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 3 - LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL (§§ 2-3-301 — 2-3-312) › Section 2-3-303 - Functions - report - definitions

(1)
In addition to any other powers and duties set forth in law, the council shall have the following powers and duties:
(a)
To collect information concerning the government and general welfare of the state;
(b)
To examine the effects of constitutional provisions and statutes and recommend desirable alterations;
(c)
To consider important issues of public policy and questions of statewide interest;
(d)
To prepare for presentation to the members and various sessions of the general assembly such reports, bills, or otherwise, as the welfare of the state may require;
(e)
To expend moneys or authorize the expenditure of moneys to accomplish the functions contained in this section out of moneys appropriated to the council by the general assembly;
(f)
To approve bills recommended by interim legislative council committees or other committees created by statute or resolution which operate during the interim;
(g)
To review the ballot information booklet prepared by the director of research at a public hearing in accordance with section
1-40-124.5
, C.R.S.
(2)
In addition to any other powers and duties set forth in law, the executive committee of the legislative council has the following powers and duties:
(a)
To consider, recommend, and establish policies relating to legislative management and legislative procedures, including but not limited to deadlines for the legislative session, guidelines on the format of bills, allocation of space in the capitol for legislative purposes, and lobbying practices;
(b)
To consider and approve the budget requests from the legislative service agency directors for the legislative service agencies;
(c)
To prepare and introduce the legislative appropriation bill each year;
(d)
To establish policies about the retention of records by the legislative service agencies of the general assembly, including the retention of records relating to legislative review of rules and regulations promulgated by executive branch agencies pursuant to section
24-4-103
, C.R.S.;
(e)
Repealed.
(f)
To coordinate the televising via cable television and webcast of proceedings of the house of representatives and the senate with the Colorado channel authority created in article
49.9
of title
24
, C.R.S.;
(g)
(I)
To consider, recommend, and establish policies allowing legislative committees to take remote testimony from government officials and employees as well as other members of the public.
(II) and (III)
(Deleted by amendment, L. 2022.)
(IV)
Nothing in this subsection (2)(g) supersedes the power of the house of representatives or the senate to adopt rules or joint rules, or both, for the orderly conduct of their affairs.
(V)
(Deleted by amendment, L. 2022.)
(h)
(I)
The power to allow members of the general assembly to participate electronically in legislative proceedings and to recommend, develop, and establish policies regarding electronic participation if so allowed; except that, if allowed, electronic participation must only be allowed for:
(A)
Committee meetings occurring during the legislative interim; or
(B)
Legislative proceedings, including floor proceedings, committee meetings or hearings, and other legislative business occurring during a disaster emergency declared by the governor in accordance with section
24-33.5-704
that is caused by a public health emergency infecting or exposing a great number of people to disease, agents, toxins, or other such threats.
(II)
A member participating electronically in a committee meeting pursuant to subsection (2)(h)(I)(A) of this section is deemed to be in attendance of that committee for the purpose of receiving compensation to which the member is entitled under section
2-2-307 (3)
. Notwithstanding section
2-2-307 (3)(b)
, members participating electronically are not entitled to reimbursement for any expenses incurred in connection with such electronic participation.
(III)
A member participating electronically in a legislative proceeding pursuant to subsection (2)(h)(I)(B) of this section is not entitled to reimbursement for any expenses incurred in connection with such electronic participation; except that, if the member cannot participate electronically from the member's home due to a technological limitation or incapacity at that location, the member may receive reimbursement for actual and necessary expenses incurred to travel to an alternate location in order to participate electronically. A request for reimbursement under this subsection (2)(h)(III) is subject to the guidelines for reimbursement and substantiation requirements established by the executive committee of the legislative council in accordance with section
2-2-317 (2)(c)
, and the amount of reimbursement must not exceed the amount the member would customarily receive for travel expenses under section
2-2-317 (2)(a) or (2)(b)
.
(IV)
Nothing in this subsection (2)(h) supersedes the power of the senate or the house of representatives to adopt rules or joint rules, or both, for the orderly conduct of its affairs.
