NOTE: The governor signed this measure on 5/13/2015.
      
      
      SENATE BILL 15-282
      
      
      BY SENATOR(S) Scott and Johnston, Cadman, Scheffel, Crowder,
      Donovan, Garcia, Grantham;
      also REPRESENTATIVE(S) Duran and Willett, DelGrosso, Becker K.,
      Brown, Conti, Coram, Danielson, Esgar, Fields, Garnett, Hamner,
      Kraft-Tharp, Lee, Lontine, Melton, Mitsch Bush, Pettersen, Primavera,
      Priola, Rankin, Rosenthal, Ryden, Salazar, Singer, Tate, Vigil, Wilson,
      Windholz, Winter, Young.
      
      
      Concerning the establishment of a rural jump-start program in
           highly distressed counties of the state for new businesses
           that bring new jobs to the state, and, in connection
           therewith, making an appropriation.
      
      
      Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Colorado:
      
           SECTION 1.  In Colorado Revised Statutes, add article 30.5 to title
      39 as follows:
      
                           ARTICLE 30.5
                    Rural Jump-Start Zone Act
      
           39-30.5-101.  Short title. This article shall be known and may
      be cited as the "Rural Jump-Start Zone Act".
      
           39-30.5-102.  Legislative declaration. (1)  The general
      assembly hereby finds and declares that:
      
           (a)  While overall there are improvements to the Colorado
      economy, there still exists a significant contraction of local
      economies in certain areas of the state;
      
           (b)  Importantly, those areas are experiencing increased
      economic downturn as measured by changes in such factors as
      population, employment, weekly wage, assessed value of all
      property, and concentration of pupils eligible for free lunch; and
      
           (c)  Colorado's many diverse aspects are what make it such
      a unique and wonderful state, with varying economic sectors and
      regions making its strength greater than the sum of its parts. It
      is imperative that all sectors of the state be kept independently
      strong and be given the chance to improve, prosper, and
      contribute to the whole, from which all benefit. The general
      assembly is committed to reaching out to all such areas to ensure
      this goal is met.
      
           (2)  The general assembly further finds and declares that
      establishing certain rural jump-start zones is best suited to bring
      about the economic vitality so critically needed in those regions.
      
           (3)  The general assembly finds that, by attracting
      businesses that are completely new to Colorado, economic
      growth will occur in distressed counties without negatively
      impacting other areas of the state and, while certain taxes, such
      as business personal property taxes, will not be collected within
      the rural jump-start zone, the net impact of those uncollected
      taxes will result in a net positive impact to the state, the
      distressed county, and the interested municipality.
      
           39-30.5-103.  Definitions. As used in this article, unless the
      context otherwise requires:
      
           (1)  "Colorado economic development commission" or
      "commission" means the Colorado economic development
      commission created in section 24-46-102, C.R.S.
      
           (2)  "Credit certificate" means a statement issued by the
      commission certifying that the new business or new hire qualifies
      for an income tax credit allowed in section 39-30.5-105. The credit
      certificate shall not specify the amount of the credit, but must
      specify that the new business or new hire is eligible for the credit.
      
           (3)  "Department" means the department of revenue.
      
           (4)  "Distressed county" means a county with a population
      of less than two hundred fifty thousand and that reflects
      indicators of economic distress such as:
      
           (a)  Per capita income that is substantially below the
      statewide average;
      
           (b)  Local gross domestic product or similar performance
      measures that are substantially below the statewide average
      over the preceding five-year period;
      
           (c)  Unemployment levels that are substantially above the
      statewide average over the preceding five-year period;
      
           (d)  A net loss of people of workforce age measured over the
      preceding five-year period, or a failure to recover from a loss
      over the preceding ten-year period; or
      
           (e)  A countywide concentration of pupils eligible for free
      lunch pursuant to the federal "National School Lunch Act", 42
      U.S.C. sec. 1751 et seq., greater than the statewide average
      concentration of pupils eligible for free lunch.
      
           (5)  "Guidelines" means the guidelines developed by the
      commission as specified in section 39-30.5-104 (1).
      
           (6)  "Municipality" means a municipality as defined in section
      31-1-101 (6), C.R.S., with boundaries wholly or partly within the
      distressed county's boundaries.
      
