As the end of session nears ever closer, the Senate has been meeting on the floor and taking votes on bills, and the Senate Tax and Finance committees have been meeting. On the Senate floor this week a number of bills were heard. Many were technical bills from the state departments. Paying for WWII vets to attend memorial dedication One noteworthy bill that unanimously passed the Senate now allows licensed veteran’s organizations to pay up to $1,500 per person, to send up to two World War II Veterans per post to Washington D.C. for the dedication events of the National World War II Memorial May 27-May 30, 2004. The bill was presented to the governor April 28 and is expected to be signed into law. Other bills taken up this week included a bill to prohibit an insurer from refusing to renew or decline to offer or write homeowner’s insurance coverage solely because the property to be covered houses daycare services. This bill passed the Senate. Attorney fees for peace officers Another bill to pass the Senate deals with recovery of attorney fees for peace officers. Under current law, a home rule charter or statutory city, town, or county with a civilian review authority for complaints against peace officers must pay attorney fees and other costs the peace officer incurs in defending a complaint, if the complaint is not upheld at a hearing before the civilian review authority. This bill strikes the reference to the hearing and would require the fees to be paid if the complaint is sustained by the civilian review authority and then later not upheld. As always, I welcome your comments and concerns. I can be reached at my contact information above.
