2009 SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION 09-044 BY SENATOR(S) Shaffer B., Boyd, Groff; also REPRESENTATIVE(S) Weissmann, Benefield, Casso, Frangas, Green, Hullinghorst, Labuda, Levy, McCann, Merrifield, Pace, Primavera, Ryden, Todd. CONCERNING AN INTERIM COMMISSION TO STUDY FISCAL STABILITY. WHEREAS, The budget challenges faced by the state this fiscal year necessitate the formation of a commission to study the fiscal stability of the state, including but not limited to solutions for the economy, higher education funding, state transportation funding, and affordable access to health care; and WHEREAS, A collaborative effort involving all sectors of the economic community is necessary to develop a bipartisan solution for the state's fiscal stability; and WHEREAS, The commission's charge should be broad in order to grant flexibility to consider all solutions necessary to create fiscal stability; now, therefore, Be It Resolved by the Senate of the Sixty-seventh General Assembly of the State of Colorado, the House of Representatives concurring herein: (1) That there is hereby created the fiscal stability commission, hereinafter referred to as the "commission", which shall meet during the interim after the 2009 Regular Session of the Sixty-seventh General Assembly to study matters relating to fiscal stability. (2) That the commission shall consist of sixteen members as follows: (a) (I) Six legislative members as follows: (A) Three members of the Senate, two appointed by the President of the Senate and one appointed by the Minority Leader of the Senate; and (B) Three members of the House, two appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives and one appointed by the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives. (II) The President of the Senate shall select a chair of the commission, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives shall select a vice-chair of the commission. (III) The President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives shall make the appointments and selections specified in this paragraph (a) no later than 30 days after the certification of funds pursuant to subsection (7) of this resolution has been made to the Speaker of the House of Representative and the President of the Senate. (b) (I) Ten additional members, appointed as follows: (A) Three by the President of the Senate; (B) Two by the Minority Leader of the Senate; (C) Three by the Speaker of the House of Representatives; and (D) Two by the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives. (II) The appointments specified in subparagraph (I) of this paragraph (b) shall be made no later than 30 days after the certification of funds pursuant to subsection (7) of this resolution has been made to the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President of the Senate. (3) That the commission shall: (a) Study the fiscal stability of the state, including but not limited to solutions for higher education and transportation funding, affordable access to health care, kindergarten through twelfth grade education, state-owned assets, and the creation and adequate funding of a state rainy day fund; (b) Develop a strategic plan for state fiscal stability that may be amended on a yearly basis to reflect then-existing economic realities; and (c) Consider other issues as needed. (4) That the meetings of the commission shall be public meetings. (5) That the commission may request information from other sources, including but not limited to the National Conference of State Legislatures, representatives from state and local government, private businesses, nonprofit organizations, and appropriate trade groups to provide testimony, written comments, and other relevant data to the commission. (6) That the commission shall submit written findings and any recommended legislation to the Legislative Council no later than November 6, 2009. The commission shall be limited to proposing five bills. If a legislative member of the commission chooses to carry a bill recommended by the commission in the following legislative session, such commission bills shall not count against the individual legislator's bill limits set forth in the Joint Rules of the Senate and the House of Representatives. Legislation recommended by the commission shall be subject to the interim committee deadlines pursuant to the Joint Rules of the Senate and the House of Representatives. (7) Staff of the legislative council and of the office of legislative legal services shall be available to assist the commission in conducting the duties if the commission is approved by the executive committee of the legislative council. (8) Legislative members of the commission shall be entitled to receive expenses and payment of per diem if approved by the executive committee of the legislative council. (9) Upon request of a member of the commission, staff shall prepare and attach summaries of dissenting opinions to the final strategic plan adopted by the commission. Such summaries of dissenting opinions shall be incorporated in any final findings or recommendations of the commission presented to the Legislative Council. ____________________________ ____________________________ Brandon C. Shaffer Terrance D. Carroll PRESIDENT OF SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE THE SENATE OF REPRESENTATIVES ____________________________ ____________________________ Karen Goldman Marilyn Eddins SECRETARY OF CHIEF CLERK OF THE HOUSE THE SENATE OF REPRESENTATIVES