Governor signs Sonnenberg’s CLEAR Act into law

Justin Miller  – Majority Press Secretary

DENVER—Today, the governor signed state Rep. Jerry Sonnenberg’s CLEAR Act into law. House Bill 1002 passed the General Assembly with bipartisan support and will help create a stable environment for job creation and economic opportunity in Colorado.

“This new law is a direct result of House Republicans’ efforts to listen to the concerns of Colorado’s job creators and address their needs,” said Sonnenberg, R-Sterling. “The more stable regulatory environment this law creates will help ensure government is working with—not against—employers.”

Sonnenberg’s measure, or the Creating Level Expectations for Application Review Act, ensures that the rules governing an application filed with a state agency stay in place for the duration of that application’s review. Currently, rules can change after an application is filed, forcing applicants to withdraw their original filing and submit a new one, wasting the time and resources of Colorado’s job creators.

The CLEAR Act is one of a number of bills House Republicans passed this year that was developed after hearing the concerns of business owners they met on their Building a Better Colorado Tour last year.

“This new law helps keep government honest and consistent,” said Loren Furman, of the Colorado Association of Commerce and Industry. “It removes the burdens businesses must bear when application rules change midstream. Colorado’s economic recovery needs the stability Sonnenberg’s measure helps provide.”

Before reaching the governor’s desk, both the House and Senate passed the CLEAR Act with overwhelming bipartisan support.