           (7)  "New business" means a business that:
      
           (a)  Is not operating in the state at the time it submits its
      application to a state institution of higher education to
      participate in the rural jump-start zone program;
      
           (b)  Is not moving existing jobs into the rural jump-start
      zone from another area in the state;
      
           (c)  Hires at least five new hires;
      
           (d)  Is not substantially similar in operation to and does not
      directly compete with the core function of a business that is
      operating in the state at the time the new business submits its
      application to a state institution of higher education to
      participate in the rural jump-start zone program; and
      
           (e)  Adds to the economic base and exports goods and
      services outside the distressed county.
      
           (8)  "New hire" means an individual who has performed labor
      or services in the rural jump-start zone for the new business for
      more than six months from the date hired and for which such
      individual receives a federal form W-2 and where the job
      performed by the individual:
      
           (a)  Is either a full-time, wage-paying job or is equivalent to
      a full-time, wage-paying job requiring at least thirty-five hours
      per week; and
      
           (b)  Has a salary or compensation equal to or greater than
      the county average annual wage.
      
           (9)  "Rural jump-start zone" means an area within the
      boundaries of a distressed county that is either:
      
           (a)  In one or more incorporated portions of the distressed
      county if the municipality provides the commission with a general
      resolution as described in section 39-30.5-106 agreeing to provide
      incentive payments, exemptions, or credits to offset the imposition
      of business personal property tax on and, if the municipality
      wishes, to offset the imposition of any other municipal tax on all
      new businesses in order to be a participant in the rural jump-start
      zone program;
      
           (b)  In one or more incorporated portions of the distressed
      county if the municipality provides the commission with a limited
      resolution as described in section 39-30.5-106 that indicates the
      municipality agrees to only provide incentive payments,
      exemptions, or credits to offset the imposition of business
      personal property tax on and, if the municipality wishes, to offset
      the imposition of any other municipal tax on a specific new
      business in order to be a limited participant in the rural
      jump-start zone program; or
      
           (c)  In the unincorporated portions of the distressed county.
      
           (10)  "Rural jump-start zone program" means the rural
      jump-start zone program created in this article.
      
           (11)  "State institution of higher education" means a state
      institution of higher education as defined in section 23-18-102 (10),
      C.R.S., a junior college, or an area vocational school that:
      
           (a)  Has a campus located in the distressed county; or
      
           (b)  Includes a distressed county in the community college's
      service area or the regional education provider's service area.
      
           39-30.5-104.  Rural jump-start zone program requirements -
      commission guidelines - definitions. (1) (a)  The commission shall
      develop guidelines for the administration of the rural jump-start
      zone program created in this article, including, but not limited
      to:
      
           (I)  Application requirements;
      
           (II)  Guidelines regarding the issuing of credit certificates;
      and
      
           (III)  Guidelines concerning the process by which the
      commission will determine whether a new business is not
      substantially similar in operation to and does not directly
      compete with the core function of a business that is operating in
      the state at the time the new business submits its application to a
      state institution of higher education to participate in the rural
      jump-start zone program.
      
           (b)  The guidelines must be posted on the Colorado office of
      economic development's web site no later than December 1, 2015.
      
           (c)  In developing the guidelines, the commission shall
      follow the policies of the Colorado commission on higher
      education regarding service areas and regional education
      providers.
      
           (2)  No later than December 1, 2015, the commission shall
      determine which of the state's counties are distressed counties.
      If a distressed county is interested in participating in the rural
      jump-start zone program, the distressed county shall provide the
      commission with a resolution described in section 39-30.5-106.
      
           (3)  Each distressed county shall retain its designation as
      a distressed county for three years from the date of the
      designation. After the three-year period, the commission shall
      review the designation. If the commission determines that the
      county is no longer distressed, the new business and the new hires
      retain the benefits specified in section 39-30.5-105 for the
      remaining portion of the four-year period outlined in that
      section, or the remaining extended period if the commission grants
      an extension of the period pursuant to section 39-30.5-105 (1) (a)
      (II), (2) (a) (II), or (3) (b).
      
           (4) (a)  A state institution of higher education intending to
      participate in the rural jump-start zone program shall adopt a
      conflict of interest policy. The conflict of interest policy must
      provide that:
      
           (I)  A representative of the state institution of higher
      education may not use the relationship between the state
      institution of higher education and the new business as a means
      for inurement or private benefit to the representative of the
      state institution of higher education, any relative of such
      representative, or any business interests of such representative;
      
           (II)  A person who engages in the business of selling goods
      or services to a state institution of higher education, an employee
      of such person, or a person with a business interest in such
      person's business shall not vote on or participate in the
      administration by the state institution of higher education of any
      transaction with such business; and
      
           (III) (A)  Upon becoming aware of an actual or potential
      conflict of interest, a representative of the state institution of
      higher education shall advise the chief academic officers or
      executive director of the institution of the conflict.
      
