Summary of Major Legislation Summary of State Government Legislation (2019) During the 2019 legislative session, the General Assembly considered measures related to its own operations, federal relations, state employees and retirement plans, state agencies and procurement, open records and meetings, and notarization and recording. Release date: 2020-05-01 Publishing Agency: Legislative Council Staff Subjects: State Government Download File
Issue Briefs Unemployment Insurance and Economic Downturns (20-13) This issue brief provides an overview of the Colorado unemployment insurance (UI) program, including UI benefits, funding, and solvency in the context of recent economic downturns. Release date: 2020-04-22 Publishing Agency: Legislative Council Staff Subjects: Business & Economic Development Labor & Employment State Government Download File
Staff Publications State and Local Cybersecurity Collaboration This memorandum describes how some states find new ways to share cybersecurity knowledge and resources with their local governments to improve the state’s overall cybersecurity posture. Release date: 2020-04-15 Publishing Agency: Legislative Council Staff Subjects: Local Government State Government Telecommunications & Information Technology Download File
Issue Briefs PERA's Automatic Adjustment Provision (20-09) Senate Bill 18-200, Modifications to the Colorado Public Employees' Retirement Association (PERA) to Eliminate Unfunded Liability, included an automatic adjustment provision (AAP) that triggers when PERA's trusts are not on track to reach full funding within the targeted 30-year period. This issue brief discusses how the provision works and has been used since 2019. Release date: 2020-03-27 Publishing Agency: Legislative Council Staff Subjects: State Government Download File
Staff Publications State Government Enterprises This memorandum provides information on state government enterprises under Article X, Section 20 of the Colorado Constitution, also known as the Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights (TABOR). From FY 1993-94 through FY 2017-18, 22 state government entities had received enterprise status for at least one fiscal year. In FY 2017‑18, enterprise revenue totaled $17.9 billion. Release date: 2019-05-20 Publishing Agency: Legislative Council Staff Subjects: State Government State Revenue & Budget Download File
Staff Publications Fiscal Assessment of Proposed Amendment SB188_L.045, Concerning Creation of the Family Medical Leave Insurance Program This memorandum is an assessment of the fiscal impact of the attached proposed Amendment L.045 to Senate Bill 19-188. This fiscal assessment is for the impact of the bill with inclusion of this amendment only. Any other added amendment could influence the fiscal impact. Release date: 2019-04-09 Publishing Agency: Legislative Council Staff Subjects: Health Care & Health Insurance Labor & Employment State Government Download File
Staff Publications 2018 State Water Policy Handbook Update This handbook was created to help members of the House Agriculture, Livestock, and Natural Resources Committee, Senate Agriculture, Natural Resources and Energy Committee, the interim Water Resources Review Committee, and other legislators to better understand Colorado's water policies and programs that are likely to be encountered during their tenure. Release date: 2019-02-06 Publishing Agency: Legislative Council Staff Subjects: Agriculture Natural Resources & Environment State Government Water Download File
Staff Publications Overview of the Colorado Public Employees' Retirement Association and Changes Made by Senate Bill 18-200 This memorandum provides an overview of the Colorado Public Employees’ Retirement Association (PERA) and the changes made to PERA by Senate Bill 18‑200. Release date: 2019-01-07 Publishing Agency: Legislative Council Staff Subjects: Financial Services & Commerce Fiscal Policy & Taxes Labor & Employment State Government State Revenue & Budget Download File
Summary of Major Legislation Summary of Capital Construction Legislation (2018) During the 2018 legislative session, the General Assembly considered a number of bills affecting funding for capital construction and the duties of the Capital Development Committee (CDC). Release date: 2018-08-27 Publishing Agency: Legislative Council Staff Subjects: Capital Construction State Government State Revenue & Budget Download File
Summary of Major Legislation Summary of State Government Legislation (2018) During the 2018 legislative session, the General Assembly considered measures related to state agencies and employees, boards and commissions, the Colorado Public Employees’ Retirement Association, the General Assembly, the Colorado Open Records Act, and firearms. Release date: 2018-08-23 Publishing Agency: Legislative Council Staff Subjects: State Government Download File
Issue Briefs Certificates of Participation (18-09) In lieu of issuing bonds, or using another form of long-term debt, the state often uses a form of lease-purchase agreement called certificates of participation (COPs) to finance the construction of its new facilities. A certificate refers to an investor's proportionate interest in the state's lease payments. COPs give the state the flexibility to build capital facilities even when funds are not available to pay for projects on a pay-as-you-go basis. Release date: 2018-08-15 Publishing Agency: Legislative Council Staff Subjects: Capital Construction State Government State Revenue & Budget Download File
Staff Publications Legislative Request for Interim Study Committee Release date: 2018-06-25 Publishing Agency: Legislative Council Staff Subjects: State Government Download File
Staff Publications State Employee Payroll Schedule This memorandum addresses questions around recent announcements and consideration of changes to the state employee payroll schedule. Legislative Council Staff has received inquiries regarding the timing and amount of state employee payroll during the months of July and August 2018 as a result of a March 8, 2018 email from the Department of Personnel and Administration (DPA) to Executive Branch employees. The email announces a transition in July 2018 from monthly to biweekly lag pay. Release date: 2018-04-10 Publishing Agency: Legislative Council Staff Subjects: Labor & Employment State Government State Revenue & Budget Download File
