A Bill for an Act
Page 1, Line 101Concerning the creation of the American Indian affairs
Page 1, Line 102interim committee.
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/.)
American Indian Affairs Interim Study Committee. The bill creates the American Indian affairs interim committee (committee). The purpose of the committee is to examine issues and challenges that impact American Indian Tribal Nations.
The committee consists of 6 members of the general assembly who serve for the duration of the committee unless they resign, are removed, or are no longer in office.
The bill allows the committee to meet up to 6 times and recommend up to 5 bills during each interim.
On or before January 15, 2030, the bill requires the committee to submit a report to the executive committee of the legislative council summarizing the work of the committee during the preceding 5 years.
The committee is repealed, effective June 30, 2030.
This Unofficial Version Includes Committee
Amendments Not Yet Adopted on Second Reading
Page 2, Line 1Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Colorado:
Page 2, Line 2SECTION 1. In Colorado Revised Statutes, add part 21 to article
Page 2, Line 33 of title 2 as follows:
Page 2, Line 4PART 21
Page 2, Line 5AMERICAN INDIAN AFFAIRS INTERIM COMMITTEE
Page 2, Line 62-3-2101. Legislative declaration. (1) The general assembly
Page 2, Line 7finds that:
Page 2, Line 8(a) Historical and intergenerational trauma continues to
Page 2, Line 9impact American Indian communities. Without action to address
Page 2, Line 10the unique challenges American Indians face, the cycle of
Page 2, Line 11poverty, inadequate support, and lack of resources will persist.
Page 2, Line 12(b) Communication, collaboration, and respect are
Page 2, Line 13critical to support American Indian Tribal Nations and create
Page 2, Line 14positive, lasting, and impactful change;
Page 2, Line 15(c) From the work of the 2024 American Indian affairs
Page 2, Line 16interim study committee, more work is clearly needed to better
Page 2, Line 17support American Indian Tribal Nations and their communities
Page 2, Line 18in Colorado;
Page 2, Line 19(d) Creating the American Indian affairs interim
Page 2, Line 20committee allows the general assembly to continue discussions
Page 2, Line 21and collaboration with the Ute Mountain Ute Indian Tribe,
Page 2, Line 22Southern Ute Indian Tribe, and all other American Indian people
Page 3, Line 1and their communities in Colorado in order to address the
Page 3, Line 2challenges and issues they face; and
Page 3, Line 3(e) The general assembly is committed to building
Page 3, Line 4stronger and more meaningful relationships with the American
Page 3, Line 5Indian Tribal Nations and their communities in Colorado.
Page 3, Line 6(2) Therefore, the general assembly declares that the
Page 3, Line 7continuation of the American Indian affairs interim committee
Page 3, Line 8is critical to improve relationships and address the unique
Page 3, Line 9challenges and needs that American Indian Tribal Nations and
Page 3, Line 10their communities face.
Page 3, Line 112-3-2102. Definitions.As used in this part 21, unless the
Page 3, Line 12context otherwise requires:
Page 3, Line 13(1) "American Indian Tribal Nations" means the Southern
Page 3, Line 14Ute Tribe, the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe, and any other federally
Page 3, Line 15recognized tribe.
Page 3, Line 16(2) "Committee" means the American Indian affairs interim
Page 3, Line 17committee created in section 2-3-2103.
Page 3, Line 182-3-2103. American Indian affairs interim committee -
Page 3, Line 19creation - duties - membership - reporting - repeal.
Page 3, Line 20(1) Notwithstanding section 2-3-303.3, the American Indian
Page 3, Line 21affairs interim committee is created.
Page 3, Line 22(2) The purpose of the committee is to examine issues and
Page 3, Line 23challenges that impact the American Indian Tribal Nations.
Page 3, Line 24(3) (a) The committee consists of the six members of the
Page 3, Line 25general assembly who were appointed to the 2024 American
Page 3, Line 26Indian affairs interim study committee as follows:
Page 3, Line 27(I) Three members of the senate, the one member appointed
Page 4, Line 1by the president of the senate, the one member appointed by the
Page 4, Line 2majority leader of the senate, and the one member appointed by
Page 4, Line 3the minority leader of the senate; and
Page 4, Line 4(II) Three members of the house of representatives, the
Page 4, Line 5one member appointed by the speaker of the house of
Page 4, Line 6representatives, the one member appointed by the majority
Page 4, Line 7leader of the house of representatives, and the one member
Page 4, Line 8appointed by the minority leader of the house of
Page 4, Line 9representatives.
