(1) Definitions. As used in this section, unless the context otherwise requires: (a) "Commission" means the America 250 - Colorado 150 commission created in this section. (b) "Executive director" means the executive director of history Colorado. (b.5) "Fund" means the America 250 - Colorado cash fund created in subsection (8.5) of this section. (c) "History Colorado" means the state historical society established in section 24-80- 201. (2) Commission created. The America 250 - Colorado 150 commission is created in history Colorado to develop programs and plan for the official observance across Colorado of the semiquincentennial anniversary of the founding of the United States, as marked by the Declaration of Independence in 1776, and the sesquicentennial anniversary of Colorado statehood. (3) Membership and appointments. (a) The commission consists of twenty-one voting members as follows: (I) The executive director or the executive director's designee; (II) A representative of the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe, designated by the Ute Mountain Ute tribal council; (III) A representative of the Southern Ute Indian Tribe, designated by the Southern Ute tribal council; (IV) The director of the Colorado tourism office created in section 24-49.7-103 or the director's designee; (V) The commissioner of education or the commissioner's designee; and (VI) Sixteen members appointed by the governor, as follows: (A) One member representing the Colorado philanthropic community; (B) One member representing the Colorado business community; (C) One member from a local historical society or museum; (D) One member with experience in the study and documentation of the history of Black communities in Colorado; (E) One member with experience in the study and documentation of the history of Latino communities in Colorado; (F) One member with experience in the study and documentation of the history of Asian American communities in Colorado; (G) Two members who are Colorado residents representing Indigenous communities, as defined in section 24-33.5-2601 (2), and who are members of a federally recognized tribe with historic ties to Colorado that is not the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe or the Southern Ute Indian Tribe; (H) One member representing military and veterans affairs; (I) One member who is an expert in disability history or is working for a disability rights organization; (J) Two at-large members; and (K) Four members determined by the governor, in the governor's discretion, to enhance and expand the expertise of the commission with regards to its duties as set forth in subsection (4) of this section. (b) The governor shall make appointments to the commission as set forth in subsections (3)(a)(VI)(A) to (3)(a)(VI)(F) of this section on or before September 1, 2022. The governor shall make appointments to the commission as set forth in subsection (3)(a)(VI)(K) of this section on or before October 1, 2023. The governor shall make appointments to the commission as set forth in subsections (3)(a)(VI)(G) to (3)(a)(VI)(J) of this section not later than thirty days after the effective date of Senate Bill 24-170, enacted in 2024. In making appointments, the governor shall attempt to ensure that the members represent the geographic diversity of the state. (c) Each appointed member of the commission serves at the pleasure of the governor. The term of appointment is for the duration of the commission's existence. In the event of a vacancy, the governor shall appoint a new member for the remainder of the term. An appointment to fill a vacancy is subject to the requirements set forth for the vacant position in this subsection (3). (d) The commission shall choose officers from among its members, including two co- chairs. One co-chair shall lead efforts related to the semiquincentennial activities in the state, and one co-chair shall lead efforts related to the sesquicentennial activities in the state. (e) Members of the commission serve without compensation; except that each member who is not an employee of the state is entitled to reimbursement for actual and necessary expenses incurred in the discharge of the member's official duties. (f) Members of the commission may participate remotely in commission meetings and other activities, including by telephone or video conference. Remote participation in commission meetings shall be noted in the meeting minutes. (4) Powers and duties. (a) The commission shall: (I) Develop and promote plans for statewide recognition of the two hundred fiftieth anniversary of the founding of the United States and the one hundred fiftieth anniversary of Colorado statehood between July 1, 2025, and December 31, 2026, including but not limited to: (A) Historical activities; (B) The creation and publication of historical documents; (C) Cooperation with agencies responsible for the preservation or restoration of historic sites, buildings, art, and artifacts; (D) Educational opportunities for Colorado youth to understand their historic roots in the United States and Colorado; (E) The promotion of scholarship and research that illuminates the history of the American west and Colorado within the larger story of the United States; (F) The arrangement of appropriate public ceremonies; and (G) Commemorative events, supported by a comprehensive marketing and tourism campaign; (II) Identify statewide and local community partners to provide local opportunities for public discussion, commemorative events, and historical and educational activities regarding the founding of the United States and the subsequent two hundred fifty years and the advent of Colorado statehood and the subsequent one hundred fifty years; (III) Cooperate with and represent the state in official dealings with the United States semiquincentennial commission and the America250 foundation; (IV) Identify, celebrate, and build knowledge around the history of Black communities, Indigenous communities, communities of color, women, and people with disabilities in the history and development of the United States and the state of Colorado, including the history that pre-dates the founding of both nation and state; and (V) Ensure that the activities of the commission represent the geographic and demographic diversity of the state, are accessible to people with disabilities, and are, to the extent possible, accessible to