CO Code § 23-1-106 (2021)
2021 Colorado Code|Title 23 - Postsecondary Education|Article 1 - Colorado Commission on Higher Education|§ 23-1-106. Duties and Powers of the Commission With Respect to Capital Construction and Long-Range Planning - Legislative Declaration - Report - Definitions

  Except as permitted by subsection (9) of this section, it is declared to be the policy of the general assembly not to authorize any activity requiring capital construction or capital renewal for state institutions of higher education unless approved by the commission.    The commission shall, after consultation with the appropriate governing boards of the state institutions of higher education and the appropriate state agencies, have authority to prescribe uniform policies, procedures, and standards of space utilization for the development and approval of capital construction or capital renewal programs by institutions.    The commission shall review and approve facility master plans for all state institutions of higher education on land owned or controlled by the state or an institution and capital construction or capital renewal program plans for projects other than those projects described in subsection (9) of this section. The commission shall forward the approved facility master plans to the office of the state architect. Except for those projects described in subsection (9) of this section, no capital construction or capital renewal shall commence except in accordance with an approved facility master plan and program plan.    The commission shall ensure conformity of facilities master planning with approved educational master plans and facility program plans with approved facilities master plans.      The commission shall approve plans for any capital construction or capital renewal project at any state institution of higher education regardless of the source of funds; except that the commission need not approve plans for any capital construction or capital renewal project at a local district college or area technical college or for any capital construction or capital renewal project described in subsection (9) of this section.    The commission may except from the requirements for program and physical planning any project that requires two million dollars or less if the capital construction project is for new construction and funded solely from cash funds held by the institution or the project is funded through the higher education revenue bond intercept program established pursuant to section 23-5-139, or ten million dollars or less if the project is not for new construction and is funded solely from cash funds held by the institution.         The commission shall request annually from each governing board of each state institution of higher education a five-year projection of capital construction or capital renewal projects to be constructed but not including those projects described in subsection (9) of this section. The projection must include the estimated cost, the method of funding, a schedule for project completion, and the governing board-approved priority for each project. The commission shall determine whether a proposed project is consistent with the role and mission and master planning of the institution and conforms to standards recommended by the commission.    The commission shall request annually from the governing board of each state institution of higher education a two-year projection of capital construction projects to be undertaken pursuant to subsection (9) of this section and estimated to require total project expenditures exceeding two million dollars if the capital construction project is for new acquisitions of real property or new construction and funded solely from cash funds held by the institution or the project is funded through the higher education revenue bond intercept program established pursuant to section 23-5-139, or exceeding ten million dollars if the project is not for new acquisitions of real property or new construction and is funded solely from cash funds held by the institution. The projection must include the estimated cost, the method of funding, and a schedule for project completion for each project. A state institution of higher education shall amend the projection prior to commencing a project that is not included in the institution's most recent projection.         The commission annually shall prepare a unified, five-year capital improvements report of projects to be constructed, but not including those capital construction or capital renewal projects to be undertaken pursuant to subsection (9) of this section, coordinated with education plans. Notwithstanding section 24-1-136 (11)(a)(I), the commission shall transmit the report to the office of state planning and budgeting, the office of the state architect, the capital development committee, and the joint budget committee, consistent with the executive budget timetable, together with a recommended priority of funding of capital construction or capital renewal projects for the system of public higher education. The commission shall annually transmit the recommended priority of funding of capital construction or capital renewal projects to the capital development committee no later than November 1 of each year.    