First Regular Session Seventy-fifth General Assembly STATE OF COLORADO INTRODUCED LLS NO. 25-1016.01 Caroline Martin x5902 SENATE BILL 25-316 Senate Committees House Committees Appropriations A BILL FOR AN ACT C ONCERNING REQUIREMENTS FOR MONEY APPROPRIATED TO THE101 DEPARTMENT OF HIGHER EDUCATION , AND, IN CONNECTION102 THEREWITH, MAKING ADJUSTMENTS TO APPROPRIATIONS MADE103 IN THE ANNUAL GENERAL APPROPRIATION ACT FOR THE 2025-26104 STATE FISCAL YEAR AND MAKING AN APPROPRIATION .105 Bill Summary (Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced and does not reflect any amendments that may be subsequently adopted. If this bill passes third reading in the house of introduction, a bill summary that applies to the reengrossed version of this bill will be available at http://leg.colorado.gov .) Joint Budget Committee. The bill imposes requirements related to money appropriated to the department of higher education to be used SENATE SPONSORSHIP Amabile and Bridges, Kirkmeyer HOUSE SPONSORSHIP Taggart and Sirota, Bird Shading denotes HOUSE amendment. Double underlining denotes SENATE amendment. Capital letters or bold & italic numbers indicate new material to be added to existing law. Dashes through the words or numbers indicate deletions from existing law. by the Auraria higher education center in the 2025-26 state fiscal year. Money appropriated for operational costs must be used as agreed upon by the constituent institutions in baseline service level agreements. Any service or performance level agreement that the Auraria higher education center enters into using money appropriated for the 2025-26 state fiscal year must: ! Be executed by all contracting parties no later than September 1, 2025; ! Clearly describe the services, service and staffing levels, and performance expectations that are contracted for; and ! Provide that, if costs for services exceed the prices provided for in the contract, those excessive costs will not be assumed or incurred until an additional contract is executed or the original contract is amended. In the 2025-26 state fiscal year, the Auraria higher education center shall manage all resources related to baseline service level agreements and goals and shall present quarterly updates to the constituent institutions regarding baseline service level agreements and goals. For other services for the 2025-26 state fiscal year that are not already contracted for in the baseline service level agreements, the Auraria higher education center shall establish fee structures, and the constituent institutions shall enter into agreements with the Auraria higher education center for the provision of those services. The bill requires the constituent organizations to contract with an independent third-party entity that shall conduct the Auraria comprehensive study (study). The constituent institutions and the Auraria higher education center shall agree upon which independent third-party entity will conduct the study before executing a contract to select the independent third-party entity. If the constituent institutions and the Auraria higher education center do not agree upon an independent third-party entity by August 1, 2025, the Colorado commission on higher education shall, no later than December 31, 2025, select the