SENATE
                Amended 2nd Reading
                     February 6, 2015First Regular Session
               Seventieth General Assembly
                    STATE OF COLORADO
                                                  ENGROSSED
               This Version Includes All Amendments Adopted
             on Second Reading in the House of Introduction
 LLS NO. 15-0727.01 Brita Darling x2241  SENATE BILL 15-117
                   SENATE SPONSORSHIP
 Lambert,  Woods, Cooke, Cadman, Baumgardner, Crowder, Grantham, Hill, Holbert,
 Lundberg, Marble, Neville T., Roberts, Scheffel
 
                    HOUSE SPONSORSHIP
 Joshi,  Saine, Humphrey, Rankin, Klingenschmitt, Lundeen, Buck, Neville P.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Senate Committees
 House Committees
 
 
 Education
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
                         A BILL FOR AN ACT
       Concerning prohibiting discrimination in public financing of
            institutions of higher education.
       
       
                           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.)
       
            The bill prohibits the general assembly and the Colorado
       commission on higher education (commission) from appropriating or
       distributing state moneys to or for the benefit of students or state or
       private institutions of higher education based solely on the race, color,
       national origin, or sex of a student.
            The bill requires the commission to prohibit such discrimination
       in higher education funding in implementing part 3 of article 18 of title
       23, Colorado Revised Statutes.
       
       
       
       Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Colorado:
            SECTION 1.  In Colorado Revised Statutes, add 23-18-308 as
       follows:
            23-18-308.  Prohibition on discrimination in higher education
       funding. In appropriating, allocating, or distributing state
       moneys for the benefit of any public or private institution of
       higher education or for students, including calculating the
       amount of the appropriation, allocation, or distribution, the
       general assembly and the commission shall not base the
       appropriation, allocation, or distribution of state moneys
       solely on the race, color, national origin, sex, pregnancy, age,
       disability, creed, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity,
       gender expression, veteran status, political affiliation, or
       political philosophy of a student. Nothing in this section
       prohibits the use of state moneys for American Indian students
       at Fort Lewis college pursuant to section 23-52-105. Nothing in
       this section prohibits institutions of higher education from
       offering equal opportunity programs, veterans' preferences, or
       other programs permitted under the United States constitution.
       An institution may use state moneys to increase ethnic,
       cultural, and gender diversity, increase access for qualified
       disabled individuals, and provide equal opportunity for all
       students and employees.
            SECTION 2.  In Colorado Revised Statutes, 23-18-306, add (8)
       as follows:
            23-18-306.  Duties and powers of the commission - department
       - role and mission factors and performance metrics - consultation
       with interested parties - facilitator - legislative declaration. (8)  The
       commission shall comply with section 23-18-308 in implementing
       this part 3.
            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
       5, 2015, if adjournment sine die is on May 6, 2015); 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 2016 and, in such case, will take effect on the date of the
       official declaration of the vote thereon by the governor.