John Cooke (Colorado politician)
John Cooke is a Republican Senator in the Colorado General Assembly. He represents State Senate District 13 which includes the following communities of Weld County: Greeley, Evans, Milliken, LaSalle, Gilcrest, Platteville, and Ft Lupton.[1]
John Cooke | |
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Member of the Colorado Senate from the 13th district | |
Assumed office January 7th, 2015 | |
Preceded by | Scott Renfroe |
Personal details | |
Born | San Juan, Puerto Rico |
Political party | Republican |
Spouse(s) | Amy Oliver Cooke |
Residence | Greeley, Colorado |
Alma mater | B.S. in Sociology from the University of Northern Colorado |
Occupation | Sheriff (retired) |
Website | Senate site |
Personal life
Cooke was born in San Juan, Puerto Rico due to his father's business work at the time, but returned to Colorado at a young age. He graduated from Arvada West High School and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Sociology from the University of Northern Colorado (UNC) in Greeley. While still attending UNC, Cooke enlisted in the U.S. Army National Guard where he served for six years in the 220th MP Company.[1]
After his time in the U.S. Army National Guard, Cooke graduated from the FBI National Academy and the Law Enforcement Executive Development Seminar. He proceeded to serve as a member of the Breckenridge Police Department and the Weld County Sheriff's Office. During his time serving the Weld County Sheriff's Office, Cooke advanced from the rank of patrol deputy to eventually being elected as the Weld County Sheriff; he held this position from 2002 to 2014, respective to the position's term limit.[1] Cooke was preceded by Steven Reams.
Cooke lives with his wife Amy in Greeley, Colorado near UNC. They have a blended family of five children.[2]
Colorado State Senate
2014 Election
In July 2013 Cooke officially announced his bid to run in the 2014 state Senate election, and in 2014 he defeated opponent Joe Perez (D). He succeeds Scott Renfroe (R) who served in the Colorado State Legislature since 2006.
2015 Legislative Session
Bills Introduced in 2015 by Sen. Cooke (for which Sen. Cooke is the primary originating sponsor) | |||
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Bill | Title | Outcome | |
HB15-1015 | Concerning the creation of an interstate compact allowing states that enter the compact to share emergency medical service providers under certain circumstances. | Signed by Gov. Hickenlooper | |
HB15-1022 | Concerning juveniles charged with certain minor offenses. | Signed by Gov. Hickenlooper | |
HB15-1035 | Concerning changes to crime victim compensation. | Signed by Gov. Hickenlooper | |
HB15-1042 | Concerning requiring presentence reports to include a statement concerning a defendant's eligibility for release from incarceration. | Signed by Gov. Hickenlooper | |
HB15-1043 | Concerning penalties for DUI offenders, and, in connection therewith, making an appropriation. | Signed by Gov. Hickenlooper | |
HB15-1060 | Concerning protection orders in sex offense cases. | Signed by Gov. Hickenlooper | |
HB15-1094 | Concerning restorative justice. | Signed by Gov. Hickenlooper | |
HB15-1122 | Concerning limiting eligibility for parole, and, in connection therewith, amending certain provisions concerning the revocation of parole for certain inmates. | Signed by Gov. Hickenlooper | |
HB15-1134 | Concerning the new vehicle exemption for emissions testing of heavier diesel vehicles with a model year that is no older than 2014. | Signed by Gov. Hickenlooper | |
HB15-1137 | Concerning requests for multiple booking photographs. | Signed by Gov. Hickenlooper | |
HB15-1214 | Concerning opioid analgesics with abuse-deterrent properties. | Signed by Gov. Hickenlooper | |
HB15-1220 | Concerning response to sexual assault on campuses of Colorado's institutions of higher education. | Signed by Gov. Hickenlooper | |
HB15-1230 | Concerning the creation of the innovative industries workforce. | Signed by Gov. Hickenlooper | |
