If bill fails, advocates plan to put it on ballot

Advocates determined to provide family and medical leave to workers in Colorado — one way or another — started down the path this week to put it on the fall ballot if state lawmakers don’t pass it.

“Bad luck or a medical diagnosis shouldn’t leave anyone in financial ruin,” supporter Wendy Howell said in a statement.

A hearing is scheduled for Feb. 4 for two versions of a proposed initiative a group called Colorado Families First filed with the Legislative Council on Tuesday.

A lead sponsor of the 2019 family leave bill that was eventually gutted welcomed the move as a “backup plan,” while business groups were swift to voice opposition.

Democratic lawmakers have vowed to pass a paid family leave program this year — their sixth attempt. Sen. Faith Winter of Westminster said she’s trying to satisfy a number of constituencies with very different ideas on how to implement it and is hopeful a bill will be ready for introduction by mid-February.

“I’m optimistic there’s a legislative solution, but it’s always nice to have a backup plan,” she said.

Winter said she was not involved in crafting the proposed ballot measures.

The Colorado Chamber of Commerce said five legislative sessions and an interim task force attempting to take on the issue show that it’s a complicated one. It’s important to balance the interests of businesses and employees, Loren Furman, senior vice president of state and federal relations, said in the statement.

“These ballot initiatives, however, reflect the same stale

approach that has failed with the legislature time and time again,” she said. “A payroll tax on every worker and business in the state will hurt the very people this policy is intended to help — especially small businesses and Coloradans living paycheck to paycheck.”

The Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce similarly opposed the measure.

“While we strongly support employers providing paid leave, a $2 billion tax increase to fund a state startup is the most inefficient, risky and ineffective way to do it,” president and CEO Kelly Brough said in a statement. “A state-run program that mandates a one-size-fits-all approach for our smallest businesses up to our largest corporations isn’t the answer.”

Brough said it’s “shocking” that the state is considering taking on a new program when lawmakers haven’t delivered on issues of transportation and education.

Colorado Families First expects to get a $500,000 contribution from the Sixteen Thirty Fund, a left-leaning lobbying and advocacy organization that supports progressive causes across the country.

If a measure is approved and moved to the Colorado Secretary of State’s Office, proponents will have to gather signatures to qualify for the November ballot.

Staff writer Alex Burness contributed to this report.