2023 Colorado Revised Statutes › Title 2 - LEGISLATIVE (§§ 2-1-100.5 — 2-7-205) › LEGISLATIVE SERVICES (§§ 2-3-101 — 2-3-2004) › Article 3 - LEGISLATIVE SERVICES (§§ 2-3-101 — 2-3-2004) › Part 20 - LANGUAGE ACCESS ADVISORY BOARD (§§ 2-3-2001 — 2-3-2004) › Section 2-3-2002 - Language access advisory board - creation - membership - meetings

(1)
Notwithstanding section 2-3-303.3, there is created the language access advisory board. The purpose of the advisory board is to bring together the appropriate stakeholders, experts, and impacted groups to study and make recommendations on improving meaningful access to the legislative process for populations with limited English proficiency to ensure effective communication and equitable participation.
(2)
(a)
The advisory board consists of eleven voting members as follows:
(I)
Three members of the house of representatives, with two members of the majority party appointed by the majority leader of the house of representatives and one member of the minority party appointed by the minority leader of the house of representatives;
(II)
Two members of the senate, with one member of the majority party appointed by the majority leader of the senate and one member of the minority party appointed by the minority leader of the senate;
(III)
One member representing the Colorado Language Access Coalition, appointed by the majority leader of the house of representatives;
(IV)
One member representing a local government that has implemented a language access plan or has a language access advisory entity, appointed by the majority leader of the senate;
(V)
One member representing persons with disabilities, appointed by the majority leader of the house of representatives;
(VI)
One member who works in translation or interpretation services, appointed by the majority leader of the senate;
(VII)
One member with experience in language access in rural communities, appointed by the minority leader of the house of representatives; and
(VIII)
One member with expertise in language access relating to elections, appointed by the minority leader of the senate.
(b)
The advisory board consists of two nonvoting members as follows:
(I)
The director of research of the legislative council or the director's designee; and
(II)
The director of the office of legislative legal services or the director's designee.
(3)
(a)
The appointing authorities shall make the appointments described in subsection (2) of this section no later than June 15, 2024.
(b)
The majority leader of the house of representatives shall appoint the chair of the advisory board, and the majority leader of the senate shall appoint the vice-chair of the advisory board.
(c)
Each member of the advisory board serves at the pleasure of the appointing authority. The term of appointment is for the duration of the advisory board's existence.
(d)
If a vacancy occurs on the advisory board for any reason, the original appointing authority shall appoint an individual who meets the requirements of the vacant position to fill the vacancy as soon as possible after the vacancy occurs.
(4)
(a)
Each legislative member of the advisory board is entitled to receive payment of per diem and reimbursement for actual and necessary expenses as authorized in section 2-2-326.
(b)
Each nonlegislative member of the advisory board serves without compensation but is entitled to receive reimbursement for actual and necessary travel expenses incurred in the performance of the member's duties on the advisory board.
(5)
Members of the advisory board may participate remotely in advisory board meetings and other activities.
(6)
The chair and vice-chair of the advisory board shall convene the first meeting of the advisory board no later than July 31, 2024. the advisory board shall meet at least four times in 2024 to complete the duties specified in section 2-3-2003. The chair may call additional meetings as are necessary for the advisory board to complete its duties.
(7)
The legislative council staff and the office of legislative legal services shall be available to assist the advisory board in carrying out its duties.
Added by 2024 Ch. 271,§ 1, eff. 5/28/2024.