SENATE
                       3rd Reading Unamended
                   April 24, 2008      SENATE
                Amended 2nd Reading
                      April 23, 2008Second Regular Session
              Sixty-sixth General Assembly
                    STATE OF COLORADO
                                                REENGROSSED
                       This Version Includes All Amendments
                       Adopted in the House of Introduction
 LLS NO. 08-0976.01 Thomas Morris        SENATE BILL 08-198
                   SENATE SPONSORSHIP
 Gordon, 
 
                    HOUSE SPONSORSHIP
 Witwer, 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Senate Committees
 House Committees
 
 
 State, Veterans & Military Affairs
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
                         A BILL FOR AN ACT
       Concerning requirements applicable to congressional
            redistricting.
       
       
                           Bill Summary
       
            (Note:  This summary applies to this bill as introduced and does
       not necessarily reflect any amendments that may be subsequently
       adopted.)
       
            In creating congressional districts, directs the general assembly to:
                 Utilize factors already specified for judicial review of
                 redistricting plans;
                 Not purposely favor or discriminate against any political
                 party or group;
                 Create competitive districts to the extent practicable;
                 Conduct no fewer than 12 public hearings throughout the
                 state on proposed redistricting plans;
                 Make redistricting data and mapmaking tools available to
                 the public in at least one location in each congressional
                 district; and
                 Allow for the submission of redistricting maps,
                 recommendations, and inquiries from the public.
       
       
       
       Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Colorado:
            SECTION 1.  Article 1 of title 2, Colorado Revised Statutes, is
       amended BY THE ADDITION OF A NEW SECTION to read:
            2-1-103.  Creation of congressional districts - criteria - public
       process.  (1)  In creating congressional districts, the general
       assembly shall utilize only the following factors in the
       following order of precedence:
                                  
            (a)  First, equal population;
            (b)  Second, nondilution of minority voting strength;
            (c)  Third, except when necessary to comply with
       paragraph (a) or (b) of this subsection (1), political subdivisions
       such as counties, cities, and towns shall be preserved intact and
       shall not be fragmented or dispersed across district lines.
            (d)  Fourth, preservation of communities of interest;
            (e)  Fifth, compactness and contiguity
            (f)  Sixth, after considering other factors in law
       pertaining to redistricting, to the extent practicable the
       general assembly shall create districts that promote fair and
       equitable representation and electoral competition.
            SECTION 2.  Effective date.  This act shall take effect at 12:01
       a.m. on the day following the expiration of the ninety-day period after
       final adjournment of the general assembly that is allowed for submitting
       a referendum petition pursuant to article V, section 1 (3) of the state
       constitution, (August 6, 2008, if adjournment sine die is on May 7, 2008);
       except that, if a referendum petition is filed against this act or an item,
       section, or part of this act within such period, then the act, item, section,
       or part, if approved by the people, shall take effect on the date of the
       official declaration of the vote thereon by proclamation of the governor.