Press Release - Bills Supporting Schools Signed
OFFICE OF GOV. BILL RITTER, JR.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
WEDNESDAY, MAY 21, 2008
CONTACT:
Evan Dreyer, 720.350.8370, evan.dreyer@state.co.us
GOV. RITTER SIGNS BILLS SUPPORTING SCHOOLS
Gov. Bill Ritter signed two bipartisan bills supporting education and parent-teacher organizations into law today.
"Both of these bills help us cut bureaucratic red tape and help volunteers support our students and schools," Gov. Ritter said. "These are great examples of how we do our best work when we work together on behalf of Colorado kids to find practical solutions to real problems."
House Bill 1013 (Rep. Jerry Sonnenberg/Sen. John Morse) creates, for the first time in Colorado, a sales-tax exemption on sales that benefit public and private schools. This will encourage greater private support of public schools
HB 1358 (Rep. Joe Rice/Sen. Steve Ward) exempt Parents Teacher Organizations (PTOs) and Parent Teacher Associations (PTAs) from paying sales taxes on fundraisers like bake sales and silent auctions.
It also requires vendors to handle the paperwork and collection of sales taxes on "prepackaged" activities that are not exempt, such as the sale of discount coupon books and wrapping paper. Currently, many vendors assign these responsibilities to informal volunteer-run PTOs and PTAs.
"This is such a little thing, but it can make such a huge difference," Rep. Rice said. "By reducing red tape and cutting the administrative burden on parent fundraisers, we’ll free them up to do what they do best: bring in the dough. And, hopefully, we’ll put a little more money back in our schools."
For a complete list of 2008 legislation Gov. Ritter has signed into law, click here.