Educational Outreach

The mission of the OLLS Educational Outreach Committee is to promote the quality and integrity of the Colorado Revised Statutes by enhancing public understanding and access to the legislative process through people-to-people outreach projects.

Objectives

• Develop an educational program for Colorado students, as well as the public at large, that will teach students and the public about the importance of the legislative process and the role of OLLS in that process;
  
• Educate the practicing bar through externships and continuing legal education courses addressing legislative changes and the legislative process;
  
• Further enhance the quality of employees of OLLS through the recruitment of outstanding candidates for employment from local paralegal institutes, colleges, universities, and law schools and through coordinated efforts with the OLLS Internship Subcommittee; and
  
• Increase educational outreach with members of the legislature and their staff.

Contact Information

For more information about the opportunities offered by the Educational Outreach Committee, please contact .

Outreach Projects

Jefferson County Public Trustee's Office

On July 30, 2009, representatives of the office spoke to members of the Jefferson County Public Trustee's Office about the Session Laws of Colorado and the Colorado Revised Statutes (C.R.S.).  This project was designed as a training program for the members of the trustee's office, who frequently consult the C.R.S. in the course of their work.  The OLLS staff members spoke to two groups of employees about how to read the Session Laws and Colorado Revised Statutes, how the C.R.S. are organized, and how to read and write statutory citations.  They also explained editorial information found in the C.R.S., such as source notes, editor's notes, cross references, and annotations.

"Project Citizen" Professional Development

On June 19, 2009, several staff members served as evaluators at a professional development program hosted by the Center for Education in Law and Democracy.  As participants in the program, educators and youth group leaders from around the country took part in a "Project Citizen" simulation in which they identified problems in their schools or communities and developed policy proposals to address those problems.  The OLLS staff members observed and critiqued the proposals and offered suggestions for how each group could improve its presentation.  The purpose of the program was to give teachers and other youth group leaders an opportunity to experience "Project Citizen" so that they are better prepared to guide their students through the project during the school year.

House Intern Immersion Program

In late March and early April, the educational outreach committee conducted a two-day program for a number of the House members' interns.  In an effort to give the interns an introduction and overview of OLLS, the committee organized a program that, among other things, taught the interns about how a bill is drafted, how the Colorado Revised Statutes are published, and how administrative rules are reviewed by the office.  The feedback from the interns was very positive, and throughout the program they exhibited a lot of interest in OLLS and its role in the legislative process.  The event was very successful, and the committee intends to conduct it again during the 2010 legislative session.

Law School Career Fairs

In furtherance of the committee's goal of recruiting outstanding employees from area law schools, OLLS staff regularly attend career fairs hosted by local law schools.  In 2007, Julie Pelegrin and Jane Ritter represented OLLS at the University of Denver Sturm College of Law Career Fair.  They educated students about the role of our office in the legislative process and provided information about the OLLS internship program.  In November 2008, Jery Payne and John Kilgour represented the office at the Rocky Mountain Government/Public Interest Law Career Fair at the University of Colorado Law School.  Jery and John spoke to current law students and recent graduates about OLLS and the office's internship program.

Girl Scouts of the Rocky Mountains

Former staff members Jennifer Ernst and Jason Lidyard worked during the 2006 interim to design a "Mock Legislative Committee Hearing" in which participants simulate the roles of legislators, lobbyists, and concerned citizens.  On February 19, 2007, approximately 70 Girl Scouts signed up to participate in the committee hearing as part of the 2007 Girl Scouts' Capitol Day.  The Educational Outreach Committee conducted two successful sessions that day, and at the 2008 Capitol Day the Committee organized three hearings.  Based on the success of these events, the Committee continues to look for opportunities to engage classes and other groups in mock committee hearings.

We the People:  the Citizen and the Constitution

Each year OLLS staff serve as judges for the We the People:  the Citizen and the Constitution program.  As participants in We the People, teams of students prepare for and testify in mock congressional hearings.  Engaging in this competition challenges students to think about important political issues and gives them a stronger understanding of the United States Constitution and the American political system.  OLLS staff members have contributed to the program in a variety of ways.  They have served as judges at the high school level and congressional district level competitions, as well as at the state level competition held at the state capitol in Denver.  Staff members have also spent time at local high schools helping teams prepare for their competitions.

On November 6, 2009, volunteers from the office served as judges for Thornton High School's sixth annual "We the People" competition.  The OLLS volunteers spent the morning hearing teams of students give presentations on the constitution and bill of rights.  They had opportunities to ask the students follow-up questions, and they scored each team based on several criteria, including their understanding of the constitution, their ability to respond to questions, and how well they supported their arguments with historical and contemporary evidence.  The winner of Thornton High's competition will move on to the congressional district level competition.

Department of Personnel and Administration's annual "Legislative Review and Learning Seminar"

On June 20, 2007, OLLS staff spoke at the Department of Personnel and Administration's annual "Legislative Review and Learning Seminar," designed to educate state employees about the legislative functions of the Joint Budget Committee, OLLS, Legislative Council, and the state agency legislative liaisons. Topics included a review of the 2007 legislative session, the process for making policy and budget decisions that impact state employees, and the legislative impact on total compensation for state employees. Julie Pelegrin, senior staff attorney with OLLS, provided an overview of the legislative process, highlighting the various functions of OLLS.  Jennifer Gilroy and Bob Lackner discussed the implications of Amendment 41, the constitutional ethics reform measure passed by voters at the 2006 general election.

Other Outreach Events

• On February 20, 2009, Esther van Mourik and John Kilgour met with a group of ninth graders from Thornton High School.  They spoke to the students about the lawmaking process and about how a bill is drafted and amended.  The students were all members of an International Baccalaureate program at Thornton High, and prior to meeting with Esther and John they had toured the capitol and observed debate in the House and Senate.
• In November 2007, Jennifer Gilroy and former staff member Jennifer Ernst attended the Summit Ridge Middle School Career Fair.  With almost 500 students in attendance, they showed the "School House Rock" video on a large screen at their table and answered many questions about legislative careers. In November 2008, Jennifer Gilroy and John Kilgour returned to the Summit Ridge Middle School Career Fair, where they taught the students in attendance about OLLS and legislative careers.
  
• During the legislative session, Jerry Barry spoke at the Senate Majority Office "Aides and Interns Lunch."  The luncheon was a "thank you" event for the 2007 Senate Majority staff, and Jerry gave a short talk on the role of OLLS in the legislative process.
  
• In 2007, Jane Ritter spoke about drafting effective hate crime legislation at a Sturm College of Law event entitled "Sex Politics & Gender Violence."
  
• On February 14, 2007, Julie Pelegrin spoke about OLLS during an annual meeting of the Colorado Behavioral Healthcare Council, an event designed to update doctors and health care administrators on relevant policy proposals under legislative consideration.
  
• Prior to the 2006 general election, former staff members Jennifer Ernst, Jason Lidyard, and Emily Hager talked to students at Skyview High School of the Mapleton Public School District about the legislative process and initiative and referenda.