independent third-party entity from options proposed by the constituent institutions. The study must examine the operations of the Auraria campus and the services provided to students by the constituent institutions and by the Auraria board of directors through the Auraria higher education center. The independent third-party entity shall present a report on the findings of the study. The study must include the following: ! A review of all plans and studies conducted in the past 15 years regarding the mission, vision, and development of the Auraria campus; ! An evaluation of the statutory design and mission of the Auraria campus; ! An evaluation of the current governance model of the SB25-316 -2- Auraria campus; ! An evaluation of the operations and management structures under the current governance model of the Auraria campus; ! A comparison of the current governance model to alternative governance models which may yield greater efficiencies in service delivery; and ! An evaluation of the financial supports and structures of Auraria campus governance and operations. The constituent institutions shall enter into a cost-sharing agreement to pay for the study using gifts, grants, and donations. The bill reduces the general fund appropriation made in the annual general appropriation act for the 2025-26 state fiscal year to the department of higher education for the college opportunity fund program for fee-for-service contracts with state institutions by $31,435,042. The bill appropriates $31,435,042 from the general fund to the department of higher education for use by the Auraria higher education center. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Colorado:1 SECTION 1. In Colorado Revised Statutes, add 23-70-118 and2 23-70-119 as follows:3 23-70-118. Requirements for money that is appropriated to4 the department of higher education for use by the Auraria higher5 education center in the 2025-26 state fiscal year - repeal. (1) A NY6 MONEY THAT THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY APPROPRIATES TO THE7 DEPARTMENT OF HIGHER EDUCATION FOR THE AURARIA HIGHER8 EDUCATION CENTER TO USE FOR OPERATIONAL COSTS IN THE 2025-269 STATE FISCAL YEAR MUST BE USED AS AGREED UPON BY THE CONSTITUENT10 INSTITUTIONS IN BASELINE SERVICE LEVEL AGREEMENTS , INCLUDING11 OPERATIONAL COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH :12 (a) B UILDING OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE ;13 (b) C USTODIAL OR JANITORIAL SERVICES;14 (c) T HE AURARIA CAMPUS POLICE DEPARTMENT ;15 (d) B USINESS SERVICES;16 SB25-316-3- (e) CAMPUS PLANNING;1 (f) E VENTS MANAGEMENT IN SUPPORT OF UNIVERSITY - AND2 STUDENT-LED ACTIVITIES;3 (g) C OMMUNICATIONS; AND4 (h) P UBLIC RELATIONS.5 (2) A NY BASELINE SERVICE LEVEL AGREEMENT THAT THE6 A URARIA HIGHER EDUCATION CENTER ENTERS INTO USING MONEY7 APPROPRIATED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY FOR THE 2025-26 STATE8 FISCAL YEAR MUST:9 (a) B E EXECUTED BY THE CONTRACTING PARTIES NO LATER THAN10 S EPTEMBER 1, 2025, UNTIL WHICH TIME AURARIA HIGHER EDUCATION11 CENTER AND THE CONSTITUENT INSTITUTIONS SHALL OPERATE ACCORDING12 TO EXISTING SERVICE LEVEL AGREEMENTS ;13 (b) C LEARLY DESCRIBE THE SERVICES , SERVICE AND STAFFING14 LEVELS, AND PERFORMANCE EXPECTATIONS THAT ARE CONTRACTED FOR ;15 AND16 (c) P ROVIDE THAT, IF COSTS FOR SERVICES EXCEED THE PRICES17 PROVIDED FOR IN THE BASELINE SERVICE LEVEL AGREEMENTS , THOSE18 EXCESSIVE COSTS WILL NOT BE ASSUMED OR INCURRED UNTIL AN19 ADDITIONAL AGREEMENT THAT ADDRESSES THE EXCESSIVE COSTS IS20 EXECUTED OR UNTIL THE ORIGINAL BASELINE SERVICE LEVEL AGREEMENT21 IS AMENDED.22 (3) I N THE 2025-26 STATE FISCAL YEAR, THE AURARIA HIGHER23 EDUCATION CENTER SHALL MANAGE ALL RESOURCES RELATED TO24 BASELINE SERVICE LEVEL AGREEMENTS AND GOALS AND SHALL PRESENT25 QUARTERLY UPDATES REGARDING BASELINE SERVICE LEVEL AGREEMENTS26 AND GOALS TO THE CONSTITUENT INSTITUTIONS .27 SB25-316 -4- (4) THE AURARIA HIGHER EDUCATION CENTER SHALL ESTABLISH1 FEE STRUCTURES FOR THE 2025-26 STATE FISCAL YEAR FOR ALL SERVICES2 THAT ARE NOT ALREADY PROVIDED FOR IN THE BASELINE SERVICE LEVEL3 AGREEMENTS. THE CONSTITUENT INSTITUTIONS MAY ENTER INTO4 ADDITIONAL AGREEMENTS WITH THE AURARIA HIGHER EDUCATION5 CENTER FOR SERVICES THAT ARE NOT PROVIDED FOR IN THE BASELINE6 SERVICE LEVEL AGREEMENTS , IN WHICH CASE THE AURARIA HIGHER7 EDUCATION CENTER SHALL EXPLAIN WHY THE ADDITIONAL CONTRACTED8 SERVICES DO NOT FALL WITHIN THE BASELINE SERVICE LEVEL9 AGREEMENTS. THE FEE STRUCTURES ESTABLISHED PURSUANT TO THIS10 SUBSECTION (4) MUST:11 (a) C LEARLY DESCRIBE THE SERVICES FOR WHICH EACH FEE12 STRUCTURE IS ESTABLISHED; AND13 (b) A PPLY EACH FEE STRUCTURE CONSISTENTLY TO EACH14 CONSTITUENT INSTITUTION.15 (5) T HIS SECTION IS REPEALED, EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2026.16 23-70-119. Auraria comprehensive study. (1) T HE17 CONSTITUENT INSTITUTIONS SHALL , THROUGH THEIR EXECUTIVE18 DIRECTORS AND IN CONSULTATION WITH THE AURARIA HIGHER19 EDUCATION CENTER, CONTRACT WITH AN INDEPENDENT THIRD -PARTY20 ENTITY THAT SHALL CONDUCT A STUDY , REFERRED TO IN THIS SECTION AS21 THE "AURARIA COMPREHENSIVE STUDY ". THE CONSTITUENT INSTITUTIONS22 AND THE AURARIA HIGHER EDUCATION CENTER SHALL AGREE UPON WHICH23 INDEPENDENT THIRD-PARTY ENTITY WILL CONDUCT THE AURARIA24 COMPREHENSIVE STUDY BEFORE EXECUTING A CONTRACT TO SELECT THE25 INDEPENDENT THIRD-PARTY ENTITY. IF THE CONSTITUENT INSTITUTIONS26 AND THE AURARIA HIGHER EDUCATION CENTER DO NOT AGREE UPON AN27 SB25-316 -5- INDEPENDENT THIRD-PARTY ENTITY BY AUGUST 1, 2025, THE COLORADO1 COMMISSION ON HIGHER EDUCATION SHALL , NO LATER THAN AUGUST 31,2 2025, SELECT THE INDEPENDENT THIRD -PARTY ENTITY FROM OPTIONS3 PROPOSED BY THE CONSTITUENT INSTITUTIONS .4 (2) T HE AURARIA COMPREHENSIVE STUDY MUST EXAMINE :5 (a) T HE OPERATIONS OF THE AURARIA CAMPUS; AND6 (b) T HE SERVICES PROVIDED TO STUDENTS BY THE CONSTITUENT7 INSTITUTIONS AND BY THE AURARIA BOARD OF DIRECTORS THROUGH THE8 A URARIA HIGHER EDUCATION CENTER .9 (3) T HE INDEPENDENT THIRD-PARTY ENTITY SHALL PRESENT THE10 FINDINGS OF THE AURARIA COMPREHENSIVE STUDY IN A REPORT11 ADDRESSED TO THE CONSTITUENT INSTITUTIONS , THE AURARIA HIGHER12 EDUCATION CENTER, THE JOINT BUDGET COMMITTEE, THE OFFICE OF STATE13 PLANNING AND BUDGETING, AND THE COLORADO COMMISSION ON HIGHER14 EDUCATION BY DECEMBER 31, 2025; EXCEPT THAT, IF THE INDEPENDENT15 THIRD-PARTY ENTITY CANNOT COMPLETE THE REPORT BY DECEMBER 31,16 2025, DUE TO UNFORESEEN CIRCUMSTANCES , THE INDEPENDENT17 THIRD-PARTY ENTITY SHALL NOTIFY THE CONSTITUENT INSTITUTIONS AND18 THE AURARIA