A Bill for an Act
Page 1, Line 101Concerning repealing the five-year appropriation
Page 1, Line 102requirement for bills that result in a net increase in
Page 1, Line 103periods of incarceration.
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/.)
Joint Budget Committee. Previously, the law required a bill that resulted in a net increase in periods of incarceration to include an appropriation to cover the increased cost of incarceration for 5 years after the bill went into effect. In 2022, the general assembly suspended the requirement for 3 years. The bill repeals the requirement permanently.
Page 2, Line 1Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Colorado:
Page 2, Line 2SECTION 1. In Colorado Revised Statutes, repeal 2-2-703 as follows:
Page 2, Line 32-2-703. General assembly - bills which result in a net increase
Page 2, Line 4in periods of imprisonment in state correctional facilities - funding
Page 2, Line 5must be provided in the bill.
On and after July 1, 2025, a bill may notPage 2, Line 6
be passed by the general assembly which would result in a net increase inPage 2, Line 7
periods of imprisonment in state correctional facilities unless, in such bill,Page 2, Line 8
there is an appropriation of money which is sufficient to cover anyPage 2, Line 9
increased capital construction costs, any increased operating costs, andPage 2, Line 10
increased parole costs which are the result of such bill for the departmentPage 2, Line 11
of corrections in each of the first five years following the effective datePage 2, Line 12
of the bill. Money sufficient to cover such increased capital constructionPage 2, Line 13
costs and increased operating costs for the first five fiscal years followingPage 2, Line 14
the effective date of the bill must be estimated by the appropriationsPage 2, Line 15
committee, and after consideration of such estimate the general assemblyPage 2, Line 16
shall make a determination as to the amount of money sufficient to coverPage 2, Line 17
the costs, and such money must be appropriated in the bill in the form ofPage 2, Line 18
a statutory appropriation from the general fund in the years affected. AnyPage 2, Line 19
such bill which is passed on or after July 1, 1991, which is silent as toPage 2, Line 20
whether it is intended to be an exception to this section, shall not bePage 2, Line 21
deemed to be such an exception. Any bill which is enacted which isPage 2, Line 22
intended to be an exception to this section must expressly state such exception in such bill.Page 2, Line 23SECTION 2. Act subject to petition - effective date. This act
Page 2, Line 24takes effect at 12:01 a.m. on the day following the expiration of the
Page 3, Line 1ninety-day period after final adjournment of the general assembly; except
Page 3, Line 2that, if a referendum petition is filed pursuant to section 1 (3) of article V
Page 3, Line 3of the state constitution against this act or an item, section, or part of this
Page 3, Line 4act within such period, then the act, item, section, or part will not take
Page 3, Line 5effect unless approved by the people at the general election to be held in
Page 3, Line 6November 2026 and, in such case, will take effect on the date of the official declaration of the vote thereon by the governor.