Page 1
February 5, 2024 HB 24-1205
Legislative Council Staff
Nonpartisan Services for Colorado’s Legislature
Fiscal Note
Drafting Number:
Prime Sponsors:
LLS 24-0933
Rep. Sirota, Taggart
Sen. Kirkmeyer, Zenzinger
Date:
Bill Status:
Fiscal Analyst:
February 5, 2024
House Appropriations
Anna Gerstle | 303-866-4375
anna.gerstle@coleg.gov
Bill Topic: COLORADO IMAGINATION LIBRARY PROGRAM
Summary of
Fiscal Impact:
☐ State Revenue
☒ State Expenditure
☐ State Transfer
☐ TABOR Refund
☐ Local Government
☐ Statutory Public Entity
The bill moves the Colorado Imagination Library Program from the Colorado
Department of Education to the Department of Early Childhood. It has no net change
on state expenditures, and shifts an appropriation between the two departments
beginning in the current FY 2023-24.
Appropriation
Summary:
For the current FY 2023-24, the bill includes provisions to shift any unexpended funds
from the Colorado Department of Education to the Colorado Department of Early
Childhood.
In FY 2024-25, the bill requires an appropriation of $1.6 million to the Department of
Early Childhood. See State Appropriations Section.
Fiscal Note
Status:
The fiscal note reflects the introduced bill. The bill is recommended by the Joint
Budget Committee as part of the supplemental bill package.
Table 1
State Fiscal Impacts Under HB 24-1205
Budget Year
FY 2024-25
Out Year
FY 2025-26
Revenue - -
Expenditures General Fund – CDE ($1,624,365) ($1,624,365)
General Fund – CDEC $1,624,365 $1,624,365
Total Expenditures $0 $0
Transfers - -
Other Budget Impacts - -
Page 2
February 5, 2024 HB 24-1205
Summary of Legislation
Beginning June 30, 2024, the bill relocates the Imagination Library program from the Colorado
Department of Education (CDE) to the Colorado Department of Early Childhood (CDEC),
including the current contractual obligations associated with the program. Prior to
June 30, 2024, the two departments may enter into an interagency agreement for administration
of the program.
Any unexpended funds appropriated to CDE for the program in FY 2023-24 are transferred to
CDEC on June 30, 2024, and are further available for CDEC to spend in FY 2024-25. In
FY 2024-25, the General Assembly must appropriate the necessary funds to CDEC.
The bill also allows the contractor operating the program to partner with book vendors or
publishers to provide free books to eligible children.
Background
The Colorado Imagination Library Program, established in Senate Bill 20-185, provides books to
children under the age of five free of charge. CDE contracts with a nonprofit for operation of the
program, with the cost of the books equally split between the state and local affiliates such as
nonprofits, libraries, and other local entities. Up to 20 percent of the state appropriation can be
used by the organization for administrative costs, and state law specifies that it is the General
Assembly’s intent to fully fund the program by 2026. In FY 2023-24, the General Assembly
appropriated $1.6 million for the program.
State Expenditures
By moving the Imagination Library program from CDE to CDEC, the bill has no net change on
state expenditures, as shown in Table 1.
In FY 2023-24, any funds not expended by CDE for the program will be transferred to CDEC on
June 30, 2024. The current appropriation for the program is $1.6 million; however, the portion
that will be remaining at the end of the fiscal year is unknown. It is expected to be minimal.
In FY 2024-25, the state appropriation for the program is expected to be $1.6 million to CDEC,
unchanged from the current FY 2023-24 amount. This represents a shift in General Fund
expenditures from CDE to CDEC. Additionally, the bill allows CDEC to spend any unexpended
funds from the FY 2023-24 appropriation in FY 2024-25.
The bill also allows the program contractor to partner with vendors or publishers to provide the
books; this is estimated at $135,000 in FY 2023-24. These funds would have otherwise reverted
to the General Fund under current law; as a result, the bill will result in the expenditure of money
currently appropriated for the program and does not increase state expenditures.
Page 3
February 5, 2024 HB 24-1205
Effective Date
The bill takes effect upon signature of the Governor, or upon becoming law without his
signature.
State Appropriations
For the current FY 2023-24, the bill includes provisions to shift any unexpended funds from the
Colorado Department of Education to the Colorado Department of Early Childhood.
In FY 2024-25, the bill requires an appropriation of $1,624,365 in the Colorado Department of
Early Childhood, and a corresponding reduction in appropriations to the Colorado Department
of Education. The fiscal note assumes that the changes in appropriations will be made through
the budget process; however, they may be included in either the Long Bill or via this bill.
State and Local Government Contacts
Early Childhood Education Joint Budget Committee Staff
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 the General Assembly website.