HIGHER EDUCATION CENTER AND SHALL PRESENT THE19 REPORT NO LATER THAN JANUARY 30, 2026. THE REPORT MUST INCLUDE:20 (a) F INDINGS RELATED TO THE STATUTORY DESIGN , GOVERNANCE,21 OPERATIONS, AND FINANCIAL STRUCTURE OF THE CURRENT SHARED22 A URARIA CAMPUS;23 (b) R ECOMMENDATIONS OF ANY STATUTORY OR OPERATIONAL24 CHANGES THAT THE INDEPENDENT THIRD -PARTY ENTITY BELIEVES WOULD25 YIELD MORE EFFICIENT, MISSION-ALIGNED SERVICES FOR THE AURARIA26 HIGHER EDUCATION CENTER , THE CONSTITUENT INSTITUTIONS, AND THE27 SB25-316 -6- STUDENTS ATTENDING THE CONSTITUENT INSTITUTIONS ;1 (c) E STIMATES OF THE FINANCIAL IMPACTS THAT THE2 RECOMMENDATIONS WOULD HAVE ON THE STATE AND THE CONSTITUENT3 INSTITUTIONS; AND4 (d) F EEDBACK FROM EACH CONSTITUENT INSTITUTION AND THE5 A URARIA HIGHER EDUCATION CENTER RELATING TO THE6 RECOMMENDATIONS .7 (4) T HE AURARIA HIGHER EDUCATION CENTER AND THE8 CONSTITUENT INSTITUTIONS SHALL PARTICIPATE IN THE AURARIA9 COMPREHENSIVE STUDY AND ENGAGE IN AND RESPOND TO ANY INQUIRIES10 FROM THE INDEPENDENT THIRD -PARTY ENTITY, INCLUDING INQUIRIES11 RELATED TO PERSONNEL, BUSINESS DOCUMENTATION , FINANCIAL DATA,12 THE COORDINATION OF THE PROVISION OF STUDENT SERVICES , AND13 INTERNAL RECORDS RELATED TO THE FACILITY , OPERATIONS, AND14 DEVELOPMENT OF THE AURARIA CAMPUS . THE CONSTITUENT15 INSTITUTIONS AND THE AURARIA HIGHER EDUCATION CENTER SHALL16 CONVENE TO RECEIVE UPDATES RELATED TO THE AURARIA17 COMPREHENSIVE STUDY FROM THE INDEPENDENT THIRD -PARTY ENTITY AT18 LEAST TWICE DURING THE PERIOD OF THE AURARIA COMPREHENSIVE19 STUDY.20 (5) T HE AURARIA COMPREHENSIVE STUDY MUST INCLUDE THE21 FOLLOWING:22 (a) A REVIEW OF ALL PLANS AND STUDIES CONDUCTED IN THE PAST23 FIFTEEN YEARS REGARDING THE MISSION , VISION, AND DEVELOPMENT OF24 THE AURARIA CAMPUS, PLUS A REVIEW OF PLANS AND STUDIES THAT ARE25 OLDER THAN FIFTEEN YEARS IF DEEM ED RELEVANT BY THE INDEPENDENT26 THIRD-PARTY ENTITY;27 SB25-316 -7- (b) AN EVALUATION OF THE STATUTORY DESIGN AND MISSION OF1 THE AURARIA CAMPUS, INCLUDING:2 (I) A N ANALYSIS OF THE STATUTORY REQUIREMENTS AND POWERS3 OF THE AURARIA HIGHER EDUCATION CENTER AND THE CONSTITUENT4 INSTITUTIONS TO IDENTIFY WHETHER CURRENT ACTIVITIES ALIGN WITH5 PROVISIONS IN THE COLORADO REVISED STATUTES AND TO WHAT EXTENT6 THOSE PROVISIONS RESULT IN COST AND OPERATIONAL EFFICIENCIES FOR7 THE CONSTITUENT INSTITUTIONS;8 (II) A DESCRIPTION AND ASSESSMENT OF THE CURRENT STATE OF9 THE AURARIA HIGHER EDUCATION CENTER , INCLUDING THE CONTEXT OF10 THE CENTER'S SCOPE, CAPABILITIES, RESOURCES, PERFORMANCE, CULTURE,11 DEPENDENCIES, INFRASTRUCTURE, PERSONNEL, EXTERNAL INFLUENCES,12 AND OTHER RELEVANT ELEMENTS ;13 (III) T O WHAT EXTENT THE AURARIA HIGHER EDUCATION CENTER'S14 CURRENT DISPOSITION, AS DESCRIBED IN SUBSECTION (5)(b)(II) OF THIS15 SECTION, FACILITATES OR INHIBITS THE CENTER'S STATUTORY MISSION16 ALIGNMENT AND OPERATIONAL EFFICIENCIES ;17 (IV) A DESCRIPTION AND ASSESSMENT OF EACH CONSTITUENT18 INSTITUTION, INCLUDING THE INSTITUTIONS' EDUCATIONAL FOOTPRINT ON19 THE CAMPUS, THE FOOTPRINT OF AND ACCESS TO INSTITUTION -OWNED20 FACILITIES, AND OTHER COORDINATION AMONG THE CONSTITUENT21 INSTITUTIONS IN DELIVERING SERVICES TO STUDENTS ;22 (V) A N EVALUATION OF THE IMPACT ON AND SERVICE OF23 DISPLACED AURARIANS, DONE IN CONSULTATION WITH A DESIGNEE OF