HJR97-1004 By Representative Anderson; also Senator Wells--Concerning the employment of Legislative Aides by members of the General Assembly.

Be It Resolved by the House of Representatives of the Sixty-first General Assembly of the State of Colorado, the Senate concurring herein:

(1)  That the Joint Rules of the Senate and the House of Representatives are amended BY THE ADDITION OF A NEW RULE to read:

39. LEGISLATIVE AIDES

(a) THIS JOINT RULE IS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY=S AUTHORITY UNDER ARTICLE V, SECTION 12 OF THE STATE CONSTITUTION IN ORDER TO PROVIDE STAFF SERVICES DURING REGULAR SESSIONS TO THE INDIVIDUAL MEMBERS OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY TO ASSIST THEM IN THE PERFORMANCE OF THEIR LEGISLATIVE DUTIES AND FUNCTIONS.

(b) EACH MEMBER OF THE SENATE AND THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES MAY EMPLOY ONE LEGISLATIVE AIDE DURING EACH REGULAR SESSION. LEGISLATIVE AIDES SHALL BE HIRED BY EACH MEMBER THROUGH THE OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF THE SENATE OR THE OFFICE OF THE CHIEF CLERK OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, AS APPROPRIATE. MULTIPLE MEMBERS OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY MAY AGREE TO SHARE THE SERVICES OF THE SAME LEGISLATIVE AIDE OR AIDES. SUBJECT TO POLICIES ESTABLISHED BY THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL PURSUANT TO SUBSECTION (c) OF THIS JOINT RULE AND THE DURATION OF SUCH POSITIONS SET PURSUANT TO SUBSECTION (d) OF THIS JOINT RULE, LEGISLATIVE AIDES SERVE AT THE PLEASURE OF THE HIRING MEMBER OR MEMBERS AND ARE APPOINTED WITHOUT REGARD TO THE STATE PERSONNEL SYSTEM.

(c) THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL SHALL ESTABLISH POLICIES GOVERNING THE EMPLOYMENT OF LEGISLATIVE AIDES. SUCH POLICIES SHALL BE CONSISTENT WITH THE PROVISIONS OF THIS JOINT RULE AND ANY OTHER APPLICABLE PROVISIONS OF LAW. THE SECRETARY OF THE SENATE SHALL HAVE PRIMARY ADMINISTRATIVE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THESE POLICIES WITH RESPECT TO LEGISLATIVE AIDES HIRED BY MEMBERS OF THE SENATE, AND THE CHIEF CLERK OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES SHALL HAVE PRIMARY ADMINISTRATIVE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THESE POLICIES WITH RESPECT TO LEGISLATIVE AIDES HIRED BY MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

(d) LEGISLATIVE AIDES SHALL BE COMPENSATED AT A RATE SET BY THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL SHALL SET THE DATES WHEN LEGISLATIVE AIDE POSITIONS COMMENCE AND END.

(2)  That Joint Rule No. 38 (g) (1) of the Joint Rules of the Senate and the House of Representatives is amended to read:

38. SEXUAL HARASSMENT POLICY

(g) Definitions. As used in this Joint Rule:

(1) ALegislative employee@ means an employee of the Legislative Council, the Office of Legislative Legal Services, the Joint Budget Committee, the State Auditor, the Senate, or the House of Representatives, OR ANY LEGISLATIVE AIDE TO A MEMBER.