Proposed State Constitutional Amendments - Digest of Bills

Digest of Bills - 2000

PROPOSED STATE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS

S.C.R. 00-2 Ballot measure amending constitution - reapportionment commission - timetable. Changes the timetable for the work of the Colorado reapportionment commission and the Colorado supreme court in adopting a redistricting plan for state senate and state house of representatives districts. Requires the court to approve a plan so that it can be filed with the secretary of state 55 days prior to the precinct caucuses or other event commencing the candidate selection process, thus allowing additional time for the reconfiguration of precincts to accommodate new district boundaries. In 2002, filing the plan with the secretary of state would be required by February 13.

EFFECTIVE upon the Governor's proclamation or thirty days after a canvass of the votes is completed, whichever occurs earlier.

S.C.R. 00-5 Ballot measure amending constitution - deletion of obsolete provisions. Amends various sections of the state constitution to delete or otherwise repeal outdated provisions as follows:

Section 4 of article V is amended to delete a reference to how a person may be eligible to be elected to the first general assembly elected after Colorado's admission to statehood.
Section 25 of article V is amended to delete a reference to justices of the peace and constables since such provisions were repealed in 1965.
Sections 6, 8, 15, and 17 (3) (a) of article XIV are amended to delete references to the extension of the term of office for specified elected county officials since those dates expired in the early or mid 20^th century and delete the restriction that members of a governing body of a service authority be elected by registered electors within the boundaries of the authority since that restriction expired by its own terms in 1980.
Sections 1 and 7 of article XV concerning unused charters as of 1876 and acceptance of the state constitution by railroads existing in 1876 are repealed because the section applied to entities existing at the time Colorado was granted statehood.
Section 2 of article XX is amended to delete obsolete provisions relating to the payment of officers of the city and county of Denver.
Section 4 of article XX is amended to delete provisions for the first charter of the city and county of Denver calling for the adoption of the charter and specifying the procedures to be followed for a special election since the charter was adopted November 8, 1881.
Section 1 of article XXII concerning the repeal of intoxicating liquor laws is amended to delete language stating that all statutory laws relating to intoxicating liquors were void and of no effect on and after July 1, 1933, since liquor prohibition was repealed.

EFFECTIVE upon the Governor's proclamation or thirty days after a canvass of the votes is completed, whichever occurs earlier.

H.C.R. 00-1001 Ballot measure amending constitution - county surveyors - appointment. Amends the Colorado constitution, which requires the selection of county surveyors by election, to also allow the appointment of county surveyors as provided by law.

EFFECTIVE upon the Governor's proclamation or thirty days after a canvass of the votes is completed, whichever occurs earlier.

H.C.R. 00-1002 Ballot measure amending constitution - property tax - homestead exemption for seniors - state compensation of local governments. If approved by the voters of the state at the November 2000 general election, for property tax years commencing on or after January 1, 2002, exempts from property taxation 50% of the first $200,000 of actual value of owner-occupied residential real property that, as of the assessment date, is:

The primary residence of an owner-occupier who is 65 years of age or older and has owned and occupied the residential real property as his or her primary residence for the 10 years immediately preceding the assessment date; or
The primary residence of the spouse or surviving spouse of an owner-occupier.

For property tax years commencing on or after January 1, 2003, authorizes the general assembly to modify the maximum amount of the actual value of the residential real property of which 50% shall be exempt.

Requires the aggregate statewide valuation for assessment that is attributable to residential real property to be calculated as if the full actual value of all owner-occupied primary residences that are partially exempt from taxation was subject to taxation for the purpose of determining the biennial adjustment to be made to the ratio of valuation for assessment for residential real property.

Requires the general assembly to compensate local governments for the net amount of property tax revenues lost as a result of the property tax exemption. Specifies that the compensation shall not be included in local government fiscal year spending for purposes of constitutional limitations on local government fiscal year spending. Specifies that the compensation shall constitute a voter-approved revenue change to allow the maximum amount of state fiscal year spending for the 2001-02 state fiscal year to be increased by $44,123,604 and to include that amount in state fiscal year spending for the purpose of calculating subsequent state fiscal year spending limits. Specifies that payments made to local governmental entities from the state general fund shall not be subject to any statutory limitation on general fund appropriations.

EFFECTIVE upon the Governor's proclamation or thirty days after a canvass of the votes is completed, whichever occurs earlier.