THE24 A URARIA BOARD OF DIRECTORS; AND25 (VI) R ECOMMENDATIONS OF POSSIBLE STATUTORY C HANGES THAT26 WOULD MORE CLEARLY DEFINE THE MISSION OF THE AURARIA CAMPUS27 SB25-316 -8- AND DELINEATE THE DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF EACH ENTITY IN1 SUPPORTING THE MISSION;2 (c) A N EVALUATION OF THE CURRENT GOVERNANCE MODEL OF THE3 A URARIA CAMPUS, INCLUDING:4 (I) A N ANALYSIS OF THE COMPOSITION OF THE AURARIA BOARD OF5 DIRECTORS, INCLUDING THE BOARD'S ABILITY TO FULFILL ITS STATUTORY6 PURPOSES, MITIGATE CONFLICTS OF INTEREST, AND ARBITRATE CAMPUS7 DISPUTES; AND8 (II) A N ANALYSIS OF THE EXTENT TO WHICH A MODEL OF9 GOVERNANCE SHARED BY THE CONSTITUENT INSTITUTIONS , AS OPPOSED10 TO GOVERNANCE BY THE AURARIA BOARD OF DIRECTORS , WOULD BE11 PRACTICABLE AND THE EXTENT TO WHICH A SHARED GOVERNANCE MODEL12 MIGHT YIELD GREATER MISSION ALIGNMENT AND MORE EFFICIENT13 DELIVERY OF SERVICES TO STUDENTS;14 (d) A N EVALUATION OF THE OPERATIONS AND MANAGEMENT15 STRUCTURES UNDER THE CURRENT GOVERNANCE MODEL OF THE AURARIA16 CAMPUS, INCLUDING:17 (I) A N ANALYSIS OF THE TIMELINESS AND COST OF CURRENT18 SERVICE DELIVERY AND FUNCTIONS ; AND19 (II) A REVIEW OF THE OPERATIONAL CONTROL AND FISCAL20 RESPONSIBILITY OF ALL AURARIA CAMPUS FACILITIES, INCLUDING THE21 EXTENT TO WHICH CURRENT OPERATIONS FULFILL THE MISSION OF THE22 CAMPUS AND YIELD THE MOST COST EFFECTIVE RESULTS FOR ALL PARTIES ;23 (e) A COMPARISON OF THE CURRENT GOVERNANCE MODEL OF THE24 A URARIA CAMPUS TO ALTERNATIVE GOVERNANCE MODELS WHICH MAY25 YIELD GREATER EFFICIENCIES IN SERVICE DELIVERY , INCLUDING:26 (I) W HETHER EFFICIENCY COULD BE IMPROVED BY TRANSFERRING27 SB25-316 -9- EXISTING FUNCTIONS SUCH AS CAMPUS SECURITY AND POLICING ,1 FACILITIES MANAGEMENT, PARKING MANAGEMENT , LIBRARY SERVICES,2 FOOD SERVICES, HUMAN RESOURCES , INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY ,3 PROCUREMENT, EVENTS MANAGEMENT , NONACADEMIC STUDENT4 SERVICES, AND RISK MANAGEMENT BETWEEN CONSTITUENT INSTITUTIONS5 OR THE AURARIA HIGHER EDUCATION CENTER ;6 (II) W HETHER EFFICIENCY COULD BE IMPROVED BY7 CONSOLIDATING EXISTING FUNCTIONS SUCH AS CAMPUS SECURITY AND8 POLICING, FACILITIES MANAGEMENT, PARKING MANAGEMENT , LIBRARY9 SERVICES, HUMAN RESOURCES , INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY ,10 PROCUREMENT, EVENTS MANAGEMENT , NONACADEMIC STUDENT11 SERVICES, AND RISK MANAGEMENT WITHIN CONSTITUENT INSTITUTIONS OR12 THE AURARIA HIGHER EDUCATION CENTER ;13 (III) W HETHER OPERATIONAL CONTROL AND FISCAL14 RESPONSIBILITY COULD BE IMPROVED FOR THE COLLECTIVE OR INDIVIDUAL15 CONSTITUENT INSTITUTIONS BY RESTRUCTURING FISCAL MANAGEMENT OF16 SOME OR ALL RESPONSIBILITIES; AND17 (IV) W HETHER CERTAIN SERVICES WOULD BEST BE GOVERNED AND18 DELIVERED UNDER A CENTRALIZED , DECENTRALIZED, OR HYBRID19 GOVERNANCE MODEL ; AND20 (f) A N EVALUATION OF THE FINANCIAL SUPPORTS AND21 STRUCTURES OF AURARIA CAMPUS GOVERNANCE AND OPERATIONS ,22 INCLUDING:23 (I) A N ANALYSIS OF THE APPROPRIATE LEVEL OF BASELINE24 FUNDING FOR SERVICES DELIVERED ON THE AURARIA CAMPUS,25 ACCOUNTING FOR INFLATION AND OTHER DRIVERS OF COSTS SUCH AS26 INSURANCE;27 SB25-316 -10- (II) AN ANALYSIS OF ANY PUBLIC -PRIVATE DEVELOPMENTS1 PURSUANT TO SECTION 23-70-105.5 AND WHETHER AND THE EXTENT TO2 WHICH THE DEVELOPMENTS SUPPORT THE