Appropriations panel advances legislative department budget after debate over cash fund uses and youth program cuts

The Senate Appropriations Committee voted 4 to 3 to advance Senate Bill 188, the legislative department appropriations bill, after extended questioning of the bill sponsors and testimony from multiple youth witnesses about cuts to the Colorado Youth Advisory Council (COYAC).

Senator Steve (President) Coleman, as bill sponsor, described the bill as funding the operations of the legislative department, including support for the General Assembly, Joint Budget Committee staff, Legislative Counsel staff, Office of Legislative Legal Services and the Office of the State Auditor. Director Natalie Castle of Legislative Council staff told the committee that “most of that, all of that except for 141,000 of it, is money reappropriated from state agencies that the state auditors office is auditing.” She added that the $141,000 funds the contract with the print shop to print introduced bills, journals and calendars.

Committee members questioned where certain items were funded and whether planned equipment purchases for members and staff (laptops and iPads) were covered by the bill. Director Castle clarified the equipment purchases are expected to be paid from the legislative department cash fund and were not included in Senate Bill 188.

Multiple youth witnesses — Bennett Lane (former Colorado Youth Advisory Council member), Christine Hancock, and Rohan Kotwal (current COYAC youth representative) — urged the committee to restore COYAC’s funding from $5,000 in the bill back to its prior $50,000 appropriation. Bennett Lane testified the $50,000 “is really a drop in the budget compared to this 1 point something billion dollar deficit,” and called the program important to youth representation.

The committee considered several amendments. L004, a technical amendment to remove an erroneously included 0.3 FTE, was adopted without objection. Amendment L001, offered by Senator Kirkmeyer, proposed a $3.5 million reduction (roughly a 5% cut across the legislative department general fund appropriations) and failed on a 4-3 vote. Amendment L003 would have required a transfer of legislative department cash fund balances in excess of $500,000 to the general fund (sweeping roughly $21.6 million in the sponsor’s description) and also failed on a 4-3 vote.

Committee roll call on final passage recorded yes votes from Senators Gonzales and Coker and from the vice chair and chair; Senators Kirkmeyer, Liston and Pelton voted no. The transcript indicates further discussion about the composition of the cash fund and whether planned capital and furniture projects should be delayed or reduced. Sponsors noted that some planned costs are estimates and that final spending is expected to be lower than line-item estimates in the budget packet.

The bill advanced from committee 4 to 3 and will proceed to the next legislative stage.