A Bill for an Act
Page 1, Line 101Concerning the transparency of state agency budgets.
Bill Summary
(Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced and does not reflect any amendments that may be subsequently adopted. If this bill passes third reading in the house of introduction, a bill summary that applies to the reengrossed version of this bill will be available at http://leg.colorado.gov.)
Under current law, every department, commission, council, board, bureau, committee, agency, or other governmental unit of the executive, legislative, or judicial branch of state government (state agency) is required to submit a budget request to the joint budget committee on or before November 1 of every year. The bill clarifies what each state agency must include in its budget request beginning with the 2027-28 state fiscal year. The bill requires a state agency, as part of the state agency's budget request, to submit the following to the joint budget committee and relevant committee of reference:
- An ideal budget that identifies the least critical 10% in the budget and any duplicative programs administered by the state agency; and
- A budget that is at least 5% less than the current year's appropriations for the state agency.
The bill requires a state agency to submit a budget request to the joint budget committee and relevant committee of reference every 10 years that justifies and explains every expense of the state agency.
Lastly, the bill expands an existing reporting requirement and requires all principal departments, as part of the principal department's "State Measurement for Accountable, Responsive, and Transparent (SMART) Government Act" hearing, to report all grants made to the state agency during the immediately preceding state fiscal year.
Page 2, Line 1Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Colorado:
Page 2, Line 2SECTION 1. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 2-3-208, amend (6); and add (2)(a.5) as follows:
Page 2, Line 32-3-208. Budget requests - amendments - supplemental
Page 2, Line 4appropriation requests - deadlines - definitions.
Page 2, Line 5(2) (a.5) (I) Beginning with the 2027-28 state fiscal year,
Page 2, Line 6excluding a year in which a state agency submits a budget in
Page 2, Line 7accordance with subsection (2)(a.5)(II) of this section, in
Page 2, Line 8submitting a budget request for the upcoming state fiscal year
Page 2, Line 9to the joint budget committee pursuant to subsection (2)(a) of
Page 2, Line 10this section, a state agency shall submit the following to the
Page 2, Line 11joint budget committee and as a part of its presentation to its
Page 2, Line 12committee of reference at a hearing held pursuant to section
Page 2, Line 132-7-203 (2)(a) of the "State Measurement for Accountable, Responsive, and Transparent (SMART) Government Act":
Page 2, Line 14(A) An ideal budget that identifies the least critical ten
Page 2, Line 15percent in the budget and any programs administered by the
Page 3, Line 1state agency that are duplicative with other programs administed by that state agency or any other state agency; and
Page 3, Line 2(B) A budget that is at least five percent less than the current year's appropriations for the state agency.
Page 3, Line 3(II) (A) Every state fiscal year, beginning with the 2027-28
Page 3, Line 4state fiscal year, the joint budget committee shall request that
Page 3, Line 5all of the state agencies in at least two designated principal
Page 3, Line 6departments, in submitting a budget request for the upcoming
Page 3, Line 7state fiscal year to the joint budget committee pursuant to
Page 3, Line 8subsection (2)(a) of this section, submit a zero-based budgeting
Page 3, Line 9request that justifies and explains every expense of the state agency.
Page 3, Line 10(B) In requesting a zero-based budgeting request from a
Page 3, Line 11state agency pursuant to subsection (2.5)(a.5)(II)(A) of this
Page 3, Line 12section, the joint budget committee shall ensure that each
Page 3, Line 13principal department submits a zero-based budgeting request at least once every ten fiscal years.
Page 3, Line 14(C) A state agency shall submit a budget request
Page 3, Line 15pursuant to subsection (2.5)(a.5)(II)(A) of this section to the joint
Page 3, Line 16budget committee and the principal department that a state
Page 3, Line 17agency is within shall submit a state agency's budget request as
Page 3, Line 18a part of the principal department's presentation to its
Page 3, Line 19committee of reference at a hearing held pursuant to section
Page 3, Line 202-7-203 (2)(a) of the "State Measurement for Accountable, Responsive, and Transparent (SMART) Government Act".
Page 3, Line 21(6) For purposes of this section, except for subsection (2)(a.5)
Page 3, Line 22of this section, the office of administrative services for independent
Page 4, Line 1agencies in the judicial department, created in section 13-100-103, is a
Page 4, Line 2state agency. Included agencies, as defined in section 13-100-102, are not state agencies for purposes of budget request submissions.
Page 4, Line 3SECTION 2. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 24-75-1303, amend (1) as follows:
Page 4, Line 424-75-1303. Report to general assembly. (1) On or before
Page 4, Line 5November 1, 2011, and on or before November 1 of each year thereafter,
Page 4, Line 6each state agency shall submit to the joint budget committee of the
Page 4, Line 7general assembly, and the principal department that a state
Page 4, Line 8agency is within shall submit as a part of the principal
Page 4, Line 9department's presentation to its committee of reference at a
Page 4, Line 10hearing held pursuant to section 2-7-203 (2)(a) of the "State
Page 4, Line 11Measurement for Accountable, Responsive, and Transparent
Page 4, Line 12(SMART) Government Act", a report, in accordance with generally
Page 4, Line 13accepted accounting principles, of all grants made to the state agency
Page 4, Line 14during the immediately preceding state fiscal year, which grants provided
Page 4, Line 15funding for a bill enacted by the general assembly that relies entirely on
Page 4, Line 16grant moneys for the funding source of the program, service, study,
Page 4, Line 17interim committee, or other governmental function required by the bill.
Page 4, Line 18The state agency shall be prepared to review the report at the state
Page 4, Line 19agency's briefing with the joint budget committee in connection with its annual budget request.
Page 4, Line 20SECTION 3. Act subject to petition - effective date. This act
Page 4, Line 21takes effect at 12:01 a.m. on the day following the expiration of the
Page 4, Line 22ninety-day period after final adjournment of the general assembly; except
Page 4, Line 23that, if a referendum petition is filed pursuant to section 1 (3) of article V
Page 4, Line 24of the state constitution against this act or an item, section, or part of this
Page 5, Line 1act within such period, then the act, item, section, or part will not take
Page 5, Line 2effect unless approved by the people at the general election to be held in
Page 5, Line 3November 2026 and, in such case, will take effect on the date of the official declaration of the vote thereon by the governor.