Colorado Legislative Council Staff

NO FISCAL IMPACT

TITLE:            CONCERNING A CHANGE IN THE ELECTION OF MEMBERS OF THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION FROM PARTISAN TO NONPARTISAN.

Summary of Assessment

            The bill changes the election of members to the State Board of Education from partisan to nonpartisan. The bill is effective 90 days upon adjournment unless a referendum petition is filed.

            The bill requires any person, desiring to be a candidate for a member of the State Board of Education for a congressional district, to file a nominating petition with the Secretary of State no later than 3:00 p.m. on the 55th day preceding the date of the election. The number of signatures required is 1,000 or 2 percent of the eligible electors resident in the congressional district — whichever is lesser. For those persons seeking an at-large position, 1,500 signatures are required or 2 percent of the votes cast in the most recent general election for all candidates for the at-large member — whichever is lesser.

            The Secretary of State's Office indicates that any workload increases associated with signature verification will be marginal and no additional resources are required. Primary elections will not be held for nonpartisan candidates, thus reducing those costs (to the extent they occur) in county clerks' offices. Conversely, the election ballot may include a greater number of candidates, increasing the cost of the ballot nominally. Because total costs associated with HB 99-1142 are marginal, the bill is assessed as having no fiscal impact.

Departments Contacted

            Education

            Secretary of State