Page 1
May 1, 2022 HB 22-1327
Legislative Council Staff
Nonpartisan Services for Colorado’s Legislature
Revised Fiscal Note
(replaces fiscal note dated April 25, 2022)
Drafting Number:
Prime Sponsors:
LLS 22-0868
Rep. Herod; McLachlan
Sen. Moreno; Coram
Date:
Bill Status:
Fiscal Analyst:
May 1, 2022
Senate SVMA
Annie Scott | 303-866-5851
Annie.Scott@state.co.us
Bill Topic: NATIVE AMERICAN BOARDING SCHOOLS
Summary of
Fiscal Impact:
☐ State Revenue
☒ State Expenditure
☐ State Transfer
☐ TABOR Refund
☐ Local Government
☐ Statutory Public Entity
The bill creates the Federal Indian Boarding School Research Program in History
Colorado to research and make recommendations to promote understanding of the
abuse and deaths that occurred at Federal Indian boarding schools in Colorado. The
bill increases state expenditures in FY 2022-23.
Appropriation
Summary:
For FY 2022-23, the bill requires an appropriation of $618,611 to History Colorado.
Fiscal Note
Status:
This revised fiscal note reflects the reengrossed bill.
Table 1
State Fiscal Impacts Under HB 22-1327
Budget Year
FY 2022-23
Out Year
FY 2023-24
Revenue - -
Expenditures General Fund $618,611 -
Transfers - -
Other Budget Impacts General Fund Reserve $92,792 -
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May 1, 2022 HB 22-1327
Summary of Legislation
The bill creates the Federal Indian Boarding School Research Program in History Colorado to research
and make recommendations to promote understanding of the abuse and deaths that occurred at to
the federal Indian boarding school in Colorado. The program is repealed December 31, 2023.
Research and reporting. In consultation with the Southern Ute Tribe, the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe,
and the Colorado Commission on Indian Affairs (commission), History Colorado is required to
research the events, physical and emotional abuse, and deaths that occurred at the federal Indian
boarding school at Fort Lewis, including the victimization of families of the youth forced to attend the
school, and the intergenerational impacts of the abuse. History Colorado is allowed to contract with
a research entity to conduct portions of the research. Among other tasks, the work must include:
conducting research to more accurately estimate the number of deaths at the school at Fort Lewis;
identifying and mapping graves of Native American students buried at and around the school;
and
interviewing those with knowledge of the experiences of Native American students attending the
school.
History Colorado is required to provide periodic updates to the Southern Ute Tribe, the Ute Mountain
Ute Tribe, and the commission, and deliver a final report by June 30, 2023.
After delivery of the final report, History Colorado, in consultation with the Southern Ute Tribe, the
Ute Mountain Ute Tribe, and the commission, is required to develop recommendations to increase
understanding of the abuse that occurred and to support tribal members healing from the effects of
the abuse. A summary of the findings and recommendations must be made publicly available on
History Colorado’s website, and a written copy must be delivered to relevant entities specified in the
bill.
Teller Institute Property. At the time the Department of Human Services (DHS) vacates the former
Teller Institute Federal Indian boarding school property, the all or a portion of the property must be
sold or transferred to a state institution of higher education, a local government, a state agency, or a
federally recognized tribe in Colorado that was impacted by the operation of the Teller Institute. The
DHS must not sell or transfer the property until after the identification and mapping of any graves of
Native American students buried at the school, and until the DHS, in consultation with tribal
governments, develops a plan to acknowledge the abuse and victimization of students and families
related to the operation of the Federal Indian boarding school located on the property.
Background
The Grand Junction Regional Center (GJRC) campus is located on the site of the former Teller Institute
Federal Indian Boarding School. Senate Bill 16-178 directed the DHS to vacate the regional center
campus to list the property for sale. House Bill 19-1062 added additional options for the DHS to
transfer the property to a local government or institution of higher education. As of this writing, there
are still residents at the GJRC campus. The GJRC campus is comprised of about 47 acres and
28 buildings. Page 3
May 1, 2022 HB 22-1327
State Expenditures
The bill increases state expenditures in History Colorado by $702,333 in FY 2022-23 only, paid from
the General Fund. Expenditures are shown in Table 2 and detailed below.
Table 2
Expenditures Under HB 22-1327
FY 2022-23 FY 2023-24
History Colorado
Personal Services $150,000 -
Research $468,6111 -
Total Cost $618,611 -
1
Centrally appropriated costs are not included in the bill's appropriation.
History Colorado. In FY 2022-23 only, History Colorado requires staff and funding to perform or
contract for the required research.
Staff. In FY 2022-23 only, History Colorado requires funding for staff to oversee internal research
and manage the work of the research entity, coordinate with relevant entities, and ensure the
provision of the recommendations outlined under the bill. Costs are estimated to be
approximately $150,000, inclusive of salary and operating costs.
Research. In FY 2022-23 only, History Colorado will contract with an organization to perform
archaeological surveys to locate any additional areas that may contain human remains, perform a
historical analysis of the property, perform Tribal consultations to further locate remains, and
repatriate or memorialize human remains, funerary objects, and items of cultural significance, as
appropriate. Costs are estimated to be approximately $468,611.
Governor’s Office. In FY 2022-23 only, the Colorado Commission on Indian Affairs in the Governor’s
Office is required to attend meetings and provide consultation on the program. The fiscal note
assumes that this workload is absorbable and that no appropriation is required.
Department of Human Services. Beginning in FY 2022-23, workload in the Department of Human
Services will increase to develop a plan to acknowledge the abuse and victimization of students and
families related to the operation of the Federal Indian boarding school located on the Teller Institute
property, and to adjust the process for selling or transferring the Teller Institute property to meet the
requirements of the bill. This workload is assumed to be absorbable and no appropriation is
required.
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May 1, 2022 HB 22-1327
Other Budget Impacts
General Fund reserve. Under current law, an amount equal to 15 percent of General Fund
appropriations must be set aside in the General Fund statutory reserve beginning in FY 2022-23. Based
on this fiscal note, the bill is expected to increase the amount of General Fund held in reserve by the
amounts in Table 1, which will decrease the amount of General Fund available for other purposes.
Effective Date
The bill takes effect upon signature of the Governor, or upon becoming law without his signature.
State Appropriations
In FY 2022-23, the bill requires and includes an appropriation of $618,611 from the General Fund to
History Colorado.
State and Local Government Contacts
Governor’s Office Human Services Information Technology
The revenue and expenditure impacts in this fiscal note represent changes from current law under the bill for each
fiscal year. For additional information about fiscal notes, please visit: leg.colorado.gov/fiscalnotes.