§ C.R.S. § 1-40-105(untitled)

Filing procedure - review and comment meeting - amendments - filing
with secretary of state. (1) The original typewritten draft of every initiative petition for a
Colorado Revised Statutes 2024
Page 470 of 561
Uncertified Printout
proposed law or amendment to the state constitution to be enacted by the people, before it is
signed by any elector, shall be submitted by the proponents of the petition to the directors of the
legislative council and the office of legislative legal services for review and comment.
Proponents are encouraged to write such drafts in plain, nontechnical language and in a clear and
coherent manner using words with common and everyday meaning that are understandable to the
average reader. Upon request, any agency in the executive department shall assist in reviewing
and preparing comments on the petition. No later than two weeks after the date of submission of
the original draft, unless it is withdrawn by the proponents, the directors of the legislative
council and the office of legislative legal services, or their designees, shall render their
comments to the proponents of the petition concerning the format or contents of the petition at a
review and comment meeting that is open to the public. Where appropriate, such comments shall
also contain suggested editorial changes to promote compliance with the plain language
provisions of this section. Except with the permission of the proponents, the comments shall not
be disclosed to any person other than the proponents prior to the review and comment meeting.
(1.5) Both designated representatives of the proponents must appear at all review and
comment meetings. If either designated representative fails to attend a meeting, the measure is
considered withdrawn by the proponents. If one of the two designated representatives fails to
attend the review and comment meeting, the petition is deemed to be automatically resubmitted
to the directors of the legislative council and the office of legislative legal services for review
and comment, unless the designated representative present objects to the automatic
resubmission. No later than five business days after the resubmission, the directors shall conduct
a review and comment meeting in accordance with the requirements of this section. If both
designated representatives fail to attend the review and comment meeting or if the designated
representative present objects to the automatic resubmission, the proponents may thereafter
resubmit the initiative petition in accordance with subsection (1) of this section.
(2) After the review and comment meeting but before submission to the secretary of
state for title setting, the proponents may amend the petition in response to some or all of the
comments of the directors of the legislative council and the office of legislative legal services, or
their designees. If any substantial amendment is made to the petition, other than an amendment
in direct response to the comments of the directors of the legislative council and the office of
legislative legal services, the amended petition must be resubmitted to the directors for comment
in accordance with subsection (1) of this section prior to submittal to the secretary of state as
provided in subsection (4) of this section. If the directors have no additional comments
concerning the amended petition, they may so notify the proponents in writing, and, in such case,
a review and comment meeting on the amended petition pursuant to subsection (1) of this section
is not required.
(3) To the extent possible, drafts shall be worded with simplicity and clarity and so that
the effect of the measure will not be misleading or likely to cause confusion among voters. The
draft shall not present the issue to be decided in such manner that a vote for the measure would
be a vote against the proposition or viewpoint that the voter believes that he or she is casting a
vote for or, conversely, that a vote against the measure would be a vote for a proposition or
viewpoint that the voter is against.
(4) After the review and comment meeting provided in subsections (1) and (2) of this
section, a copy of the original typewritten draft submitted to the directors of the legislative
council and the office of legislative legal services; a copy of the amended draft with changes
Colorado Revised Statutes 2024
Page 471 of 561
Uncertified Printout
highlighted or otherwise indicated, if any amendments were made following the last review and
comment meeting conducted pursuant to subsections (1) and (2) of this section; and an original
final draft that gives the final language for printing shall be submitted to the secretary of state
without any title, submission clause, or ballot title providing the designation by which the voters
shall express their choice for or against the proposed law or constitutional amendment.
Colo. Const.