July 01, 2009 04:58 PM UTC

New Law Wednesday

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• by: ThillyWabbit

It’s July 1st, and you know what that means.

New laws take effect making it legal to collect rainwater, implementing the hard-fought FASTER bill that raises vehicle registration fees to pay for roads, and Governor Bill Ritter’s bill that will raise hospital fees to pump more money into Medicaid, thereby scoring more federal matching funds.

But most interesting to me is the Designated Beneficiary law, which will allow same-sex couples (among others) to inexpensively establish a legal arrangement ensuring one partner will receive the other’s belongings when they die, make medical decisions in the case he or she is incapacitated, and inherit workers compensation death benefits should a partner die on the job.

Today State Sen. Pat Steadman and State Rep. Mark Ferrandino are holding a press event highlighting the new law (received by e-mail):

MEDIA ADVISORY:

For press conference today

Couples and Supporters of Designated Beneficiaries Gather to File Agreements and Celebrate New Law

For Immediate Release

July 1, 2009

Contact:

Heather Draper

Communications and Marketing Manager

GLBT Community Center of Colorado

303.733.7433, x 101

303.847.7152 (cell)

What: News conference and celebration of new Designated Beneficiaries Law

When: Today (July 1), 9 a.m. reception, 10 a.m. news conference

Where: Atrium of the Wellington E. Webb Building, 14th Street and Colfax

Who: Speakers Debra “Liz” Gettings and Patricia Vivien Yarrow, a couple who will talk about how the new law will help ensure their wishes are carried out; Stephanie O’Malley, Denver County Clerk and Recorder; Lucia Guzman, executive director of the Denver Agency for Human Rights and Community Relations; and Sen. Pat Steadman, who helped guide the bill through the legislative process.

Also in attendance will be: Rep. Mark Ferrandino, sponsor of the Designated Beneficiaries bill, representatives from some of the more than 30 organizations that supported the legislation; and couples who are filing their Designated Beneficiary Agreements immediately following the event.  

Why: Designated Beneficiary Agreements provide a new tool for estate planning, giving Coloradans access to a low-cost and convenient method for making plans for end-of-life decisions, inheritance, and other protections related to health care and medical emergencies.