Implementation Of CO Colorado Secure Savings Program

In 2019, the general assembly created the Colorado secure savings board (board) in the office of the state treasurer to study the costs to the state of insufficient retirement savings and 3 approaches to increasing retirement savings in Colorado. The board found that a state-facilitated automatic enrollment individual retirement account program is the best option for Colorado and recommended the establishment of such a program, coupled with the greater use of financial education tools in the state. In furtherance of the board's recommendation, the act directs the board to create and implement the Colorado secure savings program (program).

The act specifies the powers and duties of the board in connection with the creation and administration of the program and updates the criteria to which the board is required to adhere in developing the program. The board is required to adopt rules regarding enrollment in the program, contributions to and withdrawals from program accounts, the process for employer exemptions from offering the program, and required disclosures.

The act creates the Colorado secure savings program fund in the state treasury to consist of money appropriated by the general assembly, money transferred to the fund by the federal government, money from fees and penalties in connection with the program, any gifts, grants, or donations made to the fund, and any gifts, grants, donations, or investments made to the state treasurer. The state treasurer may solicit gifts, grants, donations, or investments not required to be repaid, from public or private sources to cover the costs associated with the administration of the program.

All individual account information for accounts under the program is confidential and may not be disclosed except under specified circumstances.

For the 2020-21 state fiscal year, the general fund appropriation made in the annual general appropriation act to the office of the governor for use by the office of information technology for applications administration is decreased by $1,197,552. The same amount is appropriated from the general fund to the department of the treasury for the implementation of the act. Any money appropriated that is not expended prior to July 1, 2021, is further appropriated to the department for the 2021-22 state fiscal year for the same purpose.

(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)