           (B)  Each state institution of higher education shall
      maintain a written record of all disclosures made pursuant to
      sub-subparagraph (A) of this subparagraph (III).
      
           (C)  By January 31, 2016, and by January 31 of each year
      thereafter, a state institution of higher education shall provide
      the record maintained under sub-subparagraph (B) of this
      subparagraph (III) to the commission.
      
           (b)  For the purposes of a conflict-of-interest policy
      developed under paragraph (a) of this subsection (4):
      
           (I)  "Business interest" means that a representative:
      
           (A)  Owns or controls ten percent or more of the stock of
      the entity; or
      
           (B)  Serves as an officer, director, or partner of the entity.
      
           (II)  "Relative" means any person living in the same
      household as the representative of the state institution of higher
      education, any person who is a direct descendant of the
      representative's grandparents, or the spouse of such
      representative.
      
           (III)  "Representative of the state institution of higher
      education" means any employee with decision-making authority
      over the rural jump-start zone program.
      
           (5)  A new business shall apply to a state institution of
      higher education to participate in a rural jump-start zone
      program. The state institution of higher education shall require
      the new business to provide documentation that the new business
      meets the definition of new business as specified in section
      39-30.5-103 (7) and that the new hires will meet the definition of
      new hire as specified in section 39-30.5-103 (8). If the state
      institution of higher education approves the new business, then
      the state institution of higher education shall apply to the
      commission for the approval of a rural jump-start zone as
      specified in subsection (6) of this section and approval of the new
      business for the rural jump-start zone program benefits as
      specified in subsection (7) of this section.
      
           (6) (a)  Upon approving a new business as specified in
      subsection (5) of this section, the state institution of higher
      education shall submit a complete written application for
      approval for a rural jump-start zone to the commission by the
      deadline established in the commission's guidelines. The
      application must include:
      
           (I)  Identification of the state institution of higher
      education and identification of either the distressed county in
      which a campus is located or the distressed county that is
      included in the community college's service area or the regional
      education provider's service area;
      
           (II)  Identification of the new business and documentation
      indicating that requirements for the new business have been met,
      including an estimate of the number of new hires that the new
      business anticipates it will hire;
      
           (III)  Satisfactory documentation that there exists a
      relationship between the new business and the state institution of
      higher education. Such documentation must show that:
      
           (A)  The relationship will result in positive benefits to the
      community and the local economy; and
      
           (B)  The mission and activities of the new business align with
      or further the academic mission of the state institution of higher
      education.
      
           (IV)  Identification of the municipalities with boundaries
      wholly or partly within the distressed county's boundaries;
      
           (V)  A resolution as described in section 39-30.5-106 from
      each interested municipality;
      
           (VI)  A description of the rural jump-start zone boundaries;
      and
      
           (VII)  Any other information that the commission deems
      necessary as specified in the commission's guidelines.
      
           (b)  A state institution of higher education may also submit
      a complete written application for approval for a rural
      jump-start zone to the commission by the deadlines established in
      the commission's guidelines when such state institution of higher
      education has not yet approved a new business as specified in
      subsection (5) of this section. In this case, the application must
      include:
      
           (I)  Identification of the state institution of higher
      education and identification of either the distressed county in
      which a campus is located or the distressed county that is
      included in the community college's service area or the regional
      education provider's service area;
      
           (II)  Identification of the municipalities with boundaries
      wholly or partly within the distressed county's boundaries;
      
           (III)  A resolution as described in section 39-30.5-106 from
      each interested municipality;
      
           (IV)  A description of the rural jump-start zone boundaries;
      and
      
           (V)  Any other information that the commission deems
      necessary as specified in the commission's guidelines.
      
           (7) (a)  The commission shall, at a public meeting properly
      noticed, review each application for a rural jump-start zone
      submitted by a state institution of higher education. Based on the
      application submitted and the commission's guidelines, the
      commission may approve the rural jump-start zone and may
      approve the new business for the rural jump-start zone program
      benefits specified in section 39-30.5-105; except that the
      commission may not approve more than three rural jump-start
      zones for the 2016 calendar year and may not approve any rural
      jump-start zones or approve any new businesses for the rural
      jump-start zone program benefits on and after January 1, 2021.
      The commission may only approve a new business for the rural
      jump-start zone program benefits if the commission is satisfied
      that the new business meets the definition of new business as
      specified in section 39-30.5-103 (7), that the new hires will meet the
      definition of new hire as specified in section 39-30.5-103 (8), and
      that the new business will be located in the rural jump-start zone
      for which the state institution of higher education sought
      approval.
      