communities across the state on an equitable basis. (b) In carrying out its duties, the commission may: (I) Coordinate and engage in semiquincentennial or sesquicentennial initiatives proposed or undertaken by any public or nonpublic person or entity; and (II) Consult with and seek guidance, information, and support from stakeholders across the state, including through the establishment of subcommittees in accordance with subsection (5) of this section. (5) Advisory panel and subcommittees. (a) (I) The commission shall establish an advisory panel to consult with the commission on regional activities celebrating the history and culture of regions across the state. The co-chairs of the commission shall appoint with the advice and consent of the commission one member to the advisory panel from each of the eight tourism regions of the state, as defined by the Colorado tourism office created in section 24-49.7-103. The co-chairs of the commission shall make appointments to the advisory panel on or before December 1, 2022. (II) The term of appointment to the advisory panel is for the duration of the panel's existence. Members of the advisory panel serve at the pleasure of the co-chairs of the commission. In the event of a vacancy, the co-chairs shall appoint a new member for the remainder of the term, subject to the requirements for the vacant position set forth in subsection (5)(a)(I) of this section. (III) Members of the advisory panel serve without compensation but are entitled to reimbursement for actual and necessary expenses incurred in the discharge of the members' duties. Members of the advisory panel may participate in meetings and activities of the panel remotely, including through telephone or video conference. Remote participation in advisory panel meetings shall be noted in the meeting minutes. (b) (I) The commission may establish additional subcommittees to help carry out the commission's duties, including the development of programming and events on a regional or thematic basis. (II) When establishing a subcommittee, the commission shall set forth the purpose of the subcommittee and its membership, duties, and duration. (III) The co-chairs of the commission shall appoint the members of a subcommittee with the advice and consent of the commission. The co-chairs may appoint individuals who are not members of the commission to serve on a subcommittee. Members of a subcommittee serve for the duration of the subcommittee's existence. (IV) Members of a subcommittee serve without compensation, but are entitled to reimbursement for actual and necessary expenses incurred in the discharge of the members' duties. Members of a subcommittee may participate in meetings and activities of the subcommittee remotely, including through telephone or video conference. Remote participation in subcommittee meetings shall be noted in the meeting minutes. (6) Meetings. The commission shall hold its first meeting on or before November 1, 2022, and shall meet thereafter upon the call of either of the co-chairs. (7) Staff support. Upon request by the commission, history Colorado shall provide office space, equipment, and staff services as may be necessary to implement this section. The commission may retain the services of a consultant or staff director to assist the commission in accomplishing its duties, including by providing administrative support, directing fundraising and development for the commission, planning events, and other duties as defined by the commission. (8) Gifts, grants, and donations. History Colorado and the commission may seek, accept, and expend gifts, grants, or donations from private or public sources for the purposes of this section. History Colorado and the commission shall transmit all money received through gifts, grants, or donations pursuant to this subsection (8) to the state treasurer, who shall credit the money to the fund. (8.5) Cash fund. (a) The America 250 - Colorado 150 cash fund is created in the state treasury. The fund consists of earned revenue from the sale of commemorative items sold in connection with the commission's marketing authority set forth in subsection (4) of this section that is received and credited to the fund pursuant to this subsection (8.5); gifts, grants, and donations received by the commission or history Colorado pursuant to subsection (8) of this section; and any other money that the general assembly may appropriate or transfer to the fund. (b) The state treasurer shall credit all interest and income derived from the deposit and investment of money in the fund to the fund. (c) Money in the fund is continuously appropriated to the commission through history Colorado for the purposes of accomplishing the duties specified in subsection (4)(a)(I) of this section and providing community grants to communities across the state to assist recipient communities with providing local opportunities related to commemoration of the two hundred fiftieth anniversary of the founding of the United States and the one hundred fiftieth anniversary of Colorado statehood such as those set forth in subsection (4)(a)(II) of this section. Money in the fund may also be used by the commission for the purpose of administering, implementing, and effectuating the community grants. (d) On or before October 15, 2024, and on or before October 15 of each year thereafter for three consecutive years, the commission shall submit a report to the joint budget committee of the general assembly about the community grants awarded and any related use of money in the fund pursuant to this subsection (8.5), including information about the recipient of each grant, the dollar amount of each grant, and the uses of each grant. The report may be submitted in connection with the report required by subsection (9) of this section. (e) The state treasurer shall transfer all unexpended and unencumbered money in the fund on June 30, 2027, to the general fund. (f) On July 1, 2024, the state treasurer shall transfer two hundred fifty thousand dollars from the general fund to the fund. (9) Reports. History Colorado shall annually report on the activities of the commission as part of its "State Measurement for Accountable, Responsive, and Transparent (SMART) Government Act" presentation required by section 2-7-203. (10) Repeal. This section is repealed, effective December 31, 2027.
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