C.R.S. § 2-2-1601: Legislative department cash fund - redistricting accounts - creation - legislative declaration - definitions - repeal.

(1) The general assembly finds and declares that:

(a) The legislative department cash fund is a reserve for the legislative department that is primarily funded through reversions of unexpended appropriations to the legislative department;

(b) Among other things, the executive committee uses the money in the fund to:

(I) Renovate and maintain the house of representatives and senate chambers, the old state library, the old supreme court, committee rooms in the state capitol and legislative services building, the state capitol annex building, and offices for legislators and staff from the house, senate, and legislative service agencies;

(II) Pay for legislative security and safety expenses, including training;

(III) Make the state capitol more accessible, such as a project to install a vertical lift ramp in the house of representatives so that all legislators are able to be on the dias and take the gavel;

(IV) Pay for redistricting expenses;

(V) Pay for the legislative department's critical information technology life-cycle costs, including software, hardware, and infrastructure; and

(VI) Allow the legislative department to pay for unforeseen expenses during emergencies, such as a global health pandemic;

(c) By creating a fund limit, the general assembly intends to ensure that the legislative department has sufficient money to allow the department to annually pay for ongoing and unexpected expenses, but not more; and

(d) The executive committee should continue to prioritize the available money in the fund for information technology and capital needs.

(2) As used in this section, unless the context otherwise requires:

(a) "Congressional account" means the congressional redistricting account created in the legislative department cash fund in subsection (3)(c) of this section.

(b) "Fund" means the legislative department cash fund created in subsection (3)(a) of this section.

(c) "Fund limit" means:

(I) For the state fiscal year commencing on July 1, 2025, eight million dollars; and

(II) For each state fiscal year thereafter, the fund limit for the prior state fiscal year, proportionally adjusted by the percentage change in the total appropriation to the legislative department made in the legislative appropriation bill for the state fiscal year.

(d) "Legislative account" means the legislative redistricting account created in the legislative department cash fund in subsection (3)(c) of this section.

(e) "Legislative service agency" means the office of legislative legal services, legislative council staff, office of the state auditor, or staff of the joint budget committee.

(3) (a) The legislative department cash fund is created in the state treasury. The fund consists of:

(I) Money that the general assembly, the house of representatives, the senate, or any legislative service agency accepts as gifts, grants, or donations; collects; or otherwise receives from private and public sources, but excludes money specified in subsection (3)(b) of this section;

(II) Money that reverts to the fund in accordance with subsection (4)(a) of this section;

(III) Money received by the office of legislative legal services or a legislative custodian for fees charged for the research and retrieval of public records in accordance with the "Colorado Open Records Act", part 2 of article 72 of title 24; and

(IV) Any other money that the general assembly may appropriate or transfer to the fund.

(b) Money collected or received from the following sources is not credited to the fund:

(I) Money generated from the sale of bill boxes, legislative directories, and publications and other services provided by the print shop;

(II) Money received from various departments for audits and studies;

(III) Money received as payment of costs and fees pursuant to section 2-5-118 (2) or (2.5); and

(IV) Money generated from the sale of publications and memorabilia relating to the state capitol building pursuant to section 24-82-108 (3)(f)(I).

(c) The congressional redistricting account and the legislative redistricting account are created in the fund. The congressional and legislative accounts consist of any money appropriated or transferred to the accounts and any money received by the independent congressional redistricting commission, created pursuant to section 44 of article V of the state constitution; the independent legislative redistricting commission, created pursuant to section 46 of article V of the state constitution; or the legislative council related to redistricting.

(4) (a) Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, money appropriated from the general fund to the legislative department for a state fiscal year that is unexpended or unencumbered as of the close of the state fiscal year shall not revert to the general fund and the state treasurer shall transfer the money to the fund; except that the amount that reverts to the fund in a state fiscal year shall not cause the balance in the fund to exceed the fund limit.

(b) If, at the end of a state fiscal year, after transferring any reversions to the fund in accordance with subsection (4)(a) of this section and after crediting the interest and income derived from the deposit and investment of money in the fund to the general fund in accordance with subsection (5) of this section, the balance in the fund exceeds the fund limit, then the state treasurer shall transfer the excess from the fund to the general fund.

(c) The state treasurer shall transfer any unexpended money remaining in the congressional and legislative accounts as of June 30 of any year ending in 2 to the fund; except that, if any amount of the transfer would cause the balance in the fund to exceed the fund limit, then the state treasurer shall transfer that amount to the general fund.

(d) Money in the congressional and legislative accounts and gifts, grants, and donations are excluded from the balance in the fund for purposes of the calculations in this subsection (4).

(5) For state fiscal years commencing on or after July 1, 2025, in accordance with section 24-36-114 (1), the state treasurer shall credit all interest and income derived from the deposit and investment of money in the fund, including the congressional and legislative accounts, to the general fund.

(6) (a) Except as set forth in subsection (6)(b) of this section, state money in the fund is continuously appropriated to the executive committee of the legislative council to pay for expenses of the legislative department of the state of Colorado.

(b) Money in the congressional account is continuously appropriated to the independent congressional redistricting commission and to the legislative council staff to pay for the expense of redistricting the congressional districts in the state. Money in the legislative account is continuously appropriated to the independent legislative redistricting commission and to the legislative council staff to pay for the expense of redistricting the state legislative districts in the state.

(c) The house of representatives, the senate, and legislative service agencies shall expend money consistent with any terms and conditions imposed as a condition of receiving such money as gifts, grants, or donations.

(7) The house of representatives, the senate, and any legislative service agency may seek, accept, and expend gifts, grants, or donations from private or public sources for any purpose authorized by law.

(8) (a) On June 30, 2026, the state treasurer shall transfer twelve million six hundred seventy-four thousand seven hundred sixty-six dollars from the fund to the general fund.

(b) This subsection (8) is repealed, effective July 1, 2027.