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DENVER, CO - The House today passed legislation that would implement voter-approved Proposition 130 and direct significant new resources to public safety and law enforcement training, recruitment and retention. SB25-310, sponsored by Representative Shannon Bird, passed by a vote of 55-9.
"This legislation honors voter intent when they passed Prop 130 by investing these new resources in public safety,” said Rep. Shannon Bird, D-Westminster. “Last year, Colorado voters approved Prop 130 to better support the recruitment and training of peace officers and ensure that families of first responders can receive death benefits after a tragedy. This solution implements the will of the voters and supports our law enforcement departments and officers while maintaining funding for essential services like K-12 education and health care."
SB25-310, also sponsored by Rick Taggart, R-Grand Junction, would implement the voter-approved Proposition 130 and direct a total of $350 million to keep Coloradans safe and to recruit new peace officers, hire additional peace officers, and provide continuing education and training for peace officers. The bill would implement and create a funding mechanism for the distribution of $350 million for local law enforcement officer recruitment, retention and training. The bill would make a one-time investment of $500 million of the general fund reserve in PERA and reduce future general fund payments to PERA by the amount of interest earned. It would then divert that amount to the new Peace Officer Training and Support fund each year, which will be distributed to local police departments. In addition, the bill would require a transfer of $15 million to the fund from the General Fund in 2026-27, and a minimum of $15 million from the general fund each year regardless of the amount offset by interest earnings. Once the full $350 million is fulfilled or if the general fund reserve falls below $1 billion, the bill would establish mechanisms to effectively return the $500 million invested in PERA to the general fund.
The bill would also implement the death benefit required in Proposition 130 of $1 million to the surviving spouse, family member, or designee of any first responder who died as a result of injuries or an occupational disease sustained while performing their job, and create the Death Benefit Fund. The bill would transfer $5 million on July 1, 2025, and a further $5 million on July 1, 2026, to the Death Benefit Fund. Beginning in 2027, the bill would require an annual transfer from the General Fund to the Death Benefit Fund that restores the fund balance to $10 million.