Well here's some good news from today (well sort of, thanks to soon up for re-election John Evans). Senator Deanna Hanna got an excellent bill passed through the Education Committee.

Here's the brief description they give out on the daily calendars down there "Senate Bill 067 -- Suicidal Behavior in Higher Ed." Yikes right? Well, what it does is it would allow Universities to include a waiver for all incoming students to designate a person to call if they are reported to or are observed displaying suicidal behavior. It is "common sense" legislation in my view, I know of several suicide stories from college, and this bill could have possibly prevented at least some of them.

You see, as it stands today Universities are prohibited from contacting or releasing information to ANYBODY in regards to their student body. This is due to current Federal Privacy Laws. However this waiver would allow the appropriate person (designated by each university) on campus to contact whomever the student designated on the form in case they displayed suicidal behavior. Sounds great right, the waiver is optional for the student, and the school actually designs it in the way it feels is appropriate for their campus.

What's the problem? Well, evidently Senator Evans felt like it would be better to have a "pilot program" instead of simply passing the bill as it was intended, to go out statewide. Now, thanks to Senator Evans the wording in the bill will allow for as few as one public university in this state to institute this program over the next two years. [Read: It could also be allowed in ALL state universities, but when it can be as few as one, it seems doubtful it will be all or even close to it]. After the two-year "Pilot" period, the program will be judged and then will either sunset (die) or used at every State School in Colorado.

This is good legislation that has been mucked up by compromise because John Evans isn't sure about suicide prevention, what a shame. Still, a big cheers for Senator Hanna.