Except as provided in subsections (5) and (15) of this section, it is the policy of the general assembly to appropriate funds only for capital construction or capital renewal projects approved by the commission.        The commission annually shall prepare a unified, two-year report for capital construction or capital renewal projects described in subsection (9) of this section that are not for new acquisitions of real property or new construction and are estimated to require total project expenditures exceeding ten million dollars, coordinated with education plans. The commission shall transmit the report to the office of state planning and budgeting, the governor, the capital development committee, and the joint budget committee, consistent with the executive budget timetable. (c) (I) (A) The commission annually shall prepare a unified, two-year report for capital construction or capital renewal projects described in subsection (9) of this section that are not for new acquisitions of real property or new construction and are estimated to require total project expenditures exceeding ten million dollars, coordinated with education plans. The commission shall transmit the report to the office of state planning and budgeting, the governor, the capital development committee, and the joint budget committee, consistent with the executive budget timetable.    The commission annually shall prepare a unified, two-year report for capital construction projects for new acquisitions of real property or for new construction, estimated to require total project expenditures exceeding two million dollars, coordinated with education plans. The commission shall transmit the report to the office of state planning and budgeting, the governor, the capital development committee, and the joint budget committee, consistent with the executive budget timetable.       (A) The commission shall submit the two-year projections prepared by each state institution of higher education for each two-year period to the office of state planning and budgeting and the capital development committee. The capital development committee shall conduct a hearing in each regular legislative session on the projections and either approve the projections or return the projections to the state institution of higher education for modification. The commission and the office of state planning and budgeting shall provide the capital development committee with comments concerning each projection.          Repealed.      Except as provided in paragraph (d) of this subsection (9), a capital construction or capital renewal project for an auxiliary facility initiated by the governing board of a state institution of higher education that is contained in the most recent two-year projection approved pursuant to subparagraph (II) of paragraph (c) of subsection (7) of this section, as the projection may be amended from time to time, and that is to be acquired or constructed and operated and maintained solely from cash funds held by the institution is not subject to additional review or approval by the commission, the office of state planning and budgeting, the capital development committee, or the joint budget committee; except that, if the capital construction or capital renewal project for an auxiliary facility is to be acquired or constructed in whole or in part using moneys subject to the higher education revenue bond intercept program established pursuant to section 23-5-139, then the governing board of a state institution of higher education must obtain approval from the general assembly as specified in that section.    Except as provided in paragraph (d) of this subsection (9), a capital construction or capital renewal project for an academic facility initiated by the governing board of a state institution of higher education that is contained in the most recent two-year projection approved pursuant to subparagraph (II) of paragraph (c) of subsection (7) of this section, as the projection may be amended from time to time, and that is to be acquired or constructed solely from cash funds held by the institution and operated and maintained from such funds or from state moneys appropriated for such purpose, or both, is not subject to additional review or approval by the commission, the office of state planning and budgeting, the capital development committee, or the joint budget committee; except that, if the capital construction or capital renewal project for an academic facility is to be acquired or constructed in whole or in part using moneys subject to the higher education revenue bond intercept program established pursuant to section 23-5-139, then the governing board of a state institution of higher education must obtain approval from the general assembly as specified in that section. Any capital construction or capital renewal project subject to this paragraph (b) must comply with the high performance standard certification program established pursuant to section 24-30-1305.5, C.R.S.    