More Than 100 New Colorado Laws Going Into Effect
DENVER (AP) - A provision to give judges discretion in sentencing criminals and a requirement that the Colorado Department of Transportation come up with a plan to improve traffic on Interstate 70 are among more than 100 new laws going into effect.
According to the Grand Junction Daily Sentinel, another new law on the books Wednesday requires state coroners to include in reports whether a deceased woman was pregnant at the time of her death, a measure introduced by Rep. Laura Bradford, R-Collbran.
Bradford said it's an attempt to see if there is a trend in domestic violence attacks against pregnant women and it has nothing to do with abortion.
"What it will accomplish is allow Colorado to be among the other 28 states that use the death certificate to collect information, like things pointing to domestic violence," she said.
Bradford said the information can be used to train counselors in identifying and preventing future domestic violence deaths of pregnant women.
Another new law extends a deadline to raise private funds to repair the golden dome at the Capitol building. The cast-iron enclosure of the dome has deteriorated so badly that a 10-pound chunk of cast iron fell off in 2007. Public tours of the dome have been limited since then.
Repair costs are estimated to be $17 million. Officials have had trouble raising $12 million to bridge the costs and are asking people to make donations through text messages.
The new laws are going into effect 90 days after the end of the session because of a state law that allows voters to challenge any measure not vital to the health, safety and welfare of the state.
(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
