Anti-Poverty Task Force Bill Passes House

On a bipartisan vote and with the leadership of Rep. John Kefales, HB 1064 passed the Colorado House of Representatives this morning, . The House Majority Office issued this press statement:

(DENVER) — State Representative John Kefalas (D-Fort Collins) today struck a victory for struggling families throughout Colorado. House Bill 1064, which will develop a strategic, integrated plan to reduce the number of Coloradans living in poverty by half, passed out of the House on a bipartisan 42-23 vote.

The legislation forms The Economic Opportunity Poverty Reduction Task Force, which will make smart decisions about how state policy can expand and strengthen economic opportunity. This Task Force will look at the whole picture and find where the gaps are. Its goal will be to reduce poverty in Colorado by half by 2019.

“Expanding the circle of opportunity demands a comprehensive, integrated, and strategic action plan,” said Rep. Kefalas. “The economic challenges that Coloradans face are complex and cannot be solved in isolation or by piecemeal approaches. This bill creates a driving force to achieve the targeted goal of reducing poverty by half by 2019. With more and more families living paycheck to paycheck, and local businesses suffering, we must view the problem through the lens of economic and workforce development. This Task Force will aim to reduce poverty and expand economic opportunity, and will do so in a collaborative nature between private sectors and different levels of government.”

The bill creates a 10-member Economic Opportunity Poverty Reduction Task Force, which will consist of five members from each chamber of the General Assembly. Along with creating a plan to reduce poverty in half, the Task Force will also study issues relating to poverty, nutrition programs, employment programs, and self-sufficiency. Other representatives from local governments, business and labor organizations, education organizations, and advocates will serve on subcommittees.