Colorado General Assembly
The Colorado General Assembly, which covers both houses of the state legislature and related offices, updated its policy of services to disabled people on January 29, 2003. These services cover legislative sessions, meetings of the state House of Representatives or Senate, and other public or private meetings (such as a meeting with a voter’s Senator or Representative). Under this policy, services available for Deaf and hard of hearing people include qualified interpreters and note takers; at least 24 hours advance notice is needed for both services.

Website:  www.state.co.us/gov_dir/leg_dir/ADA%20Services.htm

You can view the complete policy at the website address above; we have quoted here the general information and the services available to Deaf and hard of hearing citizens.

Legislative Branch Policy on Services for the Disabled to Provide Access to Programs, Services and Activities of the Colorado General Assembly 
(Updated January 29, 2003)

Purpose

It is the policy of the Colorado General Assembly that the programs, services, and activities of the legislative branch of Colorado state government be readily accessible to and usable by each person.
 

The legislative branch of Colorado state government consists of the state House of Representatives, the state Senate, and their staff agencies, the Legislative Council staff, the Office of Legislative Legal Services, the Joint Budget Committee staff, and the State Auditor's Office. Pursuant to the Colorado Constitution, regular legislative sessions run annually for 120 calendar days from the second Wednesday in January to early May, and special sessions may be convened at other times. Information on bills can be obtained by calling 303-866-3055 or by TDD phone, at 303-866-3472.
 

At times during legislative sessions, the scheduling of floor debate in the House and Senate and committee meetings may occur on very short notice, and such meeting times may be subject to cancellation and rescheduling. In these situations, public notice is provided as far in advance of meetings as possible. The purpose of this policy is to implement the duty of the Colorado General Assembly to conduct legislative programs, services, and activities which are readily accessible to and usable by persons with disabilities.  

Coordination of Services Available

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Coordinator for the legislative branch of Colorado state government is the manager of Support Services, Legislative Council Staff who may be contacted at 303-866-3521 or in person at the Legislative Council Staff offices in Room 029 of the State Capitol Building. Office hours are 8:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. A message may be left on a voice mail system after office hours.

The Legislative Council Staff will coordinate services available to the disabled pursuant to this policy. Persons desiring to make use of services available pursuant to this policy should contact the Legislative Council Staff in room 029 of the State Capitol Building or at 303-866-3521. A hearing impaired person may contact the Legislative Council Staff by TTY phone at 303-866-3472 or via Relay Colorado (TTY) at 1-800-659-3656. At the Capitol, public TTY phones are located in room 048 on the ground floor and in room 127 on the first floor. Pay telephones designed to accommodate a portable TTY device are located in the hallway outside Room 271 on the second floor. At the Legislative Services Building, a pay telephone designed to accommodate a portable TTY device is also located in the hallway outside the Joint Budget Committee hearing room on the third floor.

Services to Be Provided for the Hearing Impaired

Qualified Interpreters. The Legislative Council Staff will make available the services of a qualified interpreter upon request. Requests for a qualified interpreter should be made at least 24 hours in advance of the time when an interpreter will be required. For Monday meetings, requests should be made as early as possible on the Friday before the meeting. Any person requesting an interpreter shall specifically indicate the time period for which an interpreter will be required, the type of interpreter required (e.g., oral or sign-language), and for what activity of the General Assembly. Legislative Council Staff will use its best efforts to accommodate a request for an interpreter on less notice than specified above, but persons should be aware that difficulties in scheduling may be encountered in accommodating those requests.

Meeting Notes. Upon request, legislative staff will be made available to take meeting notes for hearing impaired persons. Requests should be made at least 24 hours in advance of the time when a note taker is required so that proper scheduling and staff availability arrangements may be considered. Legislative meetings are recorded on audio tape, but written transcripts of meetings are not available.