Each governing board shall ensure, consistent with its responsibilities as set forth in section 5 (2) of article VIII of the state constitution, that a capital construction or capital renewal project initiated pursuant to this subsection (9) is in accordance with its institution's mission, be of a size and scope to provide for the defined program needs, and be designed in accordance with all applicable building codes and accessibility standards.      (Deleted by amendment, L. 2016.) (d) (I) (Deleted by amendment, L. 2016.)    A plan for a capital construction or capital renewal project is not subject to review or approval by the commission if such project is:   Estimated to require total expenditures of two million dollars or less if the capital construction project is for new acquisitions of real property or for new construction and funded solely from cash funds held by the institution or the project is funded through the higher education revenue bond intercept program established pursuant to section 23-5-139; or    Estimated to require total expenditures of ten million dollars or less if the project is not for new acquisitions of real property or for new construction and is funded solely from cash funds held by the institution.          A capital construction or acquisition project approved and appropriated prior to January 1, 2010, may be contained in the most recent unified two-year capital improvements project projection approved pursuant to subparagraph (II) of paragraph (c) of subsection (7) of this section. The projection may be amended from time to time and is not subject to additional review or approval by the commission, the office of state planning and budgeting, the capital development committee, or the joint budget committee.    The governing board of a state institution of higher education that enters into an agreement to lease a building from a school district, as authorized in section 22-32-110 (1)(f.5), C.R.S., shall notify the capital development committee of the existence of the agreement and provide to the committee a summary of the terms of the agreement.       Repealed. (10.2)     Notwithstanding any law to the contrary and except as provided in subsection (10.2)(a)(III) of this section, all academic facilities acquired or constructed, or an auxiliary facility repurposed for use as an academic facility, solely from cash funds held by the state institution of higher education and operated and maintained from such cash funds or from state money appropriated for such purpose, or both, including, but not limited to, those facilities described in subsection (9)(b) of this section, that did not previously qualify for state controlled maintenance funding will qualify for state controlled maintenance funding, subject to funding approval by the capital development committee and the eligibility guidelines described in section 24-30-1303.9. (a) (I)Notwithstanding any law to the contrary and except as provided in subsection (10.2)(a)(III) of this section, all academic facilities acquired or constructed, or an auxiliary facility repurposed for use as an academic facility, solely from cash funds held by the state institution of higher education and operated and maintained from such cash funds or from state money appropriated for such purpose, or both, including, but not limited to, those facilities described in subsection (9)(b) of this section, that did not previously qualify for state controlled maintenance funding will qualify for state controlled maintenance funding, subject to funding approval by the capital development committee and the eligibility guidelines described in section 24-30-1303.9.    For purposes of this subsection (10.2)(a), the eligibility for state controlled maintenance funding commences on the date of the acceptance of the construction or repurposing of the facility or the closing date of any acquisition. The date of the acceptance of construction or repurposing shall be determined by the office of the state architect.    If an academic facility is acquired or constructed, or if an auxiliary facility is repurposed for use as an academic facility, solely from cash funds held by the state institution of higher education and operated and maintained from such cash funds, then as of the date of the acceptance of construction or repurposing that occurs on or after July 1, 2018, the facility is not eligible for controlled maintenance funding.         