Colorado LegiSource

An informational and educational resource for the Colorado General Assembly by the Office of Legislative Legal Services.

Author: olls

  • [Re]Consider This!

    Reconsideration of a Previous Vote on
    A Legislative Action: Some Recent Examples
    or
    Motion to Reconsider: What, When,
    Who, How, and Why
    or
    [Re]Consider This!

     

    By Jennifer Gilroy and Sharon Eubanks

    One of the most frequently invoked, but most misunderstood rules, is the rule on reconsideration.  Found in the rules of both the House (HR 35) and the Senate (SR 18), the rules addressing reconsideration of questions decided on the floor and in committees of reference are used as often to provide relief from miscalculated procedural moves as they are to reflect a change of mind or misstated vote.  For example, during the 2011 session the Senate Majority Leader relied on Senate Rule 18 to turn back the hands of time and correct a procedural misstep that occurred late in the session (not in the final three days) when several Senate budget “orbit” bills returning from the House were read across the Senate desk and immediately called up for consideration of House amendments, without having first been placed on the Senate calendar or in members’ files.  (more…)

  • What happens if I make the same bill request as another legislator?

    When the OLLS determines that your bill request appears to be identical or substantially similar to a request made by another legislator, the Office will contact you and let you know that it appears a similar bill request has already been submitted. The drafter can tell you whether the first request was made by someone in the same house or the opposite house of the legislature or by someone in the same party. Because of confidentiality concerns, however, the drafter cannot tell you the name of the legislator who made the first request, unless that request has already been introduced as a bill. The drafter will then ask your permission to tell the legislator who submitted the first request that you are requesting an identical or substantially similar bill.

    At this point, you may choose to withdraw your bill request. Or, you may tell the drafter that you want to proceed with your bill request, and you do not authorize the drafter to tell the first legislator that you are requesting the same or a similar bill. In this case, the drafter will proceed to draft your bill without divulging any further information. However, if you give the drafter permission to talk with the first legislator, he or she will contact that person. With that person’s permission, the drafter will tell you who the first legislator is, and you and the other legislator may discuss how you wish to proceed.

    At this point, you may decide to join efforts as prime sponsors in each house or as prime co-sponsors in the same house. Or you may decide that one of you should be the prime sponsor and the other a cosponsor. You may also decide to go forward with drafting and introducing both bills and let the legislative process determine the outcome. In no event, however, are you required to withdraw your bill request just because another legislator has already submitted the same or a similar request.

  • Verifiable Oddities in Colorado’s History

    The Day Colorado Had 3 Governors

    by Ashley Zimmerman

    In the summer and fall of 1903, Colorado entered what would become two of her most turbulent years in history.  Union and non-union miners were engaged in violent showdowns with each other, and politicians with very different ideas of how to manage the escalating violence were up against each other in the polls. (more…)

  • Can I choose a specific drafter to draft my bill?

    You may request a specific drafter to draft your bill, and we will make every effort to fulfill your request. However, the team leader for each subject matter team has discretion in assigning bills to the drafters on his or her team. Usually, the team leader bases bill assignments on subject matter expertise and workload. But, if you would like to work with a particular drafter, please let us know. If the drafter’s expertise is appropriate to the bill request, the team leader will certainly take the request into account and generally assign the bill to the requested drafter if possible.

  • So You Want A New Special License Plate

    By Jery Payne

    You’re ready to brave the groans from your peers. You’re ready to brave the dark looks from the state patrol’s liaison. You are ready to create a new special license plate. You’re ready because, darn it, this is such a good cause!

    (more…)

  • What are the OLLS subject matter teams?

    There are three OLLS subject matter teams:
    • Business, Health Care, Natural Resources and Environment Team, a.k.a. the Bus Team
    • Fiscal Policy, Infrastructure, Elections, Education Finance, and State and Local Government Team, a.k.a. the Gov Team
    • Civil and Criminal Law, Education, and Human Services Team, a.k.a. the Law Team

    This specialization allows OLLS staff to gain expertise in particular areas of law and allows those persons with the most knowledge and experience in an area of law to address any needs members have concerning that area of law. When you submit a bill or research request, it is automatically routed to the subject matter team with the expertise necessary to draft your bill or answer your question.

    OLLS also has an Administration Team, which includes the front office staff and the Director and Deputy Director, and a Publications Team, which focuses most of its energies on the process for publishing the statutes.