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January 29, 2024 SB 24-053
Legislative Council Staff
Nonpartisan Services for Colorado’s Legislature
Fiscal Note
Drafting Number:
Prime Sponsors:
LLS 24-0465
Sen. Coleman
Rep. Herod; Ricks
Date:
Bill Status:
Fiscal Analyst:
January 29, 2024
Senate State Affairs
John Armstrong | 303-866-6289
john.armstrong@coleg.gov
Bill Topic: RACIAL EQUITY STUDY
Summary of
Fiscal Impact:
☒ State Revenue
☒ State Expenditure
☐ State Transfer
☐ TABOR Refund
☐ Local Government
☐ Statutory Public Entity
The bill requires History Colorado to study how Colorado law has contributed to
systemic racism towards Black Coloradans and establishes a committee to assist this
effort. The bill will increase expenditures through FY 2026-27.
Appropriation
Summary:
For FY 2024-25, the bill requires an appropriation of $612,475 to the Department of
Higher Education.
Fiscal Note
Status:
The fiscal note reflects the introduced bill.
Table 1
State Fiscal Impacts Under SB 24-053
Budget Year
FY 2024-25
Out Year
FY 2025-26
Revenue Cash Funds $100,000 -
Total Revenue $100,000 -
Expenditures General Fund $512,475 $640,438
Cash Fund $100,000 -
Centrally Appropriated Costs $91,418 $111,973
Total Expenditures $703,893 $752,411
Total FTE 4.9 FTE 6.0 FTE
Transfers - -
Other Budget Impacts General Fund Reserve $76,871 $96,066
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January 29, 2024 SB 24-053
Summary of Legislation
The bill requires the State Historical Society (History Colorado) to study past and ongoing effects
of slavery and systemic racism on Black Coloradans. The goals of the study are to determine
policies that have harmed Black Coloradans and the economic impact of these policies to Black
Coloradans. History Colorado may contract with a third party to complete this study provided
the third party meets certain requirements.
The bill establishes the Black Coloradan Racial Equity Steering Committee, consisting of the
Executive Director of History Colorado and appointees from the Governor, Speaker of the House
and President of the Senate, totaling 12 members. Members of the committee serve without
compensation but may be reimbursed for expenses incurred.
History Colorado must conduct at least two public comment sessions to support this study and
deliver a report to the General Assembly no later than July 2026. The report must include
recommendations to revise K-12 history standards and increase public awareness of systemic
racism to Coloradans.
State Revenue
In FY 2024-25, the bill is expected to increase state revenue to the Museums and Preservation
Operating Account Cash Fund in History Colorado by $100,000 from gifts, grants, and donations
to conduct the study, as required by the bill. In future years, revenue may increase from
additional gifts, grants, and donations, but no sources of gifts, grants, and donations have been
identified. Gifts, grants, and donations are not subject to the state’s TABOR revenue limit.
State Expenditures
The bill increases state expenditures in History Colorado in the Department of Higher Education
by $703,893 in FY 2024-25, $100,000 of which is paid from History Colorado’s Museums and
Preservation Operating Account Cash Fund and the remainder coming the General Fund. The bill
increases expenditures to History Colorado in FY 2025-26 by $752,411 and by $39,069 in
FY 2026-27, paid from the General Fund. Expenditures are shown in Table 2 and detailed below.
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January 29, 2024 SB 24-053
Table 2
Expenditures Under SB 24-053
FY 2024-25 FY 2025-26
History Colorado
Personal Services $373,553 $457,758
Operating Expenses $6,272
$7,680
Capital Outlay Costs $40,020 -
Consulting Expenses $175,000 $175,000
Meeting Expenses $17,630
Centrally Appropriated Costs
1
$91,418
$111,973
Total Cost $703,893
$752,411
Total FTE 4.9 FTE 6.0 FTE
1
Centrally appropriated costs are not included in the bill's appropriation.
History Colorado. History Colorado will have staff, consulting, and meeting costs to meet the
bill’s requirements, as outlined below.
Staff. History Colorado will require 6.0 FTE to conduct research to complete the study and
write the required reports. These FTE include 1.0 FTE Program Manager, 4.0 FTE Research
Associates specializing in fiscal impacts, educational impacts, criminal justice impacts, and
healthcare impacts to Black Coloradans, and 1.0 FTE Economist to complete the economic
study. Costs are prorated to assume an September 1, 2024, start date in FY 2024-25 only.
Standard operating expenses and capital outlay costs are included.
Consulting expenses. History Colorado will contract with other research agencies, including
economic consultants, community representatives, descendant scholars, survivors of racism,
and other experts in order to complete the study. Costs assume 500 hours of economic
impact consultation and 200 hours of other research consultation at a rate of $250 per hour
for both.
Meetings expenses. Travel reimbursement, food, supplies, and facilitation staff will incur
expenses for the two required public comment sessions at a cost of $8,815 per meeting,
totaling $17,630 in FY 2024-25. This assumes the minimum amount of public comment
sessions required in the bill. If additional public comment sessions are needed to complete
the study, additional resources will be requested through the annual budget process.
Legislative Branch. The bill may have a minimal fiscal impact on the Legislative Branch to cover
travel expenses for the two legislators appointed to the steering committee. Adjustments to
travel expenses will occur through the annual budget process, as necessary. Page 4
January 29, 2024 SB 24-053
Governor’s Office. Workload will minimally increase for the Governor’s Office of Boards and
Commissions to make the required appointment under the bill. This work can be accomplished
within existing 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 90 days following adjournment of the General Assembly sine die, assuming
no referendum petition is filed, except that subsections 1, 3, 5, and 6, which concern conducting
the study, do not take effect unless the state receives a gift, grant, or donation of $100,000.
State Appropriations
For FY 2024-25, the bill requires an appropriation of $612,475 and 4.9 FTE to the Department of
Higher Education for use by History Colorado. Of this amount, $100,000 is paid from the
Museums and Preservation Operating Account Cash Fund and $512,475 is paid from the General
Fund.
State and Local Government Contacts
History Colorado Legislative Council 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.