the Outdoors (Scanlan/Gibbs) will encourage children to get out and enjoy Colorado’s outdoors.

“The beauty that Colorado has to offer is one of the best gifts we can pass on to the next generation,” Rep. Scanlan said. “It is important that we pass this gift along to all the kids of Colorado, no matter what part of the state in which they reside. And we know that kids who have an opportunity to get outside—who can breathe fresh air and enjoy Colorado’s sunshine—will do better in the classroom.”

HB 1399, Bureau Investigation Assist Fire Chiefs (Weissmann/Gibbs) will streamline the process of arson investigation, allowing fire chiefs to access the expertise of the CBI directly

“This is a common sense bill. Currently, the CBI has to wait until it receives a request from local law enforcement to begin an arson investigation. This bill streamlines the process and allows fire chiefs to respond quickly and start the process faster when arson is suspected,” said Sen. Gibbs. 

For a complete list of Gov. Ritter’s 2010 legislation decisions, visit www.colorado.gov/governor or click here.