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June 6, 2024 HB 24-1260
Legislative Council Staff
Nonpartisan Services for Colorado’s Legislature
Final Fiscal Note
Drafting Number:
Prime Sponsors:
LLS 24-0433
Rep. Duran; Hernandez
Sen. Danielson
Date:
Bill Status:
Fiscal Analyst:
June 6, 2024
Vetoed by Governor
Josh Abram | 303-866-3561
josh.abram@coleg.gov
Bill Topic: PROHIBITION AGAINST EMPLOYEE DISCIPLINE
Summary of
Fiscal Impact:
☐ State Revenue
☒ State Expenditure
☐ State Transfer
☐ TABOR Refund
☐ Local Government
☐ Statutory Public Entity
The bill prohibits an employer from taking action against an employee who declines
to attend meetings, listen to speech, or view communications that include religious or
political matters. The Colorado Department of Labor and Employment must
investigate complaints, and create a notice for employers to provide to employees.
The bill increases state expenditures beginning in FY 2024-25.
Appropriation
Summary:
For FY 2024-25, the bill includes an appropriation of $278,564 to the Colorado
Department of Labor and Employment.
Fiscal Note
Status:
The final fiscal note reflects the final bill. The bill was vetoed by the Governor on
May 17, 2024; therefore, the impacts identified in this analysis do not take effect..
Table 1
State Fiscal Impacts Under HB 24-1260
Budget Year
FY 2024-25
Out Year
FY 2025-26
Revenue - -
Expenditures General Fund $278,564 $233,882
Centrally Appropriated $55,531 $49,118
Total Expenditures $334,095 $283,000
Total FTE 2.8 FTE 2.5 FTE
Transfers - -
Other Budget Impacts General Fund Reserve $41,785 $35,082
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June 6, 2024 HB 24-1260
Summary of Legislation
The bill prohibits an employer from threatening to subject an employee to discipline or
discharge as a result of the employee's refusal to attend an employer-sponsored meeting
concerning religious or political matters, or for declining to listen to or view religious or political
communications from the employer. The bill identifies exemptions for communications that are
required by law, necessary for employees to perform duties, or are part of academic content
discussions in public education. With respect to state agencies, the bill applies only to meetings
and communications relating to the decision of a state employee to join or support a fraternal
or labor organization.
The bill allows an aggrieved person to seek relief for violations by filing a complaint with the
Colorado Department of Labor and Employment (CDLE) or with the courts; however, individuals
must exhaust all available administrative remedies and file a complaint with the CDLE within one
year of an alleged violation before filing an action in district court. If a complaint is filed with
CDLE, the department must post the complaint publicly, investigate the complaint, or authorize
an aggrieved person to proceed with an action in court.
State Expenditures
The bill increases state expenditures in the CDLE by about $334,000 in FY 2024-25, and by about
$283,000 in FY 2025-26 and subsequent years, paid from the General Fund. New costs are
displayed in Table 2. The bill may also increase workload and expenses in other state agencies as
described below.
Table 2
Expenditures Under HB 24-1260
FY 2024-25 FY 2025-26
Department of Labor and Employment
Personal Services $242,816 $211,859
Operating Expenses $3,584 $3,200
Capital Outlay Costs $20,010 $6,670
Document Translation Services $2,250 $2,250
Software and Licensing $9,904 $9,904
Centrally Appropriated Costs
1
$55,531 $49,118
Total Cost $334,095 $283,000
Total FTE 2.8 FTE 2.5 FTE
1
Centrally appropriated costs are not included in the bill's appropriation. Page 3
June 6, 2024 HB 24-1260
Colorado Department of Labor and Employment. The CDLE requires 2.8 FTE in FY 2024-25
and 2.5 FTE in FY 2025-26 and ongoing in administrative and enforcement staff to accept,
process, and investigate complaints alleging violations. The department also has costs to create
the required notification, adopt rules, and update public guidance related to employer
prohibitions, and for translation services of the new notification.
Judicial Department. The bill minimally increases civil case filings in the district courts;
however, it is assumed that most employers will adhere to the law and not require employees to
attend meetings or view religious or political communications. In addition, persons filing a
complaint must first exhaust administrative processes in CLDE before filing with the courts.
Therefore, any increase in workload for the courts is expected to be minimal and absorbable
within existing appropriations.
Department of Law. The Department of Law will have increased costs for legal training of
agency HR staff and general counsel to state agencies if litigation alleging violations is asserted
from state employees. This effort is not anticipated to exceed the regular annual provision of
legal services to any state agency, and requires no new appropriations.
Centrally appropriated costs. Pursuant to a Joint Budget Committee policy, certain costs
associated with this bill are addressed through the annual budget process and centrally
appropriated in the Long Bill or supplemental appropriations bills, rather than in this bill. These
costs, which include employee insurance and supplemental employee retirement payments, are
shown in Table 2.
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. Based on this fiscal note,
the bill is expected to increase the amount of General Fund held in reserve by the amounts
shown in Table 1, decreasing 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
For FY 2024-25, the bill requires and includes a General Fund appropriation of $278,564 to the
Colorado Department of Labor and Employment, and 2.8 FTE.
State and Local Government Contacts
Judicial Labor Law
Personnel
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.