Budget Related Publications 2018 Capital Construction Projects Included in Introduced Long Bill This memorandum summarizes the capital construction, controlled maintenance, and capital information technology (IT) project recommendations made by the Capital Development Committee and the Joint Technology Committee for FY 2018-19. It also describes the Joint Budget Committee action with regard to these recommendations. Finally, it details the capital projects and associated costs included in House Bill 18-1322, the 2018 Long Bill, as introduced. HB 18-1322 includes appropriations for 53 capital projects totaling $368.5 million. Release date: 2018-03-27 Publishing Agency: Legislative Council Staff Subjects: Capital Construction State Government State Revenue & Budget Download File
Staff Publications Capital Construction Fact Sheet: History Colorado This Fact Sheet provides an overview of History Colorado, which acts as a trustee for the state in collecting, preserving, exhibiting, and interpreting collections and properties of state historical significance. Among its many and varied responsibilities, History Colorado administers historic preservation grants and ensures public access to statewide cultural and heritage resources through regional museums and other special programs. Release date: 2017-12-14 Publishing Agency: Legislative Council Staff Subjects: Capital Construction State Government Download File
Final/Annual Reports 2017 Legislative Emergency Preparedness, Response, and Recovery Final Report Legislative Emergency Preparedness, Response, and Recovery Final Report for 2017. Release date: 2017-11-29 Publishing Agency: Legislative Council Staff Subjects: General Assembly State Government Download File
Staff Publications Broadband Internet Service Programs in Colorado This memorandum provides an overview of broadband internet service programs in Colorado, including the Colorado High Cost Support Mechanism; state grant programs and other state efforts; local governments’ ability to provide broadband; and related recent legislation. Release date: 2017-11-22 Publishing Agency: Legislative Council Staff Subjects: Business & Economic Development Local Government State Government Telecommunications & Information Technology Download File
Issue Briefs Judicial Performance Evaluation Process There are 324 justices and judges in Colorado. Seven justices preside over the Supreme Court and issue binding majority decisions on lower court rulings. Additionally, 317 judges preside over other various courts, including the Court of Appeals (22 judges), district courts (181 judges), and county courts (114 judges). Release date: 2017-11-15 Publishing Agency: Legislative Council Staff Subjects: Civil Law Courts & Judicial State Government Download File
Summary of Major Legislation Summary of State Government Legislation (2017) During the 2017 legislative session, the General Assembly considered measures related to state agencies and employees, state procurement, the Colorado Public Employees’ Retirement Association, the General Assembly, the Office of the State Auditor, the Colorado Open Records Act, charitable gaming and solicitations, and firearms. Release date: 2017-11-06 Publishing Agency: Legislative Council Staff Subjects: State Government Download File
Issue Briefs State Aid for Low Income Families This issue brief explains Colorado’s Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program, known as Colorado Works, which provides financial and other assistance. The federally funded program is overseen at the state level by the Department of Human Services and is administered at the county level. Release date: 2017-10-19 Publishing Agency: Legislative Council Staff Subjects: Human Services State Government Download File
Summary of Major Legislation Capital Construction 2017 Legislation During the 2017 legislative session, the General Assembly considered a number of bills affecting funding for capital construction and the duties of the Capital Development Committee (CDC). Release date: 2017-09-30 Publishing Agency: Legislative Council Staff Subjects: Capital Construction State Government State Revenue & Budget Download File
Summary of Major Legislation Summary of Capital Construction Legislation Release date: 2017-09-07 Publishing Agency: Legislative Council Staff Subjects: Capital Construction State Government
Other State Historical Fund, Courthouse Funding Presented to the County Courthouse and County Jail Funding and Overcrowding Solutions Interim Study Committee at its July 2017 meeting. Release date: 2017-09-06 Publishing Agency: Legislative Council Staff Subjects: Courts & Judicial State Government Download File
Staff Publications Colorado Conservation Easement Tax Credit Program The federal and state governments each provide tax incentives for landowners who designate their land as a conservation easement, foregoing certain use rights in order to preserve the land in perpetuity. This memorandum provides information on federal and state conservation easement tax incentives. Release date: 2017-08-27 Publishing Agency: Legislative Council Staff Subjects: Fiscal Policy & Taxes Natural Resources & Environment State Government Download File
Final/Annual Reports Capital Development Committee FY 2016-17 Annual Report The purpose of the CDC final report is to provide annual and historical information on the capital development process. The 2017 final report provides a complete summary of all capital construction and controlled maintenance appropriations during the 2017 session. A five-year history and three-year forecast of capital project funding are also included. The report concludes with a description of other actions taken by the CDC in FY 2016-17, and a summary of 2017 legislation enacted by the General Assembly that impacts capital development funding or the capital development p Release date: 2017-08-15 Publishing Agency: Legislative Council Staff Subjects: Capital Construction State Government State Revenue & Budget Download File