HB15-1276 | Concerning measures to provide additional transparency to peace officer-involved shootings. | Signed by Gov. Hickenlooper | |
HB15-1285 | Concerning use of body-worn cameras by law enforcement officers, and, in connection therewith,establishing a grant program and a study group to recommend policies on the use of body-worn cameras and making an appropriation. | Signed by Gov. Hickenlooper | |
HB15-1327 | Concerning limitations on proxy marriages. | Signed by Gov. Hickenlooper | |
HB15-1341 | Concerning increasing the penalty from a class 6 felony to a class 5 felony for sexual exploitation of a child by possession of sexually exploitative material, and, in connection therewith, making an appropriation. | Signed by Gov. Hickenlooper |
Bills Introduced in 2015 by Sen. Cooke (for which Sen. Cooke is the primary originating sponsor) | |||
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Bill | Title | Outcome | |
SB15-005 | Concerning medical testing in certain first degree assault cases. | Signed by Gov. Hickenlooper | |
SB15-067 | Concerning an increase in the class of offense for certain acts of assault against persons engaged in performing their duties as emergency responders, and, in connection therewith, making an appropriation. | Became a law without the signature of the governor 6/6/15. | |
SB15-099 | Concerning eliminating certain duties for probation officers. | Signed by Gov. Hickenlooper | |
SB15-126 | Concerning medical tests for victims of crimes of assault. | Signed by Gov. Hickenlooper | |
SB15-203 | Concerning continuation of the regulation of debt-management service providers by the Attorney General, and, in connection therewith, implementing the recommendations of the 2014 Sunset Report by the Department of Regulatory Agencies. | Signed by Gov. Hickenlooper | |
SB15-217 | Concerning data collection related to peace officer-involved shootings of a person, and, in connection therewith, making an appropriation. | Signed by Gov. Hickenlooper | |
SB15-219 | Concerning measures to provide additional transparency to peace officer-involved shootings. | Signed by Gov. Hickenlooper | |
SB15-221 | Concerning public transit officers. | Signed by Gov. Hickenlooper |
Bills Introduced in 2015 by Sen. Cooke (for which Sen. Cooke is the primary originating sponsor) | |||
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Bill | Title | Outcome | |
HB15-1057 | Concerning the process for a statewide initiative to be placed on a ballot, and, in connection therewith, making an appropriation. | Signed by Gov. Hickenlooper | |
HB15-1209 | Concerning the highway maintenance division of the Department of Transportation. | Signed by Gov. Hickenlooper | |
SB15-065 | Concerning a prohibition on the use of public electronic benefits transfer services at certain establishments. | Signed by Gov. Hickenlooper | |
SB15-197 | Concerning the prescriptive authority of advanced practice nurses. | Signed by Gov. Hickenlooper | |
SB15-204 | Concerning the independent functioning of the office of the child protection ombudsman, and, in connection therewith, making and reducing appropriations. | Signed by Gov. Hickenlooper | |
SB15-276 | Concerning the elimination of the use of automated vehicle identification systems for traffic law enforcement. | Signed by Gov. Hickenlooper |
As of 2016, Cooke serves as a member on the Agriculture, Natural Resources, and Energy Committee, the Judiciary Committee, and the Transportation Committee.[3] He has sponsored legislation to revise the process of review of state carbon emission plans, to refine the requirements for medical testing that occurs in cases of first, second, and third degree assault, to eliminate certain duties for probation officers, and to increase the class of offense in certain cases of second or third degree assault.
The first piece of legislation that Senator Cooke introduced, Senate Bill 005,[4] passed out of the Senate unanimously and with bipartisan support,[5] and was introduced in the House on February 4, 2015. This bill was signed by the governor on April 16, 2015.