The general assembly hereby finds, determines, and declares that the classification of facilities as academic facilities or auxiliary facilities can be difficult, and such classifications often change as academic needs, student needs, and new construction and design practices emerge. Therefore, the office of the state architect, in collaboration with the department of higher education and the office of state planning and budgeting, shall develop guidelines in order to assist such classification. The guidelines shall be annually reviewed and approved by the capital development committee. The guidelines must address the following two factors that have historically been considered when classifying academic facilities and auxiliary facilities: (b) (I) The general assembly hereby finds, determines, and declares that the classification of facilities as academic facilities or auxiliary facilities can be difficult, and such classifications often change as academic needs, student needs, and new construction and design practices emerge. Therefore, the office of the state architect, in collaboration with the department of higher education and the office of state planning and budgeting, shall develop guidelines in order to assist such classification. The guidelines shall be annually reviewed and approved by the capital development committee. The guidelines must address the following two factors that have historically been considered when classifying academic facilities and auxiliary facilities:   The funding source for the facility; and    The nature and use of the facility.       The guidelines established pursuant to this paragraph (b) must use the definitions set forth in subsection (10.3) of this section. (10.3) As used in this section, unless the context otherwise requires:   “Academic facility” means any facility, including any supporting utility infrastructure and site improvements, that is central to the role and mission of each state institution of higher education as set forth in this title. Examples include, but are not limited to, classrooms, libraries, and administrative buildings.    “Auxiliary facility” means any facility, including any supporting utility infrastructure and site improvements, funded from an auxiliary source such as housing or parking revenue or any facility that has been historically managed as an auxiliary facility and is accounted for in financial statements of state institutions of higher education as a self-supporting facility. Examples include, but are not limited to, housing facilities, dining facilities, recreational facilities, and student activities facilities.    “Capital construction” has the same meaning as set forth in section 24-30-1301 (2), C.R.S.    “Capital renewal” has the same meaning as set forth in section 24-30-1301 (3), C.R.S.    “Facility” has the same meaning as set forth in section 24-30-1301 (8), C.R.S.  (e.5) “Real property” has the same meaning as set forth in section 24-30-1301 (15) , C.R.S.     “State institution of higher education” means a state institution of higher education as defined in section 23-18-102 (10), and the Auraria higher education center created in article 70 of this title. (10.5)   For any project subject to subsection (9) of this section, if, after commencement of construction, the governing board of the state institution of higher education receives an additional gift, grant, or donation for the project, the governing board may amend the project without the approval of the commission, the office of state planning and budgeting, the capital development committee, or the joint budget committee so long as the governing board notifies the commission, the office of state planning and budgeting, the capital development committee, and the joint budget committee in writing, explaining how the project has been amended and verifying the receipt of the additional gift, grant, or donation.    For any project subject to subsection (9) of this section, the governing board may enhance the project in an amount not to exceed fifteen percent of the original estimate of the cost of the project without the approval of the commission, the office of state planning and budgeting, the capital development committee, or the joint budget committee so long as the governing board notifies the commission, the office of state planning and budgeting, the capital development committee, and the joint budget committee in writing, explaining how the project has been enhanced and the source of the moneys for the enhancement.    For any project subject to subsection (9) of this section, the governing board of the state institution of higher education implementing the project is not required to submit for the project quarterly expenditure reports as described in section 24-30-204 (2), C.R.S. The governing board shall submit for the project annual expenditure reports as required in section 24-30-204 (1), C.R.S.                  Each state institution of higher education shall submit to the commission on or before September 1 of each year a list and description of each project for which an expenditure was made during the immediately preceding fiscal year that:   Was not subject to review by the commission pursuant to subsection (9) of this section;    Repealed.    Was estimated to require total expenditures of two million dollars or less if the capital construction project is for new acquisitions of real property or for new construction and was funded solely from cash funds held by the institution or the project was funded through the higher education revenue bond intercept program established pursuant to section 23-5-139, or was estimated to require total expenditures of ten million dollars or less if the project was not for new acquisitions of real property or for new construction and was funded solely from cash funds held by the institution; or    Was amended or enhanced after commencement of construction pursuant to subsection (10.5) of this section.       