Polis signs six COVID-19 relief bills

Courtesy Photo

COLORADO - Coronavirus Relief Funds for Housing Assistance
HB20-1410 -- Reps. Serena Gonzales-Gutierrez and Tony Exum, Sr.
This bill provides $20 million in direct rental and mortgage assistance to Coloradans experiencing a financial need during these turbulent times, including $350,000 for legal aid for renters at risk of eviction.


Coronavirus Relief Funds for Utility Assistance
HB20-1412 -- Reps. Chris Kennedy and Lisa Cutter
The bill allocates $4.8 million to the Energy Outreach Colorado Low-Income Energy Assistance Fund, which helps  Coloradans who are at risk of having their service shut off catch up on their utility payments.


Coronavirus Relief Funds for Mental Health and Substance Abuse Programs
HB20-1411 -- Reps. Dafna Michaelson Jenet and Tracy Kraft-Tharp
This bill dedicates $15 million to critical mental health programs and substance abuse treatment.
2-1-1 Statewide Human Services Referral System
HB20-1197 -- Reps. Marc Snyder and Janice Rich
This bill provides an additional $500,000 to extend 2-1-1 information hotline to provide human services referrals related to the pandemic, including information on COVID test sites, emergency assistance, housing support, and information related to worker protections and health care discrimination through the end of 2020.


Food Pantry Assistance
HB20-1422 -- Reps. Daneya Esgar and Lisa Cutter
This bill provides $500,000 in funding for food banks to purchase more food and make it available across the state, and to create new market opportunities for Colorado’s agricultural producers.


CARES Subfund
HB20-1417 -- Speaker KC Becker
This bill establishes that the $70 million the governor allocated to the General Fund from the CARES Act will be set aside in an account called the CARESare Subfund and reiterates that the funds can only be used for CARES Act approved expenditures.