2016 Legislative Session
Bills Introduced in 2016 by Sen. Cooke (for which Sen. Cooke is the primary originating sponsor) | |||
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Bill | Title | Outcome | |
HB16-1008 | Concerning authorization for the Department of Transportation to designate an area on a roadway not otherwise laned for traffic for use by commercial vehicles designed to transport sixteen passengers or more that are operated by a governmental entity or government-owned business that transports the general public or by a contractor on behalf of such an entity or government-owned business. | Signed by Gov. Hickenlooper | |
HB16-1017 | Concerning appearances before a victim impact panel. | Signed by Gov. Hickenlooper | |
HB16-1028 | Concerning modifications to the statewide death and disability plan administered by the fire and police pension association. | Signed by Gov. Hickenlooper | |
HB16-1031 | Concerning a requirement that legislative council staff present a study of the Transportation Commission Districts of the State to the Transportation Legislation Review Committee. | Passed the third reading in the Senate. | |
HB16-1032 | Concerning changes to the contents of criminal summons. | Signed by Gov. Hickenlooper | |
HB16-1080 | Concerning assault by strangulation , and, in connection therewith, making an appropriation. | Passed third reading in the Senate. | |
HB16-1100 | Concerning the ability of unaccompanied homeless youth to determine domicile for purposes of in-state tuition status at institutions of higher education. | Signed by Gov. Hickenlooper | |
HB16-1153 | Concerning the annual date by which the General Assembly receives a report regarding outcomes of decisions made by the state board of parole. | Signed by Gov. Hickenlooper | |
HB16-1104 | Concerning the issuance of a summons in lieu of a warrant for certain non-violent offenders. | Signed by Gov. Hickenlooepr | |
HB16-1182 | Concerning the continuation of the commodity metals theft task force. | Signed by Gov. Hickenlooper | |
HB16-1190 | Concerning the use of deadly force in a detention facility. | Signed by Gov. Hickenlooper | |
HB16-1230 | Concerning the inclusion of a country's financial information in the state's financial information database, which is known as the Transparency Online Project. | Signed by Gov. Hickenlooper | |
SB16-107 | Concerning the regulation of voter registration drive circulators, and, in connection therewith, requiring circulators to complete mandatory training. | Signed by Gov. Hickenlooper | |
SB16-132 | Concerning clarifying that test results relating to certain DUI offenses are not public information. | Passed third reading in the House. | |
SB16-164 | Concerning clarification that a private probation supervision provider can file legal process against a probationer under his or her supervision. | Passed third reading in the House. | |
HB16-1100 | Concerning the ability of unaccompanied homeless youth to determine domicile for purposes of in-state tuition status at institutions of higher education. | Signed by Gov. Hickenlooper | |
HB16-1117 | Concerning a requirement that custodial interrogations related to investigations for certain serious felonies be electronically recorded, and, in connection therewith, making an appropriation. | Passed Third Reading in Senate | |
HB16-1152 | Concerning the authority of the department of corrections to distribute medication. | Signed by Gov. Hickenlooper | |
HB16-1259 | Concerning local district junior colleges, an, in connection therewith, changing the term local district junior college to local district college. | Signed by Gov. Hickenlooper |
Bills Introduced in 2016 by Sen. Cooke (for which Sen. Cooke is the primary originating sponsor) | |||
---|---|---|---|
Bill | Title | Outcome | |
HB16-1152 | Concerning the authority to the Department of Corrections to distribute medication. | Signed by Gov. Hickenlooper | |
HB16-1262 | Concerning measures to improve peace officer hiring, and, in connection therewith, requiring employment waivers as part of the background check process for a person applying for a position as a peace officer. | Signed by Gov. Hickenlooper | |
HB16-1265 | Concerning expungement of arrest records based on mistaken identity. | Signed by Gov. Hickenlooper | |
HB16-1268 | Concerning district attorneys representation in certain hearings arising from interstate supervision compacts. | Signed by Gov. Hickenlooper | |
HB16-1269 | Concerning the ability of the department of revenue to allow additional application methods for identification cards. | Signed by Gov. Hickenlooper | |
HB16-1278 | Concerning residential drug treatment for persons on probation. | Signed by Gov. Hickenlooper | |
HB16-1287 | Concerning a requirement that the department of labor and employment study the integration of alternative training by Colorado businesses. | Signed by Gov. Hickenlooper | |
HB16-1298 | Concerning changes in permissible vehicle dimensions. | Signed by Gov. Hickenlooper | |
HB16-1316 | Concerning the procedure for changing venue for proceedings relating to a child placed in the legal custody of a county department of social or human services. | Signed by Gov. Hickenlooper | |
HB16-1320 | Concerning the regulation of massage therapy to modify practices that are linked to criminal behavior. | Passed through the Senate 5/2. | |
HB16-1323 | Concerning changing the name of the Division of Labor to the Division of Labor Standards and Statistics. | Signed by Gov. Hickenlooper | |
HB16-1345 | Concerning the continuation of the sex offender management board, and, in connection therewith, implemetning the recommendations of the 2015 Sunset Report issued by the Department of Regulatory Agencies | Passed through the Senate 5/6. | |
HB16-1370 | Concerning the regulation of nicotine product retailers. | PI 4/29 in House Business Committee. | |
HB16-1404 | Concerning the regulation of fantasy contests, and in connection therewith, making an appropriation. | Passed third reading in the Senate 5/6. | |
SB16-196 | Concerning the creation of a pilot program for inclusiove higher education for persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities, and, in connection therewith, making an appropriation. | Passed second reading in the House 5/9. |
Bills Introduced in 2017 by Sen. Cooke (for which Sen. Cooke is the primary originating sponsor) | |||
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Bill | Title | Outcome | |
SB17-006 | Concealed Carry For Military Under Twenty-one Years Of Age | Lost in House State Affairs Committee | |
SB17-048 | Require Arrests Of Intensive Supervision Program Escapees From Department Of Corrections | Signed by Gov. Hickenlooper | |
SB17-180 | Public Utilities Commission Streamlined Enforcement Of Motor Carriers | Signed by Gov. Hickenlooper | |
SB17-207 | Strengthen Colorado Behavioral Health Crisis System | Signed by Gov. Hickenlooper | |
SB17-303 | State Highway System Funding And Financing | Lost |
2017 Legislative Session
In the 2017 Legislative Session, Senator John Cooke, a former Weld County Sheriff, focused on keeping communities safe, recognizing the dedication of our law enforcement and making common sense changes to some regulatory statutes.