Notwithstanding section 24-1-136 (11)(a)(I), the commission shall submit a compilation of the projects to the office of the state architect and the capital development committee on or before December 1 of each year.       Each state institution of higher education shall submit to the commission a facility management plan or update required by section 24-30-1303.5 (3.5), C.R.S. The commission shall review the facility management plan or update and make recommendations regarding it to the office of the state architect.    (Deleted by amendment, L. 2014.)    With the commission's approval, beginning July 1, 2017, a state institution of higher education is not subject to facility master plan approval described in subsections (3) and (4) of this section, so long as the governing board of the institution approves each plan, notifies the commission of its approval, and makes the plan available to the commission. Such institution is also exempt from the provisions of subsection (5) of this section for a project the cost of which does not exceed two million dollars.    With the commission's approval, beginning July 1, 2017, and notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (7)(b) of this section, a state institution of higher education is not required to submit projects for facilities to the commission for approval pursuant to subsection (6)(b) of this section so long as the institution annually submits a report to the capital development committee that is substantially similar in content to the report concerning capital construction projects described in subsection (6)(b) of this section.     History. Source: L. 85: Entire article R&RE, p. 754, § 1, effective July 1. L. 92: (9) added, p. 583, § 2, effective June 1. L. 93: (9) amended, p. 1825, § 8, effective June 6. L. 94: (5) amended, p. 1795, § 3, effective May 31. L. 2001: (5) and (9) amended and (10) and (11) added, p. 664, § 1, effective August 8; (7)(a) amended, p. 492, § 1, effective August 8. L. 2003: (12) added, p. 962, § 1, effective July 1. L. 2005: (5)(a), (9)(a), and (10) amended, p. 1016, § 9, effective June 2. L. 2008: (5)(b), (9)(a), (9)(c), and (10) amended, p. 260, § 1, effective March 31; (8) amended, p. 1471, § 5, effective May 28. L. 2009: (1), (3), (6), (7), (8), and (11) amended and (10.5) and (13) added,(SB 09-290), ch. 374, p. 2035, § 1, effective August 5; (9) and (10)(a) amended,(SB 09-290), ch. 374, p. 2038, § 2, effective January 1, 2010. L. 2010: (3), (5)(a), (6), (7)(a), (7)(c)(I), (9), (10), (10.5)(a), and (11)(a)(IV) amended and (8) repealed,(SB 10-003), ch. 391, p. 1854, 1853, §§ 35, 34, effective June 9. L. 2011: (9)(e) and (10)(c) added and (10.5) amended,(HB 11-1301), ch. 297, p. 1429, §§ 25, 26, 27, effective August 10. L. 2012: (9)(a), (9)(b), (10)(a)(I), and (10)(a)(II) amended and (10.2) and (10.3) added,(SB 12-040), ch. 118, p. 401, § 2, effective April 16; (1) amended,(HB 12-1081), ch. 210, p. 902, § 2, effective August 8. L. 2014: Entire section amended,(HB 14-1387), ch. 378, p. 1829, § 34, effective June 6; (10.3)(c) amended,(HB 14-1395), ch. 309, p. 1309, § 7, effective June 6. L. 2015: (3), (7)(a), (11)(b), and (12) amended,(SB 15-270), ch. 296, p. 1216, § 15, effective June 5. L. 2016: (1), (3), (5)(a), (6), (7)(a), (7)(c)(I), (9), (10.2)(a)(I), and (10.5) amended and (10) and (11)(a)(II) repealed,(SB 16-204), ch. 222, p. 848, § 2, effective June 6; (5)(a) amended,(HB 16-1082), ch. 58, p. 142, § 9, effective August 10; (5)(b), (6)(b), (7)(c)(I), (9)(d)(II), and (11)(a)(III) amended and (10.3)(e.5) added,(HB 16-1459), ch. 317, p. 1279, § 1, effective August 10; (9)(f) added,(SB 16-209), ch. 235, p. 951, § 4, effective August 10. L. 2017: (7)(b) amended and (14) and (15) added,(SB 17-297), ch. 210, p. 816, § 2, effective May 18; (10.2)(a) amended,(SB 17-267), ch. 267, p. 1439, § 5, effective May 30; (7)(a) and (11)(b) amended,(HB 17-1251), ch. 253, p. 1057, § 2, effective August 9. L. 2018: (7)(c)(I)(B) amended,(HB 18-1375), ch. 274, p. 1704, § 31, effective May 29.    Editor's note:    This section is similar to former § 23-1-106 as it existed prior to 1985.      Amendments to subsection (5)(a) by SB 16-204 and HB 16-1082 were harmonized. (2) (a) Amendments to subsection (5)(a) by SB 16-204 and HB 16-1082 were harmonized.    Amendments to subsections (6), (6)(b), (7)(c)(I), (9), and (9)(d)(II) by SB 16-204 and HB 16-1459 were harmonized.        Cross references:   For the legislative declaration in the 2010 act amending subsections (3), (5)(a), (6), (7)(a), (7)(c)(I), (9), (10), (10.5)(a), and (11)(a)(IV) and repealing subsection (8), see section 1 of chapter 391, Session Laws of Colorado 2010. For the legislative declaration in HB 14-1387, see section 1 of chapter 378, Session Laws of Colorado 2014. For the legislative declaration in SB 17-267, see section 1 of chapter 267, Session Laws of Colorado 2017.