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January 19, 2024 SB 24-003
Legislative Council Staff
Nonpartisan Services for Colorado’s Legislature
Fiscal Note
Drafting Number:
Prime Sponsors:
LLS 24-0780
Sen. Sullivan
Rep. Froelich
Date:
Bill Status:
Fiscal Analyst:
January 19, 2024
Senate Judiciary
Clayton Mayfield | 303-866-5851
clayton.mayfield@coleg.gov
Bill Topic: CBI AUTHORITY TO INVESTIGATE FIREARMS CRIMES
Summary of
Fiscal Impact:
☐ State Revenue
☒ State Expenditure
☐ State Transfer
☐ TABOR Refund
☒ Local Government
☐ Statutory Public Entity
The bill authorizes the Colorado Bureau of Investigation to investigate illegal firearm
activity statewide and makes an appropriation for these investigations. Starting in
FY 2024-25, the bill increases state expenditures on an ongoing basis.
Appropriation
Summary:
For FY 2024-25, the bill currently includes an appropriation of $1.69 million to the
Department of Public Safety. See Technical Note.
Fiscal Note
Status:
The fiscal note reflects the introduced bill.
Table 1
State Fiscal Impacts Under SB 24-003
Budget Year
FY 2024-25
Out Year
FY 2025-26
Revenue - -
Expenditures General Fund $1,690,258 $1,638,963
Total FTE 10.1 FTE 11.0 FTE
Transfers - -
Other Budget Impacts General Fund Reserve $253,539 $245,844
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January 19, 2024 SB 24-003
Summary of Legislation
The bill authorizes the Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CBI) within the Department of Public
Safety (CDPS) to investigate illegal activity involving firearms on a statewide basis. Illegal activity
involving firearms includes investigating illegal firearm transfers and attempts to illegally obtain
firearms. The bill also provides $1.7 million in General Fund funding to the CBI for investigating
illegal firearm transfers.
State Expenditures
The bill increases expenditures in the CDPS by $1.69 million in FY 2024-25, and by $1.64 million
in FY 2025-26 and beyond, paid from the General Fund. The bill may increase workload and
costs for other state agencies involved in the criminal justice system. Expenditures are shown in
Table 2 and detailed below.
Table 2
Expenditures Under SB 24-003
FY 2024-25 FY 2025-26
Department of Public Safety
Personal Services $1,079,356 $1,172,724
Operating Expenses $59,635 $60,850
Capital Outlay $168,716 -
Travel Expenses $122,717 $122,717
Employee Insurance and Supplemental Retirement $213,131 $231,522
Leased Space $46,703 $51,150
Total Cost $1,690,258 $1,638,963
Total FTE 10.1 FTE 11.0 FTE
Personal services. With the funding provided by the bill, the CBI will hire 11.0 FTE to investigate
illegal firearm activity statewide. This includes seven CBI field agents, and additional forensic and
administrative support staff. Salary amounts are above the midpoint range to recruit and retain
qualified persons for these positions. FY 2024-25 amounts are prorated for an August 1, 2024,
start date.
Operating expenses Operating expenses starting in FY 2024-25 are required for FTE, including
desk phones, software, and office supplies. Field agents also require funding for annual training
at $5,000 per agent. Additionally, annual forensic services training and accreditation is required
for 2.0 FTE at $5,500 each.
Capital outlay. One-time funding in FY 2024-25 only is required for computers and office
furniture for 4.0 FTE, and to equip 7.0 FTE as CBI field agents. Agent packages include radios,
safety equipment, firearms, computers, and vehicle equipment. Each package costs about
$20,000. Page 3
January 19, 2024 SB 24-003
Travel expenses. Field agents also require travel expenses, including out-of-state conference
travel at $5,000 per agent, annual vehicle leases at $7,991 per agent, and fleet vehicle mileage
costs estimated at $4,540 per vehicle.
Employee insurance and supplemental retirement. The bill provides funding for employee
insurance and supplemental employee retirement payments for the CDPS. Pursuant to fiscal
notes and Joint Budget Committee policies, these costs are usually centrally appropriated for
bills with less than 20 FTE; however, the bill includes these costs in its appropriation.
Leased space. Ongoing funding starting in FY 2024-25 is required for leased space costs for
each FTE estimated at $4,650 per FTE.
Other state agencies. To the extent additional agents increase criminal firearm cases filed,
workload and costs to state criminal justice agencies, such as the Judicial Department, the
Department of Law, independent judicial agencies that represent indigent offenders, and the
Department of Corrections will increase. This increase is expected to be minimal and no change
in appropriations is required.
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.
Local Government
Similar to the state, to the extent the new unit generates additional criminal cases that are
assisted by local law enforcement, prosecuted by district attorneys, and sentenced to county
jails, costs will increase for these local agencies.
Technical Note
The appropriation in the introduced bill is based on cost assumptions that differ from fiscal
notes common policies. For informational purposes, if fiscal notes common policies were
applied, and assuming midpoint salaries and a July 1, 2024, start date, the bill would require a
General Fund appropriation preliminarily estimated at $1,472,073 and 11.0 FTE to the
Department of Public Safety, with centrally appropriated costs of $299,865, for a total cost of
$1.77 million in FY 2024-25.
Effective Date
The bill takes effect upon signature of the Governor, or upon becoming law without his
signature. Page 4
January 19, 2024 SB 24-003
State Appropriations
For FY 2024-25, the bill includes a General Fund appropriation of $1,690,258, and 10.1 FTE to the
Department of Public Safety.
State and Local Government Contacts
Judicial Law Public Safety
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.