Among the bills he ran are Senate Bill 6, which would have allowed military personnel to carry a concealed firearm in Colorado both if they are active duty or honorable discharged;[6] Senate Bill 48 allows the arrest of an offender who is in an intensive supervision program if s/he escapes by removing a tracking device;[7] Senate Bill 180 which streamlined the Public Utility Commission’s enforcement of civil penalties for violation and sets up a fund to pay for the new streamlined process;[8] and Senate Bill 303 which would have reallocated existing funds to a highway fund to be used by CDOT to pay debts on road work. It would have asked the people permission to do this in a ballot measure.[9]
He also was the sponsor of Senate Joint Memorial 3 which designates September 27, 2017 as First Responder’s Day, and recognized the sacrifice all first responders make every day. He also sponsored Senate Joint Resolution 26 declaring May 14–20 as Police Week and May 15th as Peace Officer’s Memorial Day.
Senator Cook continues to serve on The Senate Agriculture Committee, as Vice-chair of Senate Transportation and Judiciary Committees and as Chairman of the Legislative Legal Committee.
2018 Legislative Session
Bills Introduced in 2018 by Sen. Cooke (for which Sen. Cooke is the primary originating sponsor) | |||
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Bill | Title | Outcome | |
SB18-001 | Transportation Infrastructure Funding | Signed by Gov. Hickenlooper | |
SB18-014 | Department Of Corrections Disclose Location Of Out-of-state Inmate | Signed by Gov. Hickenlooper | |
SB18-039 | Continue The Wildfire Matters Review Committee | Signed by Gov. Hickenlooper | |
SB18-068 | False Reporting Of An Emergency | Sent to Gov. Hickenlooper | |
SB18-181 | 4-year Motor Vehicle Emissions Inspection Cycle | Lost |
Senate Majority Whip John Cooke worked on a variety of issues during the 2018 Legislative Session with a specific focus on crime and justice, pulling from his experience as an elected Sheriff. Senate Bill 68 increases the penalties for someone who submits a report of a public threat that is false to a law enforcement agency. When someone pranks a false alarm, it draws emergency resources away from true emergencies.
Senate Bill 181 increased the number of years between emissions inspections from two years to four years for vehicles on the road from 1982 and after. It also would prevent a vehicle from being failed for no other reason than having a check engine light on.
Senate Bill 14 requires that the Department of Corrections disclose to the prosecuting attorney and registered victims within 48 hours of relocating a convict to a facility in another state.
Senate Bill 1, the first bill of the session, will increase funding for road and bridge repair. This bill would allocate $250 billion to fix roads over the next 20 years. This money comes from the general fund, so the dollars are already there. SB 1 also requires a percentage of the money to be spent on repairing roads in smaller counties with fewer than 50,000 people.
External links
References
- "Senate Republicans".
- "Campaign Website". Cooke for Colorado. Retrieved 17 February 2015.
- "Colorado Senate Committees". Colorado General Assembly Legislative Council. Retrieved 27 February 2015.
- "Senate Bill 005" (PDF). COGA Legislative Information. Retrieved 17 February 2015.
- Stokols, Eli. "Senate advances bill expanding criminal blood tests". Fox 31 News. Retrieved 17 February 2015.
- http://leg.colorado.gov/bills/sb17-006
- http://leg.colorado.gov/bills/sb17-048
- http://leg.colorado.gov/bills/sb17-180
- http://leg.colorado.gov/bills/sb17-303