First Regular Session Sixty-fifth General Assembly STATE OF COLORADO INTRODUCED LLS NO. 05-0666.01 Jason Gelender HOUSE BILL 05-1001 HOUSE SPONSORSHIP Garcia, SENATE SPONSORSHIP (None), House Committees Senate Committees Finance A BILL FOR AN ACT Concerning charges credited to cash funds for specific purposes, and, in connection therewith, prohibiting the use of such charges for general governmental purposes. Bill Summary (Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced and does not necessarily reflect any amendments that may be subsequently adopted.) Prohibits moneys derived from a charge imposed by the state that are credited to a cash fund from being transferred to the general fund of the state or appropriated for purposes that are not related to the operation or administration of a specific program, achievement of a specific purpose, or provision of a specific service for which the state imposed the charge or that were not statutorily authorized purposes for which moneys credited to the cash fund could be spent at the time the charge was credited to the cash fund. Specifies that a charge shall not exceed the amount estimated to be necessary to defray the costs of operating or administering the specific program, achieving the specific purpose, or providing the specific service for which the state imposed the charge and to provide for a reasonable reserve as defined by law. Defines a "charge" as a tax, fee, assessment, fine, penalty, or toll that is credited to a cash fund and is imposed by the state to generate revenue to fund one or more specific programs, purposes, or services and not to fund unspecified general governmental purposes. Also defines other terms. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Colorado: SECTION 1. Part 4 of article 75 of title 24, Colorado Revised Statutes, is amended BY THE ADDITION OF A NEW SECTION to read: 24-75-403. Cash funds - restriction on use of moneys - definitions. (1) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, on or after July 1, 2005, moneys derived from a charge shall not be transferred to the general fund of the state or appropriated for purposes that are not related to the operation or administration of a specific program, achievement of a specific purpose, or provision of a specific service for which the state imposed the charge or that were not statutorily authorized purposes for which moneys credited to the cash fund could be spent at the time the charge was credited to the cash fund. A charge shall not exceed the amount estimated to be necessary to defray the costs of operating or administering the specific program, achieving the specific purpose, or providing the specific service for which the state imposed the charge and to provide for a reasonable reserve as defined by law. (2) As used in this section: (a) "Cash fund" means any fund, other than the state general fund or any federal fund, established by law or the state constitution to fund one or more specific programs, purposes, or services. (b) "Charge" means a tax , fee, assessment, fine, penalty, or toll that is credited to a cash fund and is imposed by the state to generate revenue to fund one or more specific programs, purposes, or services and not to fund unspecified general governmental purposes. (c) "State" means the state of Colorado and any board, commission, enterprise, authority, department, corporation, instrumentality, or agency thereof. SECTION 2. 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.