Swerdfeger’s Bills Signed into Law

PUEBLO, Colo. – State Rep. Keith Swerdfeger’s bills to offer Coloradans more opportunities for economic growth and education were signed into law today.

House Bill 1311 allows the state’s Economic Development Commission to approve more applications from local governments for large-scale tourism related projects. Under current law, the EDC may approve up to two regional tourism projects per calendar year.

“State tourism is not only a great way to infuse Colorado’s economy with more revenue, but it also creates more jobs,” said Swerdfeger, R-Pueblo West. “By allowing more regional tourism project applications to be approved, our state creates more ways to bring tourists to Colorado.”

Senate Bill 204, co-sponsored with House Majority Leader Amy Stephens, R-Monument, changes the role and mission of the Pueblo campus of the Colorado State University to allow the school to offer a limited number of graduate programs, including doctoral programs. Current law allows the campus to offer only baccalaureate and master's-level programs.

“CSU Pueblo is one of the fastest growing campuses in the state and allowing more programs will help the university to attract more students,” said Swerdfeger.

Both bills were signed at Colorado State University-Pueblo this morning.

House Bill 1311 passed with bipartisan support in both the House and Senate and went into effect with the governor’s signature. Senate Bill 204 passed with unanimous support and goes into effect on August 10, 2011.

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