2016 Digest of Bills
Agency
Each year state decision-makers are tasked with balancing constitutional, statutory, and federal requirements with a host of other considerations, such as competing policy priorities, caseload growth, and the health of the state’s economy to create a budget. Although the budget is funded with a variety of revenue sources, state taxes provide a significant portion of the revenue Colorado uses to fund its operations.
Legislative Council Staff is responsible for analyzing the fiscal impact at the school district level of the school finance bill that is introduced during each legislative session.
Legislative Council Staff publishes forecasts of the Colorado and U.S. economies and state revenue each March, June, September, and December. The General assembly uses these forecasts to develop the state budget, monitor state spending in relation to revenue, and determine and report the amount of excess state revenue under TABOR.
The Legislative Council Staff prepares memoranda, issue briefs, resource books, and reports addressing topics of interest to members of the Colorado General Assembly and the public. The LCS Staff also has developed several interactive tools for exploring the state economy, tax policy, and the budget.
Legislative Council Staff publications may be accessed by publication type or by subject area below.
Law Summary: The Sunset Process: Legislative Review of Regulatory Agencies and Functions
Agency
LAW SUMMARY: Security Deposit Returns to Renters
Agency
Law Summary: The Role of Legislative Staff in the Initiative Process
Agency
Law Summary: Retail Marijuana
Agency
Law Summary: Limitation on a Homeowners’ Association’s Regulation of Homeowners’ Property Rights Within a Common Interest Community
Agency
Law Summary: Medical Marijuana
Agency
Law Summary: Colorado Open Records Act (CORA)
Agency
Law Summary: Colorado Drunk Driving Laws
Agency
Law Summary: Application of the Colorado Common Interest Ownership Act (CCIOA) in HOA Communities
Agency
These summaries contain information commonly requested from the Office of Legislative Legal Services (OLLS). They do not represent an official legal position of the Colorado General Assembly or the State of Colorado and do not bind the members of the General Assembly. They are intended to provide a general overview of Colorado law as of the date of its preparation. Any person needing legal advice should consult his or her own lawyer and should not rely on the information in these summaries.
SUMMARY OF POSITION
Applying the Rules of Professional Conduct, together with historical practices, the Office of Legislative Legal Services takes the position that the legislative lawyer maintains an attorney-client relationship with the legislature, as an organization, and not with each legislator.
The Office of Legislative Legal Services has responsibility for implementing the statutory provisions for legislative review of administrative rules and regulations. Every rule adopted or amended by an executive agency is first reviewed by an Office of Legislative Legal Services attorney or legislative assistant to determine if the rule is within the power delegated to the agency and consistent with law.
Focus Colorado presents forecasts for the economy and state government revenue through FY 2016-17. Implications of the forecast for the state's General Fund budget and spending limit are described in the report's highlights and executive summary sections. The report is based on current law, legislation passed by the General Assembly affecting the forecast is described throughout the report.
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