Date: 08/17/2016
Location: HCR 0112

Votes: View-->	Action Taken:
Senator Steadman moved to request a bill draft to	PASS

10:09 AM -- 5d. Repeal of obsolete redistricting law (section 2-1-101, C.R.S.)


10:10 AM -- Kate Meyer, OLLS, explained that section 2-2-101, C.R.S. sets forth the congressional district boundaries. She explained that the last time the section was amended was in 2003, which seemed odd because there has been a census since then and the boundaries were most recently redrawn in 2011, and the districts laid out in the section are obsolete. An additional compelling factor in repealing this particular statute is the fact that these district boundaries were deemed unconstitutional by the Colorado Supreme Court. She explained that the Committee, if it were to approve a bill draft, could repeal the entire section, since the entirety of it is out of date; repeal the portions of statute that were deemed unconstitutional, although that would leave the outdated portions in statute; or, finally the Committee could replace the obsolete boundaries in statute with the current boundaries in effect.

Chairperson Moreno remarked that this bill was a little less cut-and-dry than the previous, because the General Assembly does retain the authority to draw the congressional district boundaries. He recommended that the Committee tread lightly.

Senator Steadman agreed with Chairperson Moreno's caution and added that he believed the issue was squarely within the charge of the Committee, although it could raise partisan issues, and so his suggestion was to not replace the obsolete boundaries with the current ones, or to codify the status quo.

Senator Tate shared his concern about modifying the statutes each time the judicial branch interprets the constitution, because that branch doesn't have exclusivity on interpreting the constitution or the statutes.

Ms. Meyer suggested that the bill summary could reinforce the fact that the statute is being repealed because it is obsolete.

Senator Tate added that the unconstitutionality of the statute was a redundant fact.

BILL:	5d. Repeal of obsolete redistricting law (section 2-1-101, C.R.S.)
TIME:	10:14:08 AM
MOVED:	Steadman
MOTION:	Senator Steadman moved to request a bill draft to repeal obsolete and outdated congressional district boundaries in section 2-1-101, C.R.S. The motion passed on a vote of 8-0.
SECONDED:	Thurlow
		VOTE
	Arndt	Yes
	Dore	Yes
	Holbert	Yes
	Kerr	Yes
	Steadman	Yes
	Tate	Yes
	Thurlow	Yes
	(None), (None)
	Moreno	Yes
FINAL YES: 8 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS