Colorado’s New Pregnancy Law

The Colorado Pregnant Workers Fairness Act took effect on August 10, 2016 and is an amendment to the Colorado Anti Discrimination Act (CADA). It requires employers to accommodate medical conditions and limitations stemming from pregnancy that may not separately qualify as disabilities under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). It protects individuals with conditions related to pregnancy, childbirth, or a related condition without requiring that the conditions are disabling.

The new law allows pregnant women to have more frequent or longer break periods, as well as restroom, food and water breaks. Modified work schedules, assistance with manual labor, modification of equipment or seating and limitation on lifting is also addressed in this new law.

New Historic Preservation Plan for Colorado

History Colorado’s Office of Archaeology and Historic Preservation released the five-year update to The Power of Heritage and Place: A 2020 Action Plan to Advance Preservation in Colorado. The update outlines the actions and goals that state, federal, and local preservationists should consider while working to save Colorado’s priceless historic buildings and other resources. The plan seeks to address the unique challenges to historic preservation and incorporates and suggests new strategies for historic preservation practices, collaboration, and public outreach.

The Power of Heritage and Place: A 2020 Action Plan to Advance Preservation in Colorado is available online at HistoryColorado.org > search for State Preservation Plan.

New Open Space in Far NE

The 198-Acre First Creek at DEN will connect trails in local neighborhoods, neighboring cities and the Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge. The native prairie and large cottonwood trees provide habitat for wildlife such as bald eagles, golden eagles, red-tailed hawks, burrowing owls, coyotes and deer. First Creek at DEN is located between the Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge (RMANWR) and Peña Boulevard, and north of 56th Avenue on Buckley Road. Owned by the city through Denver International Airport (DEN), Denver Parks and Recreation (DPR) and DEN signed an interagency permit to designate 198-acres of airport land as open space.

Historic Designation for Church for its Support of LGBT Rights

The First Unitarian Society of Denver building at 1400 Lafayette St., which served as a gathering place in the advancement of social justice issues in Colorado, became a local historic landmark via a vote of Denver City Council. Over the years, it has welcomed social justice organizations that could find no other public venue for their meetings or presentations.

The site, whose architecture and geography also meet the city’s designation criteria, is the first in Colorado to be recognized at the local, state or national level for its importance in the history of the LGBT rights movement.