Again, thank you all for calling your legislators in support of this bill. The broad base of legislators who voted in favor of this bill would not be possible without considerable grassroots support. The original intention of this bill, sponsored by Rep. Ben Clarke, was to provide prenatal care to undocumented immigrants. The bill passed and was signed by the governor but, in it's amended form, it no longer authorizes such care. Instead it only provides for a study of the issue.
Preventative care is less expensive than care provided once a problem occurs.
Prenatal services provide preventive care, identify problems early in pregnancy, and help ensure the delivery of a healthy baby. We hope to see the promise of this bill fulfilled in next year's legislative session. SB 80 had been approved in the Senate State, Veterans and Military Affairs committee by a 5-4 party line vote on February 10th. The bill initially called for a referendum in November 2000 to let Coloradans vote on the issue, but that language was removed in committee. Prior to the vote on the Senate Floor, Senator Lamborn killed the committee's amendment, returning the bill to one calling for a referendum.