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April 10, 2023 HB 23-1280
Legislative Council Staff
Nonpartisan Services for Colorado’s Legislature
Fiscal Note
Drafting Number:
Prime Sponsors:
LLS 23-0947
Rep. Joseph; Soper
Sen. Roberts; Gardner
Date:
Bill Status:
Fiscal Analyst:
April 10, 2023
House Judiciary
Aaron Carpenter | 303-866-4918
aaron.carpenter@coleg.gov
Bill Topic: COLORADO ACCESS TO JUSTICE COMMISSION
Summary of
Fiscal Impact:
☒ State Revenue
☒ State Expenditure
☐ State Transfer
☐ TABOR Refund
☐ Local Government
☐ Statutory Public Entity
The bill expands the authority and duties of the Colorado Access to Justice
Commission. Starting in FY 2023-24, the bill will increase state revenue and
expenditures.
Appropriation
Summary:
No appropriation is required as the Colorado Access to Justice Cash Fund is
continuously appropriated to the commission. The fiscal note further assumes the
commission will operate on gifts, grants, and donations.
Fiscal Note
Status:
The fiscal note reflects the introduced bill.
Table 1
State Fiscal Impacts Under HB 23-1280
1
Budget Year
FY 2023-24
Out Year
FY 2024-25
Revenue Cash Funds up to $300,000 up to $300,000
Expenditures Cash Funds up to $300,000 up to $300,000
Total FTE up to 2.0 FTE up to 2.0 FTE
Transfers - -
Other Budget Impacts - -
1
Actual revenue and expenditure amounts will depend on the amount of gifts, grants, and donations received.
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April 10, 2023 HB 23-1280
Summary of Legislation
The bill codifies the Colorado Access to Justice Commission into state law. The commission is charged
with expanding access, quality, and fairness in the justice system. The bill outlines the number of
members on the commission and the appointing authorities, and that members serve without
compensation but may be reimbursed for actual and necessary expenses. The commission may hire
staff, and is required to prepare and submit an annual report on its work to the General Assembly.
Finally, the bill creates the Colorado Access to Justice Cash Fund to consist of money appropriated by
the General Assembly and any gifts, grants, or donations; money in the fund is continuously
appropriated to the commission. The commission is housed within the Judicial Department.
Background
The Colorado Access to Justice Commission is currently a nonprofit organization that advocates for
policy changes to help Coloradans resolve legal issues. More information about the commission can
be found here.
Assumptions
Since the commission is currently operating as a nonprofit, the fiscal note assumes that it will continue
to do so with funding from gifts, grants, and donations. Financial information on the commission was
not available at the time of this writing, so the fiscal note uses the current expenditures of the Colorado
Commission on Criminal and Juvenile Justice (CCJJ) in the Department of Public Safety as a proxy.
State Revenue
Starting in FY 2023-24, state revenue will increase to the newly created Colorado Access to Justice
Cash Fund from gifts, grants, and donations. The fiscal note assumes the program will receive
$300,000 to cover the costs outlined in the State Expenditures section below. Revenue from gift, grants,
and donations is not subject to the state’s TABOR limit.
State Expenditures
Starting in FY 2023-24, the bill will increase state cash fund expenditures in the commission by
$300,000 per year and increase workload in the Judicial Department and the Governor’s Office, as
described below. As discussed in the Assumptions section, the fiscal note assumes these costs will be
funded by gifts, grants, and donations.
Colorado Access to Justice Commission. Based on the current expenditures of the CCJJ, state cash
fund expenditures are estimated to increase by up to $300,000 and 2.0 FTE per year to cover the cost
of the commission. Overall, the exact increase in expenditures and FTE will depend on the actual
revenue received by the commission.
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April 10, 2023 HB 23-1280
Judicial Department. The bill will increase workload to the Judicial Department to administer the
newly created cash fund and to pay the commission’s invoices. This work can be accomplished within
existing appropriations.
Governor’s Office. The Governor’s Office of Boards and Commissions will make the required
appointments under the bill. This work is assumed to be minimal and can be accomplished within
existing appropriations.
Effective Date
The bill takes effect 90 days following adjournment of the General Assembly sine die, assuming no
referendum petition is filed.
State Appropriations
The newly created Colorado Access to Justice Cash Fund is continuously appropriated to the Colorado
Access to Justice Commission; therefore, no additional appropriation is required.
State and Local Government Contacts
Governor's Office of Boards and Commissions Judicial Law
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.