Second Regular Session | 74th General Assembly
Colorado General AssemblySchool Finance Funding Comparison With Passage of Both HB 14-1292 and HB 14-1298, FY 2014-15
Current Law vs. Passage of HB 14-1292 and HB 14-1298 Combined
School Finance Funding Comparison With Both HB 14-1292 and HB 14-1298
FY 2014-15 vs FY 2013-14
This memorandum provides information on intergovernmental transfers of revenue from the state government to Colorado's 64 counties. Data from 2010 show that of $5.0 billion in total county revenue, about $1.3 billion or 25.8 percent came from intergovernmental transfers. The state portion made...
In 1992, voters approved a Colorado Constitutional Amendment -- Article X, Section 20, known as the Taxpayer's Bill of Rights (TABOR). TABOR limits annual growth in state spending.
The state innovative motor vehicle income tax credit is intended to reduce the cost of alternative fuel vehicles and incentivize their purchase. This issue brief describes the tax credit, most recently addressed in House Bill 13-1247, and provides information on how its value is calculated.
The 2014 general election includes races for several state and federal offices. This issue brief provides an overview of key dates for the 2014 primary and general elections and highlights other information on voter registration, mail ballots, and voting procedures after various changes to...
Academic standards provide a broad outline for what students are expected to know and be able to do at the end of each grade level, and for what students should know in order to be prepared to enter college or the workforce by the time they graduate from high school. In Colorado, academic...
Telecommunications regulation has been an active issue in the Colorado state legislature for several years. In 2014, five bills passed that changed telecommunications regulation, subsidies, and infrastructure in Colorado. These bills deregulate a number of telecommunications products, specify...
Child support is a required payment made by a parent for the financial benefit of a child after a divorce or other dissolution of a relationship. This issue brief summarizes how child support orders are issued, details elements of child support enforcement units and various child support...
On May 14, 2013, Governor Hickenlooper issued an executive order directing the Colorado Water Conservation Board (CWCB) to develop the Colorado Water Plan (CWP). According to executive order D 2013-005, the CWP must promote a productive economy that supports vibrant and sustainable cities;...
This issue brief examines Colorado's fireworks law, including the ability of cities and counties to regulate fireworks.
Gun control is a much studied and debated topic. Proponents of gun control argue that the availability of firearms is directly linked to gun deaths and injury, especially in situations of domestic violence. Opponents counter that crime victims who defend themselves with guns are less likely to...
Assessments provide teachers, parents, students, policymakers, and other stakeholders in Colorado's education system with a way of measuring student performance against state standards. First administered on a statewide basis in 1997 under the name Colorado Student Assessment Program (CSAP),...
Remedial education refers to academic courses in higher education intended to improve the basic skills of new or returning college students, so that they are adequately prepared for college-level work. These basic skills courses are typically non-credit courses. This issue brief discusses how...
During the summer and fall of 2014, seven interim committees and commissions met to discuss policy issues and draft legislation for consideration by the General Assembly during the upcoming legislative session. As required by legislative rules, the Legislative Council Committee met to review the...
State law defines "achievement gap" as the difference in academic achievement attained by student groups on the statewide assessments and "growth gap" as the differences among student groups in the rates of academic growth.1 Achievement gaps are observable between racial or ethnic groups of...
Senate Bill (SB) 09-228, adopted by the General Assembly during the 2009 legislative session, creates a five-year block of statutory transfers from the General Fund to finance transportation and capital construction projects. This issue brief discusses the state law that specifies the amounts of...
Data breaches are becoming increasingly common and bring uncertainty for private citizens. According to the Federal Trade Commission, identity theft is one of the fastest growing crimes in the United States. Data breaches impose significant costs on both individuals whose personal identifying...
This issue brief examines the entities and revenue sources used to administer and finance Colorado's transportation system.
New construction and substantial renovation of academic buildings and facilities constructed or maintained with state General Fund moneys (hereafter referred to as "state facilities") are required to comply with the High Performance Certification Program (HPCP). The program requires the...
The individual income tax is the largest source of General Fund revenue, accounting for 60 percent of General Fund collections in FY 2013-14. This issue brief provides a brief history of Colorado income tax rates, discusses the general process for determining Colorado’s individual income tax,...
State and federal regulations set standards for the size and weight of commercial vehicles operated on public highways. A commercial vehicle is any vehicle used for commerce or that has a gross vehicle weight rating of 10,000 pounds or more. For commercial vehicles that exceed the established...
This issue brief reviews the US-36 Express Lane Project, which involves the widening and reconstruction of US-36 between Federal Boulevard in Denver and Table Mesa Drive in Boulder. In the 1950s, this section of the highway opened as a four-lane toll road as an alternative to driving through...
The General Assembly considered bills on a variety of agricultural issues in 2014 including agricultural labeling, agriculture oversight, taxation, and animal care. This document provides a summary of the legislation.
The Colorado legislature considered several important bills related to labor and employment, consumer protection, licensing and professional occupations, liquor law, procurement, and telecommunications and technology during the second session of the 69th General Assembly. This document...