SENATE BILL 97­011

BY SENATORS Dennis, Alexander, Bishop, Chlouber, Feeley, Hernandez, Hopper, Johnson, Linkhart, Martinez, Matsunaka, Norton, Pascoe, Phillips, Powers, Reeves, Rizzuto, Rupert, Schroeder, Tanner, Thiebaut, Wattenberg, Weddig, Wells, and Wham;

also REPRESENTATIVES Lawrence, Allen, G. Berry, Chavez, Dyer, Epps, Faatz, George, Gotlieb, Hagedorn, Kaufman, Kreutz, Mace, McElhany, McPherson, Miller, Morrison, Owen, Pankey, Romero, Schauer, Schwarz, Taylor, Tool, Tucker, Udall, Veiga, and S. Williams.

CONCERNING AUTHORIZATION FOR A CONTRIBUTION TOWARD THE CONSTRUCTION OF A MEMORIAL TO RECOGNIZE WOMEN IN THE MILITARY, AND MAKING AN APPROPRIATION THEREFOR.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Colorado:

SECTION 1. Article 10 of title 26, Colorado Revised Statutes, 1989 Repl. Vol., as amended, is amended BY THE ADDITION OF A NEW SECTION to read:

26­10­109. Recognition of women in the military ­ legislative declaration ­ fund ­ repeal. (1)  THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY HEREBY FINDS AND DECLARES THAT THERE ARE TENS OF THOUSANDS OF COLORADO WOMEN WHO HAVE SERVED IN THE ARMED SERVICES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA OR WITH THE ARMED SERVICES IN FORWARD AREAS OR WHO ARE ACTIVELY SERVING IN THE MILITARY, THE RESERVES, OR THE NATIONAL GUARD. THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY FURTHER FINDS THAT MANY OF THESE WOMEN, ALONG WITH MANY OTHER WOMEN SERVING IN THE MILITARY THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY, HAVE NOT RECEIVED THE HONOR AND RECOGNITION THEY DESERVE FROM THE CITIZENS OF A GRATEFUL STATE AND NATION. THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY THEREFORE DECLARES THAT IT WOULD BE APPROPRIATE TO CONTRIBUTE TO AND WORK IN COOPERATION WITH OTHER STATES TOWARD THE CONSTRUCTION OF A NATIONAL MEMORIAL HONORING WOMEN WHO HAVE SERVED AND WHO ARE SERVING IN AND WITH THE MILITARY, THE RESERVES, AND THE NATIONAL GUARD AND TO TELL THE STORY OF WOMEN'S BRAVERY AND HEROIC ACTIONS IN TIME OF WAR. THE MEMORIAL WOULD REPRESENT A SYMBOL OF RECOGNITION AND THANKS TO THOSE WOMEN WHO PROUDLY GAVE OF THEMSELVES IN SUCH A SELFLESS WAY AND WOULD ALSO SERVE THE PUBLIC PURPOSE OF RECOGNIZING THE EXPANSION OF OPPORTUNITIES FOR WOMEN IN THE MILITARY WHILE ENCOURAGING WOMEN=S ACTIVE PARTICIPATION IN MILITARY ENDEAVORS.

(2) (a)  THERE IS HEREBY ESTABLISHED IN THE STATE TREASURY THE WOMEN IN THE MILITARY MEMORIAL FUND, REFERRED TO IN THIS SECTION AS THE "FUND". THE DIVISION IS AUTHORIZED TO ACCEPT GIFTS, GRANTS, CONTRIBUTIONS, AND DONATIONS FOR THE PURPOSES OF THIS SECTION. THE FUND SHALL CONSIST OF SUCH MONEYS RECEIVED THROUGH GIFTS, DONATIONS, CONTRIBUTIONS, OR GRANTS FROM ANY PERSON OR ENTITY. ANY INTEREST DERIVED FROM THE DEPOSIT AND INVESTMENT OF MONEYS IN THE FUND SHALL BE CREDITED TO THE FUND. AT THE END OF ANY FISCAL YEAR, ALL UNEXPENDED AND UNENCUMBERED MONEYS IN THE FUND SHALL REMAIN THEREIN AND SHALL NOT BE CREDITED OR TRANSFERRED TO THE GENERAL FUND OR ANY OTHER FUND.

(b)  THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE DEPARTMENT MAY EXPEND MONEYS APPROPRIATED TO THE DIVISION FROM THE FUND FOR ANY PURPOSE CONSISTENT WITH THIS SECTION.

(c)  THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY SHALL MAKE ANNUAL APPROPRIATIONS FROM THE FUND TO THE DIVISION FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THIS SECTION. NO MORE THAN ONE PERCENT OF THE MONEYS APPROPRIATED SHALL BE USED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENDITURES.

(3)  THIS SECTION IS REPEALED, EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2002.

SECTION 2.  Appropriation. In addition to any other appropriation, there is hereby appropriated, out of any moneys in the women in the military memorial cash fund created in section 26­10­109, Colorado Revised Statutes, not otherwise appropriated, to the department of human services for allocation to the division of veterans affairs, for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 1997, the sum of twenty­six thousand dollars ($26,000), or so much thereof as may be necessary, for the implementation of this act.

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.

____________________________ ____________________________

Tom Norton Charles E. Berry

PRESIDENT OF SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE

THE SENATE OF REPRESENTATIVES

____________________________ ____________________________

Joan M. Albi Judith M. Rodrigue

SECRETARY OF CHIEF CLERK OF THE HOUSE

THE SENATE OF REPRESENTATIVES

APPROVED________________________________________

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Roy Romer

GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF COLORADO