1-40-105.5. Initial fiscal impact statement – definition
Overview of Statute
The designated representatives may submit a fiscal impact estimate that includes an estimate of the effect the measure will have on state and local government revenues, expenditures, taxes, and fiscal liabilities if it is enacted.
Statute
(1) As used in this section, unless the context otherwise requires, “director” means the director of research of the legislative council of the general assembly.
(2) (a) For every initiated measure properly submitted to the title board under section 1-40-106, the director shall prepare an initial fiscal impact statement, taking into consideration any fiscal impact estimate submitted by the designated representatives of the proponents or other interested person that is submitted in accordance with paragraph (b) of this subsection (2), the office of state planning and budgeting, and the department of local affairs. The director shall provide the designated representatives of the proponents and the secretary of state with the impact statement no later than the time of the title board meeting at which the proposed initiated measure is to be considered. The title board shall not conduct a hearing on the impact statement at this title board meeting, and the director’s abstract that is included in the impact statement is final, unless modified in accordance with section 1-40-107. The director shall also post the statement on the legislative council staff web site on the same day that it is provided to the designated representatives of the proponents.
(b) The designated representatives of the proponents or any other interested person may submit a fiscal impact estimate that includes an estimate of the effect the measure will have on state and local government revenues, expenditures, taxes, and fiscal liabilities if it is enacted. The director shall consider these estimates and the bases thereon when preparing the initial fiscal impact statement.
(c) The initial fiscal impact statement must:
(I) Be substantially similar in form and content to the fiscal notes provided by the legislative council of the general assembly for legislative measures pursuant to section 2-2-322, C.R.S.;
(II) Indicate whether there is a fiscal impact for the initiated measure; and
(III) Include an abstract described in subsection (3) of this section.
(3) The abstract must include:
(a) An estimate of the effect the measure will have on state and local government revenues, expenditures, taxes, and fiscal liabilities if the measure is enacted;
(b) A statement of the measure’s economic benefits for all Coloradans;
(c) An estimate of the amount of any state and local government recurring expenditures or fiscal liabilities if the measure is enacted;
(d) For any initiated measure that modifies the state tax laws, an estimate, if feasible, of the impact to the average taxpayer if the measure is enacted; and
(e) The following statement: “The abstract includes estimates of the fiscal impact of the proposed initiative. If this initiative is to be placed on the ballot, legislative council staff will prepare new estimates as part of a fiscal impact statement, which includes an abstract of that information. All fiscal impact statements are available at www.ColoradoBlueBook.com and the abstract will be included in the ballot information booklet that is prepared for the initiative.”.
(4) The abstract for a measure, as amended in accordance with section 1-40-107, must be included in a petition section as provided in section 1-40-110 (3).
(5) Neither the legislative council of the general assembly nor its executive committee may modify the initial fiscal impact statement prepared by the director. This restriction does not apply to the final fiscal impact statement prepared in accordance with section 1-40-124.5.
(6) At the same time the director posts the initial fiscal impact statement on the legislative council web site, he or she shall also post on the web site all fiscal impact estimates received in accordance with paragraph (b) of subsection (2) of this section.
Editor’s note: This section is effective March 26, 2016.
Source: L. 2015: Entire section added, (HB 15-1057), ch. 198, p. 676, § 3, effective March 26, 2016.
- Cross-References:
- Administrative Oversight
- Ballot Initiatives & Recall Elections
1. Definition for Expenditure
Any purchase, payment, distribution, loan, advance, deposit, or gift of money by any person for the purpose of expressly advocating the election or defeat of a candidate or supporting or opposing a ballot issue or ballot question. An expenditure is made when the actual spending occurs or when there is a contractual agreement requiring such spending and the amount is determined.
(b) “Expenditure” does not include:
(I) Any news articles, editorial endorsements, opinion or commentary writings, or letters to the editor printed in a newspaper, magazine or other periodical not owned or controlled by a candidate or political party;
(II) Any editorial endorsements or opinions aired by a broadcast facility not owned or controlled by a candidate or political party;
(III) Spending by persons, other than political parties, political committees and small donor committees, in the regular course and scope of their business or payments by a membership organization for any communication solely to members and their families;
(IV) Any transfer by a membership organization of a portion of a member’s dues to a small donor committee or political committee sponsored by such membership organization; or payments made by a corporation or labor organization for the costs of establishing, administering, or soliciting funds from its own employees or members for a political committee or small donor committee.
Section 2(8) of article XXVIII of the state constitution.
2. Definition for State
A state of the United States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the United States Virgin Islands, or any territory or insular possession subject to the jurisdiction of the United States. C.R.S. § 1-8.3-102.
3. Definition for Title
A brief statement that fairly and accurately represents the true intent and meaning of the proposed text of the initiative.
4. Definition for Ballot
(a) A federal write-in absentee ballot;
(b) A ballot specifically prepared or distributed for use by a covered voter in accordance with this article; or
(c) A ballot cast by a covered voter in accordance with this article.
(2) “Covered voter” means:
(a) A uniformed-service voter defined in paragraph (a) of subsection (9) of this section who is a resident of this state but who is absent from this state by reason of active duty and who otherwise satisfies this state’s voter eligibility requirements;
(b) An overseas voter who, before leaving the United States, was last eligible to vote in this state and, except for a state residency requirement, otherwise satisfies this state’s voter eligibility requirements;
(c) An overseas voter who, before leaving the United States, would have been last eligible to vote in this state had the voter then been of voting age and, except for a state residency requirement, otherwise satisfies this state’s voter eligibility requirements; or
(d) An overseas voter who was born outside the United States, is not described in paragraph (b) or (c) of this subsection (2), and, except for a state residency requirement, otherwise satisfies this state’s voter eligibility requirements if the last place where a parent, legal guardian, spouse, or civil union partner of the voter was, or under this article would have been, eligible to vote before leaving the United States is within this state.
C.R.S. § 1-8.3-102.
5. Definition for Person
Any natural person, partnership, committee, association, corporation, labor organization, political party, or other organization or group of persons. Section 2(11) of article XXVIII of the state constitution.
6. Definition for Section
A bound compilation of initiative forms approved by the secretary of state, which shall include pages that contain the warning required by section 1-40-110 (1), the ballot title, the abstract required by section 1-40-110 (3), and a copy of the proposed measure; succeeding pages that contain the warning, the ballot title, and ruled lines numbered consecutively for registered electors’ signatures; and a final page that contains the affidavit required by section 1-40-111 (2). Each section shall be consecutively prenumbered by the petitioner prior to circulation.
7. Definition for Secretary
The Colorado secretary of state. C.R.S. § 1-1.5-102.
8. Definition for Committee
The committee of signers described in section 1-12-108(2). C.R.S. § 1-12-100.5.