           (b) (I)  A new business that receives approval as specified in
      paragraph (a) of this subsection (7) for the rural jump-start zone
      program benefits must submit a request for the issuance of a
      credit certificate by the deadlines established in the commission's
      guidelines. The request must include an estimated amount, as
      calculated by the new business, of the income tax credits for the
      new business and any new hires and the sales and use tax refunds
      allowed in section 39-30.5-105 and an estimated amount, as
      calculated by the new business, of incentive payments,
      exemptions, or refunds provided by local governments as
      specified in section 39-30.5-106.
      
           (II)  The commission shall not issue more than a total of two
      hundred credit certificates in one income tax year for all new
      hires employed by all new businesses in each rural jump-start
      zone that receive approval as specified in paragraph (a) of this
      subsection (7); except that the commission has the discretion to
      increase this limit to three hundred credit certificates if the new
      business is in one of the fourteen industries that the commission
      targets for economic development in the state.
      
           (III)  If the benefit is for new hires, the commission shall
      provide the credit certificates for such new hires directly to the
      new business, and the new business shall provide a copy of the
      credit certificate to the new hire with their federal form W-2.
      
           (IV)  If the commission determines the new business or new
      hire no longer meets the requirements set forth in this article,
      the commission shall not issue credit certificates for the income
      tax credits allowed in section 39-30.5-105 (1) and (2) and shall not
      notify the department that the new business is eligible for the
      sales and use tax refund allowed in section 39-30.5-105 (3).
      
           (8)  The commission may review a new business or new hire up
      to twelve months following the issuance of any credit
      certificates to ensure the requirements in this article are being
      met.
      
           (9)  The Colorado office of economic development created
      in section 24-48.5-101, C.R.S., may make recommendations to the
      commission regarding any of the commission's duties and
      responsibilities outlined in this article, may provide staff
      assistance to the commission, and may assist the commission in
      administering the provisions of this article.
      
           39-30.5-105.  Rural jump-start zone program benefits. (1)  New
      business income tax credit. (a) (I)  If a new business locates in a
      rural jump-start zone during the income tax years commencing on
      or after January 1, 2016, but before January 1, 2021, and the
      commission has approved the new business for the rural
      jump-start zone program benefits as specified in section
      39-30.5-104 (7) (a), then except as provided in subparagraph (II) of
      this paragraph (a), the new business is entitled to receive an
      annual income tax credit in an amount equal to one hundred
      percent of the income taxes imposed by article 22 of this title on
      the income derived from its activities in the rural jump-start zone
      for four consecutive income tax years beginning with the first
      income tax year designated by the commission in the first credit
      certificate. The commission shall conduct an annual review to
      verify that the new business continues to meet the requirements
      set forth in this article and shall issue a credit certificate to the
      new business for every income tax year during the four-year
      period only if the commission is satisfied the requirements are
      being met.
      
           (II)  A new business may seek an extension of the four-year
      benefits period specified in subparagraph (I) of this paragraph (a)
      by completing a written application to the commission. The
      extension may not exceed an additional four years. The
      application for extension must include an explanation of the new
      business' need for the extension and any other information the
      commission deems necessary. In deciding whether to grant the
      extension, the commission must consider the state of the economy
      in the rural jump-start zone, the estimated demand for tax
      credits allowed in this section for other new businesses, and the
      importance of these credits in incentivizing the new business. The
      extension application must be considered at a regularly
      scheduled meeting of the commission where the public is allowed
      to comment.
      
           (b)  To claim the income tax credit allowed in this section,
      the new business shall attach a copy of the credit certificate to
      its state income tax return. No tax credit is allowed under this
      section unless the new business provides the copy of the credit
      certificate with its filed state income tax return.
      
           (c)  If a new business has income both from operations within
      the rural jump-start zone and operations outside of the rural
      jump-start zone, the new business shall apportion its income
      between the operations within and outside the rural jump-start
      zone in accordance with rules promulgated by the department in
      order to calculate the amount of income tax credit. Such rules
      shall calculate the value of the credit, as nearly as practicable,
      to be equal to the tax due on the income generated by the new
      business that relates to its activities in the rural jump-start zone
      on the basis of the new business' property and payroll in the rural
      jump-start zone relative to its property and payroll everywhere.
      
