General Assembly - Digest of Bills

Digest of Bills - 2000

GENERAL ASSEMBLY
S.B. 00-119 Redistricting - precinct caucuses - senatorial elections and vacancies plan and computer system for redistricting - appropriation. Updates the permanent statutes relating to redistricting by requiring the reapportionment commission appointed in 2001 to designate in its plan which senatorial districts will stand for election in 2002 and which in 2004.

If Senate Concurrent Resolution 00-2, which changes the timetable for the reapportionment commission, does not pass:

Requests that the reapportionment commission and the Colorado supreme court complete their work on reapportionment by February 15, 2002; and
If a court-approved plan is not filed with the secretary of state by that date, modifies the dates when precinct boundaries must be redrawn and when notice of precinct caucuses must be posted.

Establishes that if a senator elected in 2000 vacates his or her seat prior to the start of the 2003 regular legislative session, the vacancy shall be filled from the district from which the senator was elected; however, specifies that any election in 2002 shall be from the newly drawn district. Establishes that if such senator vacates his or her seat on or after the start of the 2003 regular legislative session, the vacancy shall be filled from the newly drawn district.

Directs the legislative council to compile specified information and computer data bases for use by the reapportionment commission and the general assembly in redrawing district boundaries. Requires the director of research of the legislative council to acquire a computer system to prepare legislative districts. Specifies that election and voter registration information from the 1998 and 2000 general elections be included in the computer data base. Authorizes the executive committee to adopt a policy for public access to the computerized data base.

Makes arrangements for commission staff, offices, and meeting rooms and for assistance from state agencies. Provides that the commission may use these arrangements or make its own when it convenes.

Appropriates $217,900 to the legislative council. If Senate Concurrent Resolution 00-2 becomes law, increases the appropriation by $184,708 and reduces the appropriations to the legislative council and the committee on legal services.

APPROVED by Governor May 30, 2000
EFFECTIVE May 30, 2000
NOTE: Senate Concurrent Resolution 00-2 was adopted by the General Assembly and will be submitted to the voters in November 2000. See page 220 of this digest.

S.B. 00-210 Joint governmental agencies - authority to issue bonds. Authorizes certain joint governmental agencies to issue bonds in order to finance building and facility needs of the organization if the organization maintains its headquarters in Colorado.

Specifies certain procedures and requirements for the issuance of bonds by joint governmental agencies. Requires the bonds to include certain terms. Exempts the bonds from state taxation. States that the bonds shall be paid from certain moneys of the organization. Specifies that the bonds are not a debt or liability of the state of Colorado or any of its political subdivisions and that the owners or holders of the bonds may not look to any revenues of the state or other political subdivisions for the payment of the bonds. Clarifies that nothing in the act obligates the general assembly to be a member of the organization declared to be a joint governmental agency nor to pay membership fees to the organization.

Excludes joint governmental agencies from the definition of "state" for purposes of state fiscal policies relating to section 20 of article X of the state constitution (TABOR).

APPROVED by Governor June 1, 2000
EFFECTIVE June 1, 2000

H.B. 00-1141 Interim activities. Authorizes legislative council to review and prioritize any bill or resolution that creates or authorizes interim studies or allocates additional legislative staff resources during the interim. Authorizes the executive committee of the legislative council to approve additional studies if there are changed or new circumstances after the general assembly adjourns. Allows the findings of legislative council to be made available in electronic or hard copy format to members, rather than sent to them, and removes the requirement that the findings be sent at least 30 days prior to a session.

Specifies the details for appointments to the police officers' and firefighters' pension reform commission and the members of the transportation legislation review committee.

APPROVED by Governor March 15, 2000
EFFECTIVE March 15, 2000