HOUSE
                       3rd Reading Unamended
       March 10, 2016          HOUSE
       Amended 2nd Reading
                       March 7, 2016Second Regular Session
               Seventieth General Assembly
                    STATE OF COLORADO
                                                REENGROSSED
                       This Version Includes All Amendments
                       Adopted in the House of Introduction
 LLS NO. 16-0506.01 Esther van Mourik x4215HOUSE BILL 16-1279
                    HOUSE SPONSORSHIP
 Rosenthal, 
 
                   SENATE SPONSORSHIP
 Newell, 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 House Committees
 Senate Committees
 
 
 Business Affairs and Labor
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
                         A BILL FOR AN ACT
       Concerning the creation of an international sister-state
            relationship program by the Colorado office of
            economic development.
       
       
                           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 requires the Colorado office of economic development to
       establish and maintain an international sister-state relationship program.
       
       
       
       Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Colorado:
            SECTION 1.  In Colorado Revised Statutes, add 24-48.5-124 as
       follows:
            24-48.5-124.  Establishment and maintenance of international
       sister-state relationship program - legislative declaration - definition.
       (1) (a)  The general assembly hereby finds and declares that:
            (I)  A sister-state relationship is a formal declaration of
       friendship between two regions, states, or nations;
            (II)  In this age of ever-expanding globalization it is
       increasingly important that people of different nationalities
       understand one another;
            (III)  A sister-state relationship is a symbol of mutual
       goodwill, thereby encouraging bilateral cooperation; and
            (IV)  Sister-state relationships are developed and
       implemented to encourage and facilitate mutually beneficial
       social, economic, educational, and cultural exchanges between
       a particular global region and the state.
            (b)  The general assembly further finds and declares that
       the state already has existing sister-state relationships with
       Yamagata prefecture in Japan and Kangwon province in South
       Korea and Colorado's cities and towns have sister-city
       relationships with cities and town around the world.
            (c)  The general assembly further finds and declares that
       the Colorado office of economic development is well placed to
       establish and maintain a sister-state relationship program in
       order to centrally house the information, create transparency,
       and help the office further its efforts toward improving
       international trade.
            (2)  For purposes of this section, "state" includes a
       province, prefecture, administrative district, county, or other
       political boundary that includes one or more cities or towns, or
       an agency or department thereof.
            (3)        In addition to the powers and duties specified in
       section 24-48.5-101, the Colorado office of economic
       development shall establish and maintain, no later than June 30,
       2017, an international sister-state relationship program to
       foster relationships between the state of Colorado and states
       in other countries for the purpose of promoting economic
       growth and trade and investment opportunities. For each of
       Colorado's international sister states, the office shall act as
       the conduit between the state and the designated leader of each
       sister state.
                 
            (4) (a)  A sister-state relationship is one characterized by
       a mutual interest in collaboration and the sharing of
       information to further educational, economic, and cultural
       exchanges between Colorado and the sister state. A sister-state
       relationship does not create any legal relationship.
            (b)  The Colorado office of economic development shall
       establish the international sister-state relationship program to
       maximize collaboration and sharing of information, to promote
       the economic growth and well-being of small, medium, and large
       companies in both states by increasing their potential for trade
       and investment, to provide a forum for sustained goodwill and
       cooperation between the elected leaders of the states, and to
       promote bilateral ties that lead to a more indelible and lasting
       relationship between the citizens of the states.
            (5)  The Colorado office of economic development may
       solicit ideas for international sister-state relationships on its
       own initiative or based upon ideas submitted by any individual or
       entity.
            SECTION 2.  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
       10, 2016, if adjournment sine die is on May 11, 2016); 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.