Past NFIB/Colorado Legislative Victories
2010 NFIB Victories
Stopped encouragement of questionable workers' compensation claims
Defeated attempts to limit the use of employee surveillance by imposing severe restrictions on employers and insurance companies. House Bill 1012 would have encouraged more questionable workers compensation claims. Employees would have been provided with copies of all reports and received an expedited hearing if requested, thereby jeopardizing the effective use of surveillance.
Won more pricing options for healthcare
Passed legislation allowing for employee discounts on their health insurance when the employee completes a defined-wellness program. Roughly 80 percent of health care costs are applicable to 20 of the patients. This legislation allows for more pricing options for employers and moves more accountability for healthcare costs to the individual through personal responsibility.
Defeated attempt to increase amount of frivolous lawsuits
Defeated House Bill 1269 which would have incentivized groundless lawsuits against small businesses. Employers facing groundless lawsuits are forced to hire fewer workers, lay off others, or even close the doors altogether. HB 1269 would have made it more lucrative for plaintiff attorneys to encourage employees of small businesses to file lawsuits against Colorado employers.
Prevented increases to unemployment insurance costs
Fought for sensible solutions to the unemployment rate in Colorado. Promoted policies that encouraged business owners to create jobs. Opposed all attempts to expand unemployment benefits, which lead to increased unemployment insurance costs for employers. Currently Colorado’s Unemployment Trust Fund is insolvent and the state has had to take a federal loan. This loan must be paid back in 2011. NFIB/Colorado will fight for policies that do not place unfair obligation on employers to help repay this loan.
Previous Victories
Passed Cost/Benefit Analysis Rule extension, saving small-business owners up to 60% in compliance costs
NFIB led efforts to pass the Cost/Benefit Analysis rule extension, saving small-business owners up to 60 percent in compliance costs per employee by preventing unnecessary and duplicative regulations.
Defeated legislation that would have raised workers' compensation costs
NFIB worked to defeat legislation that would have led to an increase in workers' compensation insurance premiums and allowed injured employees to change medical providers after 60 days should the worker not be at maximum medical improvement. This defeat saved business owners a possible 20 percent increase in their workers' compensation insurance premiums.
Defeated health insurance mandates, keeping premiums low
Defeated additional health-insurance mandates concerning expansion of coverage to the dependent of the dependent under an employer-sponsored health plan.
Protected privacy rights by defeating operational mandates
Defeated a mandate requiring any employee applying for Medicaid or other uncompensated health-care coverage to report the name of their employer.
VICTORY: 2002 -- On behalf of its Colorado members, NFIB worked to block more than 300 health care mandates included in the American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic Statistical Manual of Mental Health Disorders. These mandates would have demanded coverage of such conditions as caffeine addiction, insomnia and jet lag.
VICTORY: 2002 -- Over the last 10 years, NFIB has passed and defended legislation that has led to a reduction in workers' compensation insurance costs in Colorado by an average of 10.2 percent.
VICTORY: NFIB helped design and pass legislation that will refund Business Personal Property (BPP) taxes paid up to the first $500 and 13 percent of the tax paid above $500. This legislation will refund mare than $100 million back into the state's business community each year. New legislation, supported by NFIB and passed in 2000, make the refunds automatic.
VICTORY: NFIB also helped kill legislation that would have, among other things, added huge punitive damages to settlements in wrongful death lawsuits arising from job-related accidents. If the bill had passed, it would have increased liability insurance premiums including commercial auto, product liability and general business liability by an estimated $200 million.