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JBC introduces Auraria Higher Education Center appropriation and study bill
Summary
The Joint Budget Committee voted unanimously to introduce a bill that would fund the Auraria Higher Education Center (AHEC) directly and require a comprehensive study of the Auraria campus to identify operational efficiencies; the bill allows institutions to fund the study with non‑appropriated funds and includes several technical edits requested by staff.
The Joint Budget Committee on April 21 moved to introduce legislation to appropriate funding directly to the Auraria Higher Education Center and to commission a comprehensive study of the Auraria campus.
Llewellyn Lowe, WBC staff, told the committee the bill’s principal purpose is to fund AIHEC directly, remove the TaberDow account reference, and require a study looking for potential efficiencies across the campus. Lowe said institutions indicated they would fund the study with non‑appropriated funds, so the draft does not include a study appropriation. She outlined technical edits staff proposed, including a December 31 report deadline with a one‑month extension, requirements that all parties receive the report and provide feedback, adding campus food‑service coordination to the study scope, and permitting contractors to review prior studies up to 15 years back.
The bill was moved for introduction with the technical changes Lowe described. With six members present, the committee voted to introduce the bill by voice vote, the motion passing 6‑0. Sponsors were identified for the Senate and House and staff were given permission to make technical edits prior to running the bill.
Committee members did not object to introduction but paused a formal enactment vote until a quorum is present for final actions in later floor scheduling. The committee recorded the motion to introduce and authorized staff to reflect the committee’s edits in the LLS draft.
The committee said the bill will begin in the Senate and run as appropriate in the legislative process; staff will circulate an updated bill draft reflecting the approved technical changes.
