NOTE: The governor signed this measure on 5/21/2012. HOUSE BILL 12-1324 BY REPRESENTATIVE(S) Massey and Scott, Bradford, Coram, Fields, Hamner, Holbert, Labuda, Liston, Todd, Vigil, Kerr J., Pace, Schafer S., Stephens; also SENATOR(S) Johnston and King S., Bacon, Heath. Concerning Colorado Mesa university. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Colorado: SECTION 1. In Colorado Revised Statutes, amend 23-53-101 as follows: 23-53-101. University established - role and mission. There is hereby established a university at Grand Junction, to be known as Colorado Mesa university, which shall be a general baccalaureate and graduate institution with moderately selective admission standards. Colorado Mesa university shall offer liberal arts and sciences, professional, and technical degree programs and a limited number of graduate programs. Colorado Mesa university shall also maintain a community college role and mission, including career and technical education programs. Colorado Mesa university shall receive resident credit for two-year course offerings in its commission-approved service area. Colorado Mesa university shall also serve as a regional education provider. SECTION 2. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 23-53-102, amend (1) (a) introductory portion, (2), (3), and (4) as follows: 23-53-102. Board of trustees - creation - members - powers - duties. (1) (a) There is established the board of trustees for Colorado Mesa university, referred to in this article as the "board of trustees", which shall consist of eleven thirteen members and shall be the governing authority for Colorado Mesa university. The board of trustees shall be, and is hereby declared to be, a body corporate and, as such and by the names designated in this section, may: (2) The governor shall appoint, effective July 1, 2003, with the consent of the senate, nine eleven members of the board of trustees. Members appointed to the board of trustees shall have the authority to act on behalf of the board of trustees prior to obtaining confirmation by the senate. The members first appointed to said board shall take office on July 1, 2003. Appointments of members to take office on July 1, 2003, shall be made so that three members of the board have terms expiring on January 1, 2005, two members of the board have terms expiring on January 1, 2006, two members of the board have terms expiring on January 1, 2007, and two members of the board have terms expiring on January 1, 2008; thereafter, the terms of the nine eleven appointed members of the board of trustees shall be four years. Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, the term of each member serving on the board of trustees as of May 26, 2006, shall be extended to expire on December 31 of the calendar year in which the member's appointed term would otherwise expire. Members appointed on or after January 1, 2007, shall serve terms of up to four years, expiring on December 31 of the third calendar year following the calendar year in which the member is appointed; except that of the two members appointed pursuant to House Bill 12-1324, enacted in 2012, one shall have a term that expires on January 1, 2015, and one shall have a term that expires on January 1, 2016. For terms ending on or after December 31, 2006, the governor shall appoint a succeeding member on or before March 1 immediately following the expiration of the term. Of the nine eleven members appointed by the governor, no more than five six members shall be from the same political party. Of the nine eleven members appointed by the governor, at least two shall reside in Delta, Garfield, Mesa, or Montrose county. Each trustee shall hold office for the term for which the trustee has been appointed and until the trustee's successor is appointed and confirmed by the senate. (3) The tenth twelfth member of the board of trustees shall be a full-time junior or senior student at Colorado Mesa university, elected by the members of the student body of Colorado Mesa university. The term of the student member shall be one year, beginning July 1, 2003, and beginning July 1 each year thereafter. The student member shall be advisory, without the right to vote and without the right to attend executive sessions of the board of trustees, as provided by section 24-6-402, C.R.S. The student member shall have resided in the state of Colorado for not less than three years prior to the student's election. (4) The eleventh thirteenth member shall be a member of the faculty of Colorado Mesa university elected by other members of the faculty for a term of two years, beginning July 1, 2003, and beginning July 1 every odd-numbered year thereafter. The faculty member shall be advisory, without the right to vote and without the right to attend executive sessions of the board of trustees, as provided by section 24-6-402, C.R.S. 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. ________________________________________________________ Frank McNulty Brandon C. Shaffer SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE PRESIDENT OF OF REPRESENTATIVES THE SENATE ____________________________ ____________________________ Marilyn Eddins Cindi L. Markwell CHIEF CLERK OF THE HOUSE SECRETARY OF OF REPRESENTATIVES THE SENATE APPROVED________________________________________ _________________________________________ John W. Hickenlooper GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF COLORADO