The bill would require six members from Colorado serve on any Rocky Mountain Presidential Primary Task Force that is established. The members would include one republican and one democrat appointed by the Governor, the majority and minority leaders of the House of Representatives or their designees, and the majority and minority leaders of the Senate or their designees. The Governor would appoint members within 30 days after the task force is established. The task force would make recommendations to the states represented on the task force regarding a common date for a joint Rocky Mountain Presidential Preference Primary and ways to increase the presidential candidates' interaction with voters in the western region of the United States and attention to western regional issues. The task force’s recommendations would not be binding in Colorado unless approved in separate legislation by the General Assembly. The provisions of the bill would be repealed on July 1, 2000. The bill would become effective upon the Governor’s signature.

STATE FISCAL IMPACT SUMMARY	FY 1998/99	FY 1999/2000
State Revenues General Fund Other Fund
State Expenditures * General Fund Other Fund	Potential for actual and necessary expenses
FTE Position Change	None	None
Local Government Impact — None

* Potential future expenditures for actual and necessary expenses of attending task force meetings.

The costs of the Colorado delegation attending this task force would be subject to the creation of the task force. Therefore, this bill is assessed as having a conditional fiscal impact. The fiscal impact of paying for the members costs of attending meetings would depend upon the number of meetings held, the city and state where meetings may be held, the number of days each meeting were to last, and if meetings are held in conjunction with other legislative meetings. It is estimated that each task force member would require approximately $150 per day on average to attend a task force meeting. Should a three day meeting be called separate from other legislative business, it would cost the state approximately $2,700.

For the four members of the General Assembly, it is assumed that the cost of attending the task force would be paid from the existing travel appropriations for attending meetings. A three day meeting that may be called separate from other legislative business, would cost the General Assembly approximately $1,800. The General Assembly would adjust priorities and travel plans within existing resources to accommodate this additional travel. Therefore, no additional appropriation would be required for these members. It is assumed that the travel costs of the two members appointed by the Governor would be paid out of existing appropriations for travel and meetings in the Governor’s office. A three day meeting that may be called separate from other business, would cost the Governor’s office approximately $900. The Governor’s office would adjust priorities and travel plans within existing resources to accommodate this additional travel.

This fiscal note implies that no additional spending authority would be required in FY 1998-99 to implement the provisions of this bill.