DENVER A bipartisan groups of legislators wants to bring new meaning to the term joint checking account.
Senate Bill 75, introduced late last week, would allow medical marijuana businesses and patients to create a type of credit union that pot businesses could use for their financial transactions.
Colorado banks will not open accounts for dispensaries, because medical marijuana is still illegal under federal law. The bill would allow for the creation of financial cooperatives, backed up by insurance companies.
Other recent bills include:
House Bill 1119, by Rep. Don Coram, R-Montrose, would cut back fines on businesses for what Coram calls minor violations. A business would have 20 days to correct a minor violation noted by a government inspector before a fine would be imposed. The business would have 90 days to correct a paperwork violation before getting fined.
HB 1111 would require a state, federal or college identification card to vote in an election.
HB 1128 would prohibit discrimination in public places against people who wear motorcycle gear.
HB 1130 creates new crimes for attacking pregnant women and killing their children, either by an assault or by reckless driving. It would not criminalize abortions done by medical professionals with the mothers consent.
HB 1147 would designate the Western tiger salamander as the official state amphibian not to be confused with the official state reptile, which is the Western painted turtle.
HB 1174 would ban the disposal of hydraulic fracturing fluid in open pits after July 1, 2014. However, the state Oil and Gas Conservation Commission could make exceptions.
HB 1176 would restrict gas and oil drilling within 1,000 feet of a school or home in an urban area.
Reach Joe Hanel at joeh@cortezjournal.com