{"id":46729,"date":"2021-05-16T00:39:00","date_gmt":"2021-05-16T06:39:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/gov-polis-signs-bill-at-flc-meets-with-local-government\/"},"modified":"2026-03-31T03:33:37","modified_gmt":"2026-03-31T09:33:37","slug":"gov-polis-signs-bill-at-flc-meets-with-local-government","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/gov-polis-signs-bill-at-flc-meets-with-local-government\/","title":{"rendered":"Gov. Polis signs bill at FLC, meets with local government"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Gov.
Gov. Jared Polis signs HB 21-1151 into law as Rep. Barbara McLachlan looks on. The bill enables Native American tribes to certify foster homes in Colorado. (Nick Gonzales\/Durango Herald)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>\n

Colorado Gov. Jared Polis came to Durango on Saturday afternoon to sign a bill and meet with representatives of local government.<\/p>\n

The bill, House Bill 1151, allows federally recognized Native American tribes to certify their own foster homes. Previously, only county departments of human or social services or child placement agencies could certify foster homes.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis bill makes sure that Colorado\u2019s laws are better aligned with some of the federal rights that exist under the Indian Child Welfare Act,\u201d Polis said. \u201cThe federally recognized tribes have an authority to certify foster homes, but this bill makes sure that the county department of human services or health can contract with the federally recognized tribes to better place Native children who live outside of their jurisdiction with Native American families. This bill will increase the number of Native American children that are placed with Native American families, and by doing that, it\u2019ll help make sure that the important aspects of Native American heritage and culture can be passed down inter-generationally.\u201d<\/p>\n

He said the bill, which he signed at the Sitter Family Hall at Fort Lewis College, brings Colorado law more in line with laws that exist at the federal level.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhile some rights existed federally, they were in practice difficult to enforce if they weren\u2019t between states, if it was strictly within the state of Colorado,\u201d he said. \u201cThis bill is similar to what is in place federally for interstate adoptions, but effectively what this bill will do in Colorado is help increase the number of Native children that are also placed with Native American families to help preserve their culture.\u201d<\/p>\n

Polis also noted the importance of signing the bill at FLC.<\/p>\n

\u201cFort Lewis, by treaty, serves our Native American communities across the country \u2026 and of course, this bill relates to the successful continuation of tribal culture for foster children,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

The bill was sponsored in the Colorado Legislature by Reps. Barbara McLachlan, D-Durango; Marc Catlin, R-Montrose; and Sen. Don Coram, R-Montrose.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think it\u2019s something that should have been done a long time ago,\u201d McLachlan said. \u201cAnd it just shows a good working relationship between the state and the tribes.\u201d<\/p>\n

Polis also thanked FLC for being the first college in the state to require COVID-19 vaccinations.<\/p>\n

Polis planned to meet with the Southern Ute Indian Tribe and the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe later in the day.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe collaborate with them on water, on land, we worked with them very closely on health issues during COVID and helping with the vaccination process, so we\u2019re looking forward to hearing directly form the tribal councils,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\"Gov.
Gov. Jared Polis, third from right, meets with representatives of the governments of La Plata County and Durango on Saturday at Carver Brewing Co. (Nick Gonzales\/Durango Herald)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>

Before the bill-signing, the governor met with La Plata County commissioners and Durango city councilors for a lunch meet and greet at Carver Brewing Co.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s really important for a governor to hear from city councils and commissioners from all across the state to make sure that we\u2019re tackling many of the important statewide issues,\u201d he said. \u201cI really wasn\u2019t surprised to hear from our local elected officials that many issues that La Plata County and Durango struggle with are similar issues to other parts of our state.\u201d<\/p>\n

He said affordable housing is one of the foremost issues in Colorado.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a very common issue across much of our state, and so that is one of the big areas that we focus on with the one-time funds that the state will have will be on really leveraging that investment for more affordable housing,\u201d Polis said.<\/p>\n

He also cited transportation and infrastructure as important issues, and said he is working on a bipartisan infrastructure deal that will help fund roads in Southwest Colorado.<\/p>\n

\u201cI thought it went very well,\u201d said Mayor Kim Baxter. \u201cI think he really listened to what the city and county had to say and how the state can support us in achieving goals around workforce housing, transportation and other items. \u2026 I think he actually will support us in getting things done.\u201d<\/p>\n

La Plata County Commissioner Marsha Porter-Norton agreed.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m really glad that he came down here,\u201d she said. \u201cAny time that we can meet with elected officials from the state level, I think it\u2019s very important for us to be there and share from our perspectives. The governor said he hears many of the same things in other areas, but we do have some uniqueness, I think, to Southwest Colorado that we\u2019re trying to work through every way we can think of, especially with workforce housing.\u201d<\/p>\n

ngonzales@durangoherald.com<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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