HOUSE 2nd Reading Unamended May 11, 2010Second Regular Session Sixty-seventh General Assembly STATE OF COLORADO ENGROSSED LLS NO. R10-0942.01 Sharon Eubanks HCR10-1002 HOUSE SPONSORSHIP Benefield, Frangas, McKinley, Merrifield, Middleton, Peniston, Rice, Scanlan, Schafer S., Solano, Todd, Hullinghorst, Apuan, Casso, Fischer, Gagliardi, Kagan, Labuda, Levy, McCann, Miklosi, Pace, Pommer, Primavera, Ryden, Soper, Tyler, Vigil, Weissmann SENATE SPONSORSHIP Williams and Romer, Bacon, Shaffer B. House Committees Senate Committees Education HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 10-1002 Submitting to the registered electors of the state of Colorado an amendment to article IX of the constitution of the state of Colorado, concerning the authority of the general assembly to generate additional state revenues for funding preschool through postsecondary public education without prior voter approval, and, in connection therewith, notwithstanding the prior voter approval requirement of section 20 (4) (a) of article X of the state constitution, allowing the general assembly to enact statutes that result in additional state revenues to be used to fund preschool through postsecondary public education and exempting any additional state revenues raised for this purpose from the constitutional limitations on fiscal year spending. Resolution Summary (Note: This summary applies to this resolution as introduced and does not reflect any amendments that may be subsequently adopted. If this resolution passes third reading in the house of introduction, a resolution summary that applies to the reengrossed version of this resolution will be available at http://www.leg.state.co.us/billsummaries.) The concurrent resolution authorizes the general assembly to enact statutes that result in additional state revenues without prior voter approval if the resulting revenues are used for various purposes relating to the funding of preschool through postsecondary education. These additional revenues are not subject to the constitutional limitations on fiscal year spending. The concurrent resolution does not otherwise affect the prior voter approval requirement for the generation of additional state revenues for any purpose other than the purposes specified in the concurrent resolution. Be It Resolved by the House of Representatives of the Sixty-seventh General Assembly of the State of Colorado, the Senate concurring herein: SECTION 1. At the next election at which such question may be submitted, there shall be submitted to the registered electors of the state of Colorado, for their approval or rejection, the following amendment to the constitution of the state of Colorado, to wit: Article IX of the constitution of the state of Colorado is amended BY THE ADDITION OF A NEW SECTION to read: Section 18. Authority of general assembly to increase state revenues for funding education. Notwithstanding the provisions of section 20 (4) (a) of article X of this constitution, the general assembly is authorized to enact statutes to increase state revenues without prior voter approval if the resulting state revenues are to be used to prevent or reduce reductions in funding for preschool through postsecondary public education or for the purpose of improving preschool through postsecondary public education by: Expanding the availability of preschool, full-day kindergarten, or family literacy programs; implementing accountable education reform and accountable programs to meet academic standards; reducing class size; expanding the use of technology in education; improving student safety; improving teacher effectiveness; addressing public school building needs; or improving the accessibility, quality, and affordability of career and technical education opportunities or postsecondary education opportunities. All revenues resulting from the exercise of the authority granted in this section shall not be subject to the limitations on fiscal year spending set forth in section 20 of article X of this constitution. Nothing in this section shall be construed to otherwise affect the prior voter approval requirement set forth in section 20 (4) (a) of article X of this constitution for the generation of additional state revenues for any purpose other than the purposes specified in this section. SECTION 2. Each elector voting at said election and desirous of voting for or against said amendment shall cast a vote as provided by law either "Yes" or "No" on the proposition: "Shall there be an amendment to article IX of the constitution of the state of Colorado, concerning the authority of the general assembly to generate additional state revenues for funding preschool through postsecondary public education without prior voter approval, and, in connection therewith, notwithstanding the prior voter approval requirement of section 20 (4) (a) of article X of the state constitution, allowing the general assembly to enact statutes that result in additional state revenues to be used to fund preschool through postsecondary public education and exempting any additional state revenues raised for this purpose from the constitutional limitations on fiscal year spending?" SECTION 3. The votes cast for the adoption or rejection of said amendment shall be canvassed and the result determined in the manner provided by law for the canvassing of votes for representatives in Congress, and if a majority of the electors voting on the question shall have voted "Yes", the said amendment shall become a part of the state constitution.