First Regular Session
              Sixty-ninth General Assembly
                    STATE OF COLORADO
                                                 INTRODUCED
                                                           
                                                           
 LLS NO. 13-0001.03 Ed DeCecco x4216     HOUSE BILL 13-1100
                    HOUSE SPONSORSHIP
 Szabo,  Coram, DelGrosso, Holbert, Joshi, McNulty, Swalm
 
                   SENATE SPONSORSHIP
 (None),
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 House Committees
 Senate Committees
 
 
 State, Veterans, & Military Affairs
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
                         A BILL FOR AN ACT
       Concerning a standard that makes a ballot title easier to
            understand.
       
       
                           Bill Summary
       
            (Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced and does
       not reflect any amendments that may be subsequently adopted. If this bill
       passes third reading in the house of introduction, a bill summary that
       applies to the reengrossed version of this bill will be available at
       http://www.leg.state.co.us/billsummaries.)
       
            Section 1 of the bill reorganizes the existing requirements related
       to how the title board sets a ballot title for a proposed initiated law or
       constitutional amendment. It also requires the title board to write ballot
       titles that:
                 Are in plain language; 
                 Have words that are generally understood by an average
                 reader; and
                 Are clear and coherent.
            Section 2 requires a ballot title of a statewide referred measure to
       meet the new standard.
       
       
       
       Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Colorado:
            SECTION 1.  In Colorado Revised Statutes, 1-40-106, add (3)
       (b.5); and repeal and reenact, with amendments, (3) (b) as follows:
            1-40-106.  Title board - meetings - ballot title - initiative and
       referendum. (3) (b)  Except as otherwise required by section
       1-40-107, the title board shall complete the title, ballot title,
       and submission clause for a proposed law or constitutional
       amendment within two weeks after its first meeting on the
       matter. Immediately upon completion, the secretary of state
       shall deliver the original title, ballot title, and submission
       clause to the designated representatives of the proponents and
       shall keep a copy of the title, ballot title, and submission clause
       that includes a record of the title board's action.
            (b.5)  The title board shall consider the public confusion
       that might be caused by misleading titles. To the extent possible,
       the title board shall write ballot titles that:
            (I)  Correctly and fairly express the true intent and
       meaning of the proposed law or constitutional amendment;
            (II)  Unambiguously state the principle of the provision
       sought to be added, amended, or repealed;
            (III)  Are in the form of a question that may be answered
       "yes/for" (to vote in favor of the proposed law or constitutional
       amendment) or "no/against" (to vote against the proposed law or
       constitutional amendment), with the effect of either vote being
       clear;
            (IV)  Are brief;
            (V)  Do not conflict with the ballot title set for any
       petition previously filed for the same election;
            (VI)  Are in plain language;
            (VII)  Have words that are generally understood by an
       average reader; and
            (VIII)  Are clear and coherent.
            SECTION 2.  In Colorado Revised Statutes, add 2-2-801.5 as
       follows: 
            2-2-801.5.  Plain language requirement - referred measure -
       ballot title. (1)  To the extent possible, a ballot title for a
       statewide referred measure must:
            (a)  Be written in plain language;
            (b)  Have words that are generally understood by an
       average reader; and
            (c)  Be clear and coherent.
            (2)  A referred measure adopted by the general assembly
       is presumed to include a ballot title that conforms to
       subsection (1) of this section.
            SECTION 3.  Act subject to petition - effective date. This act
       takes effect at 12:01 a.m. on the day following the expiration of the
       ninety-day period after final adjournment of the general assembly (August
       7, 2013, if adjournment sine die is on May 8, 2013); except that, if a
       referendum petition is filed pursuant to section 1 (3) of article V of the
       state constitution against this act or an item, section, or part of this act
       within such period, then the act, item, section, or part will not take effect
       unless approved by the people at the general election to be held in
       November 2014 and, in such case, will take effect on the date of the
       official declaration of the vote thereon by the governor.