Arapahoe County staff recommends mixed positions on multiple state bills; board directs amendments on county enforcement bill

Arapahoe County officials reviewed several bills under consideration by the Colorado Legislature during the Board of County Commissioners’ Jan. 28 study session, asking staff to pursue a mix of positions — support, monitor or seek amendments — depending on an item’s potential local impacts.

The most immediate endorsement was for a form-classification bill brought by state Sen. Sandra Judah that would add Middle Eastern, North African or South Asian selection options to local-government race/ethnicity fields. Cody O’Brien of the commissioners’ office summarized staff’s recommendation and Commissioner Jessica Campbell said the change would “inform us, especially when you think about Voting Rights Act and different, populate minority population thresholds.” Commissioners registered support for the recommendation; staff recorded four commissioners signaling a favorable recommendation to guide staff outreach on the bill.

Staff next recommended monitoring a proposal to give the Colorado Department of Public Safety more flexibility in distributing state-maintained…