March 02, 2007 02:27 AM UTC

Amendment 41 Solutions Discussed

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• by: Colorado Pols

From a press release issued by the House Democrats:

The House State, Veterans and Military Affairs Committee passed two pieces of legislation today – one to seek guidance on the legislature’s authority and another to clarify and implement Amendment 41. 

“Our goal is to fulfill the will of the voters,” said Speaker Romanoff.  “The Court can give us the guidance that will help us do so.”

Key components of HB 1304 are contingent on the Supreme Court’s answer to HJR 1019.  If passed by the House, HB 1304 will await a final vote in the Senate in anticipation of the Court’s ruling on the interrogatory.  If given the green light, the entire bill can then move forward.

Click below for the full press release…

The cloud of confusion over the implementation of Amendment 41 may soon be clearing. 

The House State, Veterans and Military Affairs Committee passed two pieces of legislation today – one to seek guidance on the legislature’s authority and another to clarify and implement Amendment 41. 

House Bill 1304, sponsored by State Representative Rosemary Marshall (D-Denver), implements Amendment 41 by defining key terms and establishing an ethics commission to review violations of public trust by government officials and employees. 

“Last November, the people of Colorado voted to approve Amendment 41,” said Rep. Marshall.  “With the help of the Colorado Supreme Court, this bill will clarify and enact the Amendment in the quickest way possible.” 

HB 1304 passed the committee on a 6-4 vote and now heads to the House Appropriations Committee.

House Joint Resolution 1019 works in conjunction with HB 1304, sponsored by House Speaker Andrew Romanoff (D-Denver), sends an interrogatory to the Colorado Supreme Court to ask, to what extent the legislature has the authority to clarify Amendment 41.  The resolution passed the committee on a 7-3 vote and now heads to the House floor. 

“Our goal is to fulfill the will of the voters,” said Speaker Romanoff.  “The Court can give us the guidance that will help us do so.”

Key components of HB 1304 are contingent on the Supreme Court’s answer to HJR 1019.  If passed by the House, HB 1304 will await a final vote in the Senate in anticipation of the Court’s ruling on the interrogatory.  If given the green light, the entire bill can then move forward.