(3)
(a)
In addition to the powers and duties specified in subsection (2) of this section, the executive committee of the legislative council shall annually approve a salary pay range to be used in setting the salaries of the legislative service agency directors.
(b)
The legislative audit committee, the joint budget committee, the legislative council, and the committee on legal services shall each submit an annual report to the executive committee evaluating the performance of the legislative service agency director under such committee's supervision.
(c)
Upon review of the reports received pursuant to paragraph (b) of this subsection (3), the executive committee shall evaluate the performance of legislative service agency directors and determine the salaries to be paid thereto.
(d)
The executive committee shall appoint legislative service agency directors, other than the state auditor, after receiving recommendations thereon from the respective committees.
(e)
The executive committee shall consult with the legislative audit committee concerning the appointment of a state auditor before the legislative audit committee places the names of candidates before the general assembly in accordance with section
2-3-101 (3)(a)
.
(f)
The executive committee shall annually approve salary pay ranges to be used in determining the salaries of the staffs of legislative service agencies. Legislative service agency directors shall determine the salaries to be paid to their respective staffs in accordance with such pay ranges; except that employees of the office of the state auditor who are within the state personnel system shall be paid in accordance with article
50
of title
24
, C.R.S. Each legislative service agency director shall file a report annually with the executive committee setting forth the salaries paid to their respective staffs.
(g)
Any senator or representative or any legislative committee may provide the executive committee or any legislative service agency director with information or recommendations concerning pay ranges or performance evaluations for legislative service agency directors or the staffs of legislative service agencies.
(h)
As used in this subsection (3), unless the context otherwise requires:
(I)
"Legislative service agencies" means the office of the state auditor, the joint budget committee staff, the legislative council staff, and the office of legislative legal services.
(II)
"Legislative service agency director" means the state auditor, the staff director of the joint budget committee, the director of research of the legislative council, and the director of the office of legislative legal services.
(i)
(I)
(A)
On or after the effective date of this subsection (3)(i)(I)(A), but before December 31, 2024, on or after January 1, 2025, but before December 31, 2025, and on or after January 1, 2026, but before December 31, 2026, the executive committee shall consider the application of section 24-6-402 to the general assembly at a meeting of the executive committee. The executive committee shall allow the opportunity to receive public comment in connection with the meeting.
(B)
This subsection (3)(i)(I) is repealed, effective July 1, 2027.
(II)
On or after January 1, 2027, upon request by a member of the executive committee, the executive committee shall consider the application of section 24-6-402 to the general assembly at a meeting of the executive committee. The executive committee shall allow the opportunity to receive public comment in connection with the meeting.
(4)
The executive committee has the power and responsibility to:
(a)
Perform legislative management functions when the general assembly is not in session; and
(b)
Set the date for convening the next regular session of the general assembly as provided in section
2-2-303.5 (4)
.
Amended by 2024 Ch. 23,§ 3, eff. 3/12/2024.
Amended by 2022 Ch. 425, § 1, eff. 6/7/2022.
Amended by 2021 Ch. 2, § 1, eff. 1/20/2021.
Amended by 2017 Ch. 218, § 2, eff. 5/20/2017.
Amended by 2014 Ch. 289, § 1, eff. 8/6/2014.
L. 53: p. 336, § 3. CRS 53: § 63-5-3. C.R.S. 1963: § 63-4-3. L. 93: Entire section amended, p. 2103, § 3, effective June 9. L. 94: (4) amended, p. 580, § 3, effective April 7; (2)(e) added, p. 1836, § 3, effective June 1; (1)(g) amended, p. 1689, § 4, effective 1/19/1995. L. 2000: (2)(e) repealed, p. 22, § 3, effective August 2. L. 2009: (2)(f) added, (HB 09-1307), ch. 1291, p. 1291, § 3, effective August 5. L. 2014: IP(2) amended and (2)(g) added, (HB 14-1303), ch. 1183, p. 1183, § 1, effective August 6. L. 2017: (2)(h) added, (HB 17-1113), ch. 849, p. 849, § 2, effective May 24.
For the legislative declaration in HB 17-1113, see section 1 of chapter 218, Session Laws of Colorado 2017.