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Glossary of Legislative Terms

Overview of the State Education Fund and K-12 Public School Funding

Joint Education Committee

The forecast for the State Education Fund and the level of General Fund appropriations needed to pay for school finance have changed from when the General Assembly adjourned in May 2014. Property values are expected to grow more rapidly over the next few years, helping to boost the local contribution to school finance. Similarly, income tax receipts continue to grow, increasing deposits into the State Education Fund and the General Fund.

The General Assembly is required by the Colorado Constitution to establish and maintain a thorough and uniform system of free public schools, where any person between the ages of 6 and 21 may be educated. At the same time, the constitution places control of public school instruction in locally elected boards of education. Under this system, the legislature provides financial support and establishes statutory guidelines applicable to all school districts, and local school boards determine curricula and instruction.

Colorado's individual income tax form allows a taxpayer to make a voluntary contribution to any one of 15 funds, each of which benefits a program or charitable organization (organization). This issue brief provides information on the income tax "checkoff" program and the selection of organizations for placement on the income tax form.

Accreditation refers to an external review process used to analyze colleges, universities, and other educational programs for academic quality and accountability. For institutions and programs of higher education in the United States, accreditation is a voluntary process; however, it is also the primary method by which students, families, policymakers, and the public know that an institution or program offers a quality education.

The quality and affordability of child care and early childhood education (ECE) are key concerns for parents and policymakers alike. Whether daycare, preschool, or another setting, child care and ECE allow parents to remain in the workforce and improve the school readiness of children. This issue brief provides an overview of the financial assistance available to families needing child care and describes the state's licensing and regulation of child care.

I. PREAMBLE
II. HISTORY OF THE UNIFORM LAW COMMISSION
III. THE OPERATION OF THE ULC
IV. ACTIVITIES OF THE COLORADO COMMISSIONERS
V. A SUMMARY OF NEW ACTS
VI. RECOMMENDATIONS FOR ENACTMENT AND FOR OTHER ACTION
VII. ENACTMENT RECORD, TO DATE

Pursuant to Interim Committee Letter 2014-6. The purpose of this committee is to evaluate and make recommendations regarding appropriate uses of sales tax revenue generated by recreational marijuana sales in Colorado. 

Pursuant to Section 43-2-145, Colorado Revised Statutes. The purpose of this committee is to give guidance and direction to the state Department of Transportation in the development of the state transportation system, and to provide legislative oversight of and input into such development.

Pursuant to Senate Bill 13-082. The purpose of this committee is to review and propose legislation or other policy changes related to wildfire prevention, mitigation, and related matters, including public safety and forest health issues. 

Pursuant to Section 26-6.5-203, Colorado Revised Statutes. The purpose of this commission is to study issues related to early childhood and school readiness in order to improve the state’s early childhood policies.

Pursuant to Section 31-31-1001, C.R.S. The purpose of the committee is to study and develop proposed legislation relating to funding of police officers' and firefighters' pensions in this state and the benefit designs of such pension plans.  

Final Report to the Colorado General Assembly by the Legislative Health Benefit Exchange Implementation Review Committee.

Final Report to the Colorado General Assembly by the Legislative Emergency Preparedness, Response, and Recovery Committee.

Data breaches are becoming increasingly common and bring uncertainty for private citizens. According to the Federal Trade Commission, identity theft is one of the fastest growing crimes in the United States. Data breaches impose significant costs on both individuals whose personal identifying information may be maliciously used and businesses that have been targeted. This issue brief describes state law and the steps individuals can take to protect their personal identifying information.

This memorandum provides information about the charge of the Joint Technology Committee, as established by House Bill 13-1079 and amended by House Bill 14-1395. It discusses the formation, membership, and meetings of the committee, the powers and duties of the committee, staff assistance, and the interaction between the committee and other state agencies.

State law defines "achievement gap" as the difference in academic achievement attained by student groups on the statewide assessments and "growth gap" as the differences among student groups in the rates of academic growth.1 Achievement gaps are observable between racial or ethnic groups of students in Colorado, as well as between socioeconomic groups and genders. This issue brief provides a statistical overview of the achievement gap in Colorado.