SUSTAINABILITY AND MISSION3 OF THE AURARIA CAMPUS;4 (III) A REVIEW OF THE AURARIA HIGHER EDUCATION CENTER 'S5 REVENUE STREAMS AND THE EXTENT TO WHICH ADDITIONAL REVENUE6 STREAMS, SUCH AS AUXILIARY SERVICES REVENUE AND FEE REVENUE ,7 SHOULD SUPPORT THE DELIVERY OF SERVICES ;8 (IV) A N ANALYSIS OF FISCAL RESTRAINTS ON THE CONSTITUENT9 INSTITUTIONS AND THE AURARIA HIGHER EDUCATION CENTER REGARDING10 THE PROVISION OF SERVICES , SUCH AS REVENUE GENERATION AND11 EXPENSE CHARACTERISTICS;12 (V) A N ANALYSIS OF THE FISCAL IMPACTS OF PROPOSED CHANGES13 TO THE COLORADO STATE BUDGET ; AND14 (VI) A N ANALYSIS OF IMPACTS RELATED TO COLORADO'S15 DEMOGRAPHIC CHANGES , INCREASED COMPETITION, AND CHANGES TO THE16 HIGHER EDUCATION MARKET , INCLUDING THE CHANGES IN STUDENT17 EDUCATIONAL MODALITY AND THE DISTRIBUTION OF IN -PERSON, HYBRID,18 AND ONLINE STUDENTS.19 (6) T HE CONSTITUENT INSTITUTIONS MAY SEEK , ACCEPT, AND20 EXPEND GIFTS, GRANTS, OR DONATIONS FROM PRIVATE OR PUBLIC SOURCES21 FOR THE PURPOSE OF FUNDING THE AURARIA COMPREHENSIVE STUDY . THE22 CONSTITUENT INSTITUTIONS SHALL ENTER INTO A COST -SHARING23 AGREEMENT TO PAY FOR THE AURARIA COMPREHENSIVE STUDY USING24 GIFTS, GRANTS, AND DONATIONS.25 SECTION 2. Appropriation - adjustments to 2025 long bill.26 (1) To implement this act, appropriations made in the annual general27 SB25-316 -11- appropriation act for the 2025-26 state fiscal year to the department of1 higher education are adjusted as follows:2 (a) The general fund appropriation for the college opportunity3 fund program for fee-for-service contracts with state institutions pursuant4 to section 23-18-303.5, C.R.S., is decreased by $31,435,042;5 (b) The reappropriated funds appropriations from fee-for-service6 contracts with state institutions pursuant to section 23-18-303.5, C.R.S.,7 under subsection (1)(a) of this section are decreased as follows: 8 Governing Boards9 trustees of Metropolitan state university of Denver -$15,623,12910 regents of the university of Colorado -$11,739,17111 state board for community colleges and occupational12 education state system community colleges -$4,072,74213 (c) The reappropriated funds appropriation for Auraria higher14 education center administration is decreased by $31,435,042. This amount15 originates from the appropriations in the general appropriations act to the16 governing boards for the state board for community colleges and17 occupational education state system community colleges, the trustees of18 Metropolitan state university of Denver, and the regents of the university19 of Colorado.20 SECTION 3. Appropriation. (1) For the 2025-26 state fiscal21 year, $31,435,042 is appropriated to the department of higher education22 for use by the Auraria higher education center. This appropriation is from23 the general fund. To implement this act, the department may use this24 appropriation as follows: 25 (a) $29,545,253 for operational costs; and26 (b) $1,889,789 for deferred maintenance projects.27 SB25-316 -12- SECTION 4. Safety clause. The general assembly finds,1 determines, and declares that this act is necessary for the immediate2 preservation of the public peace, health, or safety or for appropriations for3 the support and maintenance of the departments of the state and state4 institutions.5 SB25-316 -13-