Colorado § 24-72.4-101 - Legislative declaration.

§ 24-72.4-101. Legislative declaration.

(1) The general assembly hereby finds and declares that:

(a) Taxpayers should be able to easily access the details of the state's finances, including how much revenue the state receives and how that revenue is spent;

(b) On April 2, 2009, the governor issued an executive order that created the transparency online project;

(c) The transparency online project is a free, searchable web-based system providing easy access to information about the state's revenues and expenditures;

(d) The transparency online project is an important first step in providing a more transparent and accountable state government; and

(e) The purpose of this legislation is to improve the system created by the executive order.

(2) Now, therefore, it is the intent of the general assembly that the web-based system established by the governor's executive order be modified as set forth in this article.

(3) (a) The general assembly further finds and declares that:

(I) Only a limited number of the department of transportation's transactions are included in the state's official book of record and, accordingly, most of its revenues and expenditures are not included in the web-based system;

(II) Because of accounting and information technology differences, it is not feasible to fully assimilate the department of transportation into the web-based system; and

(III) Taxpayers should still be able to access the details of the department of transportation's finances.

(b) Now, therefore, it is the intent of the general assembly that the department of transportation be required to create and maintain a searchable, online revenue and expenditure database and that such information should be accessible through the web-based system.

(4) The general assembly further finds and declares that the web-based system, known as the transparency online project, has made state government more transparent and accountable and that county taxpayers are entitled to the same access to information. Now, therefore, it is the intent of the general assembly to expand the system to include revenue and expenditure data for counties.

Source: L. 2009: Entire article added, (HB 09-1288), ch. 439, p. 2430, § 1, effective August 5. L. 2011: (3) added, (HB 11-1002), ch. 263, p. 1144, § 1, effective August 10. L. 2016: (4) added, (HB 16-1230), ch. 115, p. 325, § 1, effective August 10.