R.I.P.

The first bill proposed by Rep. Douglas Bruce, R-Colorado Springs, died by unanimous vote Thursday in the House Education Committee.

Under the bill, every school district in Colorado would have been required to distribute copies of the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution to all 12th-graders. High school seniors would also have to take 20 hours of instruction on those documents. School districts would be fined $100 for each student who did not take the course or receive a pamphlet.

Mike Stahl, testifying on behalf of the Pikes Peak Education Association, called the bill “frivolous and punitive,” and he said it would do nothing to advance student achievement.

The bill would also have required the state to develop an optional eighthour course for legislators on the federal and state constitutions.

Bruce’s offer to make concessions was rebuffed by the committee.

Funeral regulations

The funeral industry would be regulated in Colorado for the first time in more than 20 years under a proposal by Rep. Debbie Stafford, D-Aurora.

House Bill 1123 would require funeral directors, morticians, embalmers and cremationists to register with the state. The bill also requires workers to have at least 500 hours of experience before registering.

No one testified against the bill, but Republicans on the panel were concerned that smaller funeral homes may not be able to afford to comply with the new regulations.

Stafford said Colorado is the only state that does not regulate the industry or set criteria for practitioners.

“With a briefcase and a cell phone, you can get into the funeral business,” Stafford said.

Driving with pride

Two new license plates may be on the road come July, after the House Transportation and Energy Committee approved bills by Colorado Springs Republicans Thursday.

House Bill 1151 by Rep. Kent Lambert creates a special plate for the Boy Scouts of America’s 100th anniversary. It will cost $25 and be available through July 2011. About 30 Boy Scouts and Cub Scouts showed up to cheer on the bill.

House Bill 1175 by Rep. Stella Garza Hicks sets up a plate honoring the 4th Infantry Division for a $50 fee.

Both measures now go to the House Appropriations Committee.

Massive die-off

Members of the House State, Veterans and Military Affairs Committee thought about the unthinkable Thursday as they considered how the state would elect representatives to the U.S. Congress if the delegation fell victim to a massive terrorist attack.

House Bill 1003 is sponsored by Rep. David Balmer, R-Centennial. It would make state law conform with a federal law passed in response to the Sept. 11 attacks. The law says that if 100 or more congressional seats become vacant, states must hold expedited elections to replace their dead or incapacitated lawmakers.

If a similar vacancy occurs in the Senate, the governor would appoint a replacement, as is current procedure.

The bill was sent to the House on a 9-0 vote.

Snow day

Legislators don’t get snow days, but it looked like that on Thursday.

After a storm late Wednesday, the Senate convened at 9 a.m. with just 18 members — one more than the minimum for a quorum — and recessed 22 minutes later after pushing its bills over to today. The senators’ only action was to pass a resolution approving the placement of a statue of Rocky Mountain National Park founder Enos Mills on the Capitol grounds, even though the delegation of Estes Park officials who planned to support the measure didn’t make it in time.

Coming soon

Troops wounded in combat may soon be able to hunt for free.

Sen. Nancy Spence, R-Centennial, introduced Senate Bill 108 late Wednesday. The measure would allow Purple Heart recipients living in Colorado to receive free lifetime combination small game hunting and fishing licenses from the Division of Wildlife.