Page 4, Line 10(b) The speaker of the house of representatives shall
Page 4, Line 11appoint the chair of the committee in odd-numbered years and
Page 4, Line 12the vice-chair of the committee in even-numbered years. The
Page 4, Line 13president of the senate shall appoint the chair of the committee
Page 4, Line 14in even-numbered years and the vice-chair of the committee in
Page 4, Line 15odd-numbered years.
Page 4, Line 16(4) Members appointed to the committee serve for the
Page 4, Line 17duration of the committee unless an appointed member resigns,
Page 4, Line 18is removed, or is no longer in office. The appointing authority
Page 4, Line 19shall fill any vacancy as soon as practicable. Members serve at
Page 4, Line 20the pleasure of the appointing authority and continue until a
Page 4, Line 21successor is appointed.
Page 4, Line 22(5) Members of the committee serve without
Page 4, Line 23compensation; except that each member is entitled to
Page 4, Line 24reimbursement for necessary expenses in connection with the
Page 4, Line 25performance of the member's duties and receives the same per
Page 4, Line 26diem as other members of interim committees in attendance at
Page 4, Line 27meetings.
Page 5, Line 1(6) (a) The committee may meet up to six times per interim,
Page 5, Line 2which may include field trips.
Page 5, Line 3(b) The chair of the committee shall schedule the first
Page 5, Line 4meeting of the committee for no later than July 31 of each year.
Page 5, Line 5(c) (I) Notwithstanding subsections (6)(a) and (6)(b) of this
Page 5, Line 6section, the committee shall not meet during the 2025 interim.
Page 5, Line 7(II) This subsection (6)(c) is repealed, effective July 1, 2026.
Page 5, Line 8(7) (a) The committee may recommend up to a total of five
Page 5, Line 9bills during each interim. Legislation recommended by the
Page 5, Line 10committee must be treated as legislation recommended by an
Page 5, Line 11interim committee for purposes of applicable deadlines, bill
Page 5, Line 12introduction limits, and any other requirements imposed by the
Page 5, Line 13joint rules of the general assembly.
Page 5, Line 14(b) (I) Notwithstanding subsection (7)(a) of this section,
Page 5, Line 15the committee shall not recommend legislation during the 2025
Page 5, Line 16interim.
Page 5, Line 17(II) This subsection (7)(b) is repealed, effective July 1, 2026.
Page 5, Line 18(8) (a) The committee shall seek presentations and
Page 5, Line 19comments from community members and representatives of the
Page 5, Line 20American Indian Tribal Nations, relevant state agencies, and
Page 5, Line 21impacted community members.
Page 5, Line 22(b) (I) Notwithstanding subsection (8)(a) of this section,
Page 5, Line 23the committee shall not seek presentations and comments
Page 5, Line 24during the 2025 interim.
Page 5, Line 25(II) This subsection (8)(b) is repealed, effective July 1, 2026.
Page 5, Line 26(9) On or before January 15, 2031, the committee shall
Page 5, Line 27submit a report to the executive committee of the legislative
Page 6, Line 1council summarizing the issues and topics discussed,
Page 6, Line 2recommendations considered, and any actions taken by the
Page 6, Line 3committee during the preceding five years. The information
Page 6, Line 4contained in the report must be organized by interim year. The
Page 6, Line 5report must comply with the provisions of section 24-1-136 (9).
Page 6, Line 6(10) The legislative council and the office of legislative
Page 6, Line 7legal services shall provide staff assistance to the committee.
Page 6, Line 8(11) This part 21 is repealed, effective June 30, 2031.
Page 6, Line 9SECTION 2. Safety clause. The general assembly finds,
Page 6, Line 10determines, and declares that this act is necessary for the immediate
Page 6, Line 11preservation of the public peace, health, or safety or for appropriations for
Page 6, Line 12the support and maintenance of the departments of the state and state
Page 6, Line 13institutions.