Colorado § 24-80-116 - Display of original state constitution in state capitol - online display of state constitution - educational opportunities.

§ 24-80-116. Display of original state constitution in state capitol - online display of state constitution - educational opportunities.

(1) On or before February 28, 2023, the state archivist shall submit a proposal to the state capitol building advisory committee for the creation of a permanent public display of the original draft of the Colorado constitution inside the state capitol building. The proposal shall include suggestions for how and where the original draft of the Colorado constitution should be displayed and stored and a proposal for the original draft of the Colorado constitution to be displayed in government buildings other than the state capitol building. History Colorado shall advise and consult with the state archivist regarding the creation on an appropriate display that will safeguard the original draft of the Colorado constitution. The state capitol building advisory committee shall evaluate the proposal and consider whether to approve the proposal in accordance with the criteria and procedures for placing other displays within the state capitol building pursuant to section 24-82-108 (3)(h). The state capitol building advisory committee shall also evaluate the proposal in accordance with best practices for displaying historic documents in a manner that safeguards the documents against deterioration. The display may include other objects and educational materials related to the adoption and history of the Colorado constitution. The state archivist shall collaborate with history Colorado to ensure adherence to the best practices when presenting the Colorado constitution in the existing environmental conditions of the state capitol and government buildings other than the state capitol building.

(2) The state archivist, in partnership with history Colorado, shall create an online exhibition of the Colorado constitution, including all amendments thereto currently in effect. The exhibition shall include aspects of educational opportunities and history and shall ensure that the electronic copy of each version of the Colorado constitution created pursuant to this section is available to the public in a searchable format through the website of the office of the state archives and history Colorado. The state archivist may contract with an online exhibit design company to determine the best practices when presenting the Colorado constitution in an educational format that is easily accessible and user-friendly for the general population of the state. The exhibit design company may coordinate as necessary with the state archivist, history Colorado, the office of legislative legal services, the secretary of state's office, and other relevant government agencies in the creation of the online exhibition.

(3) The state archivist, in partnership with history Colorado, shall create opportunities to provide updated physical copies of the constitution or other educational opportunities related to the updated physical copy of the Colorado constitution within state offices. The state archivist and history Colorado shall ensure that the constitution will be easily accessible and user-friendly for the general population of the state.

(4) The state archives:

(a) Remains the legal custodian of the original draft of the Colorado constitution and is responsible for the continuing protection and preservation of the original draft in accordance with section 24-80-106;

(b) May allow the original draft of the Colorado constitution to be removed periodically from the display for restoration purposes or to make it available for occasional temporary museum or other appropriate secure displays; and

(c) May solicit, accept, and expend any bequests, gifts, grants, or donations of any kind from any private source for the purpose of implementing this section. No appropriation shall be made out of the general fund or any cash fund for expenditures incurred by department of personnel or any other department or agency to carry out the provisions of this section.

Source: L. 2022: Entire section added, (SB 22-012), ch. 208, p. 1379, § 2, effective August 10.

Cross references: For the legislative declaration in SB 22-012, see section 1 of chapter 208, Session Laws of Colorado 2022.

PART 2

STATE HISTORICAL SOCIETY