(1)
(a) On and after July 1, 2024, the rights, powers, duties, and functions regarding the
Colorado disability funding committee vested in the department of personnel prior
to said date are transferred from the department of personnel to the Colorado
disability opportunity office within the department of labor and employment.
(b) (I) On and after July 1, 2024, unless otherwise specified, whenever any
provision of law refers to the department of personnel in connection with the duties
and functions transferred to the CDOO, such law must be construed as referring to
the CDOO.
(II) As of July 1, 2024, all rules and orders of the department of personnel
adopted in connection with the powers, duties, and functions transferred to the
CDOO continue to be effective until revised, amended, repealed, or nullified
pursuant to law.
(III) As of July 1, 2024, whenever the department of personnel is referred to
or designated by any contract or other document in connection with the duties and
functions transferred to the CDOO, such reference or designation is deemed to
apply to the CDOO. All contracts entered into by the department of personnel prior
to July 1, 2024, in connection with the duties and functions are hereby validated,
with the CDOO succeeding to all rights and obligations under such contracts. As of
July 1, 2024, any cash funds, custodial funds, trusts, grants, and appropriations of
funds from prior state fiscal years open to satisfy obligations incurred under such
contracts are transferred and appropriated to the department for allocation to the
CDOO for the payment of such obligations.
(c) The committee consists of thirteen members appointed by the governor,
the majority of whom are individuals with disabilities, individuals with immediate
family members who are individuals with disabilities, or individuals who are
caregivers to a family member who is an individual with a disability. In making the
appointments, the governor shall ensure that the committee has members with
experience in or knowledge of:
(I) Business and business management;
(II) Nonprofit entities and managing nonprofit entities;
(III) Advocacy for individuals with disabilities;
(IV) The practice of medicine, with experience working with individuals with
disabilities; and
(V) The practice of law, with experience working with individuals with
disabilities.
(2) Members of the committee serve three-year terms; except that the terms
shall be staggered so that no more than five members' terms expire in the same
year. The governor shall not appoint a member for more than two consecutive
terms.
(3) An act of the committee is void unless a majority of the appointed
members has voted in favor of the act.
(4) The committee shall implement this part 2 using the fund.
(5) The committee is authorized to seek and accept gifts, grants, or
donations from private or public sources for the purposes of this part 2; except that
the committee shall not accept a gift, grant, or donation that is subject to
conditions that are inconsistent with this part 2 or part 13 of article 75 of title 24
regarding the status of gifts, grants, and donations made to state agencies.
(6) The committee has the following duties and powers:
(a) To sue and be sued and otherwise assert or defend the committee's legal
interests;
(b) To prepare and sign contracts;
(c) To have and exercise all rights and powers necessary or incidental to, or
implied from, the specific powers granted in this part 2;
(d) To fix the time and place at which meetings may be held;
(e) To adopt and use a seal and to alter the same at its pleasure;
(f) To make business decisions to implement this part 2;
(g) To create incentives for holders to turn in currently issued registration
numbers if any actual costs are reimbursed to the state from the sale;
(h) To authorize and sell license plates made of alternative materials if
approved by the department of revenue; and
(i) To sell the right to use additional license plate options, such as historically
issued backgrounds, for a fee if the option is approved by the department of
revenue and the Colorado state patrol.
(7) (a) The committee may contract for the services of professional advisors
to conduct meetings or carry out its administrative functions for meetings and
committee business.
(b) The department may hire employees to handle the administrative aspects
of supporting the committee.
(8) The attorney general is the legal counsel for the committee.
(9) Committee members do not receive compensation for performing official
duties of the committee but may receive a per diem or reimbursement for travel and
other reasonable and necessary expenses for performing official duties of the
committee. The per diem or reimbursement is paid from the fund.
(10) The department of public safety may prohibit any action of the
committee or its agents that concerns the sale of license plates or registration
numbers if the decision would affect the policy of the state of Colorado as it relates
to the use or display of license plates or registration numbers.