NOTE: This bill has been prepared for the signature of the appropriate legislative officers and the Governor. To determine whether the Governor has signed the bill or taken other action on it, please consult the legislative status sheet, the legislative history, or the Session Laws. SENATE BILL 11-231 BY SENATOR(S) Steadman, Cadman; also REPRESENTATIVE(S) Nikkel, Fields, Gerou, Ramirez, Ryden, Stephens, Todd, Waller. Concerning operation of the Colorado channel authority, and, in connection therewith, allowing the authority to make available via the internet audio recordings of proceedings of the general assembly and requiring certain members of the board of directors of the authority to be serving members of the general assembly and to represent the major political parties in each house. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Colorado: SECTION 1. 24-49.9-101 (1) (a), the introductory portion to 24-49.9-101 (3) (b), and 24-49.9-101 (3) (b) (III), (3) (b) (IV), (3) (b) (V), (3) (b) (VI), and (3) (c), Colorado Revised Statutes, are amended to read: 24-49.9-101. Colorado channel authority - creation - legislative declaration. (1) (a) The general assembly finds, determines, and declares that: (I) It is beneficial to the citizens of Colorado for sessions of the general assembly to be televised via cable television and webcast and that audio of these sessions be broadcast via the internet; (II) Televising and broadcasting the proceedings of the general assembly will make Colorado state government more open and accessible to the citizens of this state; and (III) It is desirable for a governmental entity to be created to coordinate programming and televising sessions of the general assembly as well as programming and televising for other state purposes and making audio recordings of these sessions available. (3) (b) The board shall consist consists of the following nine members: (III) One member, serving in the house of representatives, appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives; (IV) One member, serving in the house of representatives, appointed by the minority leader of the house of representatives; (V) One member, serving in the senate, appointed by the president of the senate; (VI) One member, serving in the senate, appointed by the minority leader of the senate; and (c) (I) Of the members initially appointed to the board, the members appointed by the governor shall each serve for terms of two years; the member appointed by the chief justice shall serve serves for a term of two years; the members of the house of representatives and the senate appointed by the minority leaders of the house of representatives and the senate shall each serve for a term of three years so long as they also serve as members of the house of the general assembly from which they are appointed; the members of the house of representatives and the senate appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives and the president of the senate shall each serve for a term of four years so long as they also serve as members of the house of the general assembly from which they are appointed; and the member appointed by the president of the senate and the speaker of the house of representatives shall serve serves for a term of two years. (II) Thereafter, members of the board shall appointed under subparagraph (III), (IV), (V), or (VI) of paragraph (b) of this subsection (3) serve for terms of four years so long as they also serve as members of the house of the general assembly from which they are appointed, and other members of the board serve for terms of four years. (III) (A) A vacancy in the members of the board appointed under subparagraph (III), (IV), (V), or (VI) of paragraph (b) of this subsection (3) shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment, but for the remainder of the unexpired term only; except that these members must at all times consist of a member from each major political party in each house of the general assembly and be appointed by the appropriate appointing authority under subparagraph (III), (IV), (V), or (VI) of paragraph (b) of this subsection (3), as appropriate, to ensure that a member from each major political party in each house is a member of the board. (B) A vacancy in the membership of other members of the board occurring other than by expiration of term shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment, but for the remainder of the unexpired term only. (IV) An appointed member shall be eligible for reappointment. Members of the board may be removed by the appointing authorities for cause, after a public hearing, and may be suspended by the appointing authority pending the completion of such the hearing. SECTION 2. 24-49.9-102 (2), Colorado Revised Statutes, is amended to read: 24-49.9-102. Colorado channel authority - powers and duties. (2) The authority shall televise the proceedings of the Colorado house of representatives and senate and such other programming of a state governmental nature as the board may approve, including making available audio recordings of proceedings of the general assembly. SECTION 3. Safety clause. The general assembly hereby finds, determines, and declares that this act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, and safety. ____________________________ ____________________________ Brandon C. Shaffer Frank McNulty PRESIDENT OF SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE THE SENATE OF REPRESENTATIVES ____________________________ ____________________________ Cindi L. Markwell Marilyn Eddins SECRETARY OF CHIEF CLERK OF THE HOUSE THE SENATE OF REPRESENTATIVES APPROVED________________________________________ _________________________________________ John W. Hickenlooper GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF COLORADO