           (d)  The commission shall, in a sufficiently timely manner to
      allow the department to process returns claiming the income tax
      credits allowed by this section, provide the department with an
      electronic report of each new business that the commission
      approved for the rural jump-start zone program benefits as
      specified in section 39-30.5-104 (7) (a) for the preceding calendar
      year that includes the following information:
      
           (I)  The taxpayer's name; and
      
           (II)  The taxpayer's social security number or the taxpayer's
      Colorado account number and federal employer identification
      number.
      
           (e)  If a new business receiving an income tax credit allowed
      in this subsection (1) is a partnership, limited liability company, S
      corporation, or similar pass-through entity, the commission shall
      issue credit certificates that allocate the credit among the new
      business' partners, shareholders, members, or other constituent
      entities in accordance with their ownership interests. The new
      business shall certify to the commission, and the commission shall
      provide to the department no later than the January 15
      following each income tax year for which the new business is
      claiming a credit, the identity and ownership percentage,
      including such identifying information as the department may
      require, of each partner, shareholder, member, or other
      constituent entity of the new business.
      
           (2)  New hire income tax credit. (a) (I)  Except as provided in
      section 39-30.5-104 (7) (b) (II) and subparagraph (II) of this
      paragraph (a), if a new hire is employed by a new business, and the
      commission has approved the new business for the rural
      jump-start zone program benefits as specified in section
      39-30.5-104 (7) (a), for income tax years commencing on or after
      January 1, 2016, but before January 1, 2021, new hires are entitled
      to receive an income tax credit in an amount equal to one
      hundred percent of the income taxes imposed by article 22 of this
      title on the new hire's wages paid by the new business for work
      performed in the rural jump-start zone for four consecutive
      income tax years beginning with the first income tax year in which
      the new hire is employed by the new business. The commission shall
      conduct an annual review to verify that the new hire and the new
      business continue to meet the requirements set forth in this
      article and shall issue a credit certificate to the new business for
      each new hire for every income tax year during the four-year
      period only if the commission is satisfied the requirements are
      being met.
      
           (II)  A new business may seek an extension of the four-year
      benefits period specified in subparagraph (I) of this paragraph (a)
      by completing a written application to the commission. The
      extension may not exceed an additional four years. The
      application for extension must include an explanation of the new
      business' need for the extension and any other information the
      commission deems necessary. In deciding whether to grant the
      extension, the commission must consider the state of the economy
      in the rural jump-start zone, the estimated demand for tax
      credits allowed in this section for other new businesses, and the
      importance of these credits in incentivizing the new business. The
      extension application must be considered at a regularly
      scheduled meeting of the commission where the public is allowed
      to comment.
      
           (b)  To claim the income tax credit allowed in this section,
      the new hire shall attach a copy of the credit certificate to the
      new hire's state income tax return. No tax credit is allowed
      under this section unless the new hire provides the copy of the
      credit certificate with his or her filed state income tax return.
      
           (c)  The commission shall, in a sufficiently timely manner to
      allow the department to process returns claiming the credit
      allowed by this section, provide the department with an
      electronic report of each new hire receiving a credit certificate
      as allowed in this section for the preceding calendar year that
      includes the following information:
      
           (I)  The new hire's name; and
      
           (II)  The new hire's social security number.
      
           (3)  New business sales and use tax refund. (a)  Each new
      business is eligible for a refund for all sales and use taxes
      imposed under parts 1 and 2 of article 26 of this title on the
      purchase of all tangible personal property acquired by the new
      business and used exclusively within the rural jump-start zone.
      Except as provided in paragraph (b) of this subsection (3), the new
      business is eligible for the refund allowed in this paragraph (a)
      for four consecutive years beginning with the date the
      commission approved the new business for the rural jump-start
      zone program benefits as specified in section 39-30.5-104 (7) (a).
      
           (b)  A new business may seek an extension of the four-year
      period specified in paragraph (a) of this subsection (3) by
      completing a written application to the commission. The extension
      may not exceed an additional four years. The application for
      extension must include an explanation of the new business' need
      for the extension and any other information the commission
      deems necessary. In deciding whether to grant the extension, the
      commission must consider the state of the economy in the rural
      jump-start zone, the estimated demand for sales and use tax
      refunds allowed in this section for other new businesses, and the
      importance of the refund in incentivizing the new business. The
      extension application must be considered at a regularly
      scheduled meeting of the commission where the public is allowed
      to comment.
      
