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The committee is repealed, effective June 30, 2030.
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 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 Indian Tribe, the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe, and any other
Page 3, Line 15federally recognized 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 committee consists of the following two
Page 4, Line 11nonvoting members:
Page 4, Line 12(I) One representative from the Southern Ute Indian
Page 4, Line 13Tribe, appointed by the chairman of the Southern Ute Indian
Page 4, Line 14Tribe; and
Page 4, Line 15(II) One representative from the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe,
Page 4, Line 16appointed by the chairman of the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe.
Page 4, Line 17(c) The speaker of the house of representatives shall
Page 4, Line 18appoint the chair of the committee in odd-numbered years and
Page 4, Line 19the vice-chair of the committee in even-numbered years. The
Page 4, Line 20president of the senate shall appoint the chair of the committee
Page 4, Line 21in even-numbered years and the vice-chair of the committee in
Page 4, Line 22odd-numbered years.
Page 4, Line 23(4) Members appointed to the committee serve for the
Page 4, Line 24duration of the committee unless an appointed member resigns,
Page 4, Line 25is removed, or is no longer in office. The appointing authority
Page 4, Line 26shall fill any vacancy as soon as practicable. Members serve at
Page 4, Line 27the pleasure of the appointing authority and continue until a
Page 5, Line 1successor is appointed.
Page 5, Line 2(5) Members of the committee serve without
Page 5, Line 3compensation; except that each member is entitled to
Page 5, Line 4reimbursement for necessary expenses in connection with the
Page 5, Line 5performance of the member's duties and receives the same per
Page 5, Line 6diem as other members of interim committees in attendance at
Page 5, Line 7meetings.
Page 5, Line 8(6) (a) The committee may meet up to six times per interim,
Page 5, Line 9which may include field trips.
Page 5, Line 10(b) The chair of the committee shall schedule the first
Page 5, Line 11meeting of the committee for no later than July 31 of each year.
Page 5, Line 12(c) (I) Notwithstanding subsections (6)(a) and (6)(b) of this
Page 5, Line 13section, the committee shall not meet during the 2025 interim.
Page 5, Line 14(II) This subsection (6)(c) is repealed, effective July 1, 2026.
Page 5, Line 15(7) (a) The committee may recommend up to a total of five
Page 5, Line 16bills during each interim. Legislation recommended by the
Page 5, Line 17committee must be treated as legislation recommended by an
Page 5, Line 18interim committee for purposes of applicable deadlines, bill
Page 5, Line 19introduction limits, and any other requirements imposed by the
Page 5, Line 20joint rules of the general assembly.
Page 5, Line 21(b) (I) Notwithstanding subsection (7)(a) of this section,
Page 5, Line 22the committee shall not recommend legislation during the 2025
Page 5, Line 23interim.
Page 5, Line 24(II) This subsection (7)(b) is repealed, effective July 1, 2026.
Page 5, Line 25(8) (a) The committee shall seek presentations and
Page 5, Line 26comments from community members and representatives of the
Page 5, Line 27American Indian Tribal Nations, relevant state agencies, and
Page 6, Line 1impacted community members.
Page 6, Line 2(b) (I) Notwithstanding subsection (8)(a) of this section,
Page 6, Line 3the committee shall not seek presentations and comments
Page 6, Line 4during the 2025 interim.
Page 6, Line 5(II) This subsection (8)(b) is repealed, effective July 1, 2026.
Page 6, Line 6(9) On or before January 15, 2031, the committee shall
Page 6, Line 7submit a report to the executive committee of the legislative
Page 6, Line 8council summarizing the issues and topics discussed,
Page 6, Line 9recommendations considered, and any actions taken by the
Page 6, Line 10committee during the preceding five years. The information
Page 6, Line 11contained in the report must be organized by interim year. The
Page 6, Line 12report must comply with the provisions of section 24-1-136 (9).
Page 6, Line 13(10) The legislative council and the office of legislative
Page 6, Line 14legal services shall provide staff assistance to the committee.
Page 6, Line 15(11) This part 21 is repealed, effective June 30, 2031.
Page 6, Line 16SECTION 2. Safety clause. The general assembly finds,
Page 6, Line 17determines, and declares that this act is necessary for the immediate
Page 6, Line 18preservation of the public peace, health, or safety or for appropriations for
Page 6, Line 19the support and maintenance of the departments of the state and state
Page 6, Line 20institutions.