           (c)  The commission shall provide the department with a list
      of every new business eligible for the sales and use tax refund
      allowed in this subsection (3).
      
           (4)  Restrictions on other credits. Notwithstanding any law to
      the contrary, if a new business claims the rural jump-start zone
      program benefits allowed in this section, the new business may
      not claim any other tax incentive that the new business is eligible
      for in this title as a result of establishing the new business in the
      state, including tax incentives for the new hires hired by the new
      business.
      
           39-30.5-106.  Rural jump-start zone - local government
      requirements. (1)  Before the commission may approve a rural
      jump-start zone as specified in section 39-30.5-104, the following
      must occur:
      
           (a)  An interested distressed county must adopt a
      resolution affirming that it will provide incentive payments,
      exemptions, or refunds, as appropriate, to new businesses to
      eliminate the business personal property tax imposed on all new
      businesses by the distressed county. The distressed county may
      adopt an additional resolution affirming that it chooses to
      provide incentive payments, exemptions, or refunds, as
      appropriate, to all new businesses to eliminate any other tax
      imposed on or paid by such new businesses in the distressed county.
      
           (b)  Interested municipalities within an interested distressed
      county must adopt either:
      
           (I)  A general resolution affirming that it will provide
      incentive payments, exemptions, or refunds, as appropriate, to all
      new businesses to eliminate the business personal property tax
      imposed on new businesses by the interested municipality. The
      interested municipality may adopt an additional resolution
      affirming that it chooses to provide incentive payments,
      exemptions, or refunds, as appropriate, to all new businesses to
      eliminate any other tax imposed on or paid by such new businesses
      in the interested municipality.
      
           (II)  A limited resolution affirming that it will provide
      incentive payments, exemptions, or refunds, as appropriate, to a
      specific new business to eliminate the business personal property
      tax imposed on the specific new business by the interested
      municipality. The interested municipality may adopt an additional
      resolution affirming that it chooses to provide incentive
      payments, exemptions, or refunds, as appropriate, to the specific
      business to eliminate any other tax imposed on or paid by the
      specific business in the interested municipality.
      
           39-30.5-107.  Rural jump-start zone reporting requirements.
      (1)  The commission shall annually post on the Colorado office of
      economic development's web site, and include in the commission's
      annual report required to be presented to the general assembly
      pursuant to section 24-46-104 (2), C.R.S., the following
      information regarding any rural jump-start zone program
      benefits allowed under this article:
      
           (a)  The distressed county and interested municipalities that
      make up the rural jump-start zone;
      
           (b)  The state institution of higher education that submitted
      the application;
      
           (c)  The name of the new business;
      
           (d)  The type of new business;
      
           (e)  The tax year for which the first credit certificate is
      issued or the date the sales and use tax refund is authorized;
      
           (f)  The number of new hires hired;
      
           (g)  The average salary or hourly wage of each new hire;
      
           (h)  An estimated amount, as calculated by the new
      business, of the income tax credits for the new business and any
      new hires and the sales and use tax refunds allowed in section
      39-30.5-105, and an estimated amount, as calculated by the new
      business, of incentive payments, exemptions, or refunds provided
      by local governments as allowed in section 39-30.5-106; and
      
           (i)  Any other economic benefits resulting from the rural
      jump-start zone program.
      
           (2)  Any new business located in a rural jump-start zone
      must submit an annual report to the commission in a form and at
      such time and with such information as prescribed by the
      commission in its guidelines. Such information shall be sufficient
      for the commission to monitor the continued eligibility of the new
      business and the new hires to continue to participate in the rural
      jump-start zone program and to receive the rural jump-start zone
      program benefits.
      
           39-30.5-108.  Severability. If any provision of this article or
      the application thereof to any person or circumstance is held
      invalid, such invalidity does not affect other provisions or
      applications of this article that can be given effect without the
      invalid provision or application, and to this end the provisions of
      this article are declared to be severable.
      
           SECTION 2.  Appropriation. For the 2015-16 state fiscal year,
      $125,983 is appropriated to the office of the governor. This appropriation
      is from the general fund and is based on an assumption that the office will
      require an additional 1.0 FTE. To implement this act, the office may use
      this appropriation to support the Colorado economic development
      commission in implementing the rural jump-start zone program.
      
           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.
      
      
      
      
      ____________________________  ____________________________
      Bill L. Cadman                Dickey Lee Hullinghorst
      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