Colorado State Archives
Executive Orders from the Administration of Governor Bill Owens 1999-2005
FOR RELEASE:
Tuesday, May 24, 2005
CONTACT:
Dan Hopkins 303-866-6324
Mark Salley 303-866-6323
OWENS SIGNS BILL OPENING UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION RECORDS TO PUBLIC SCRUTINY
(DENVER) - Gov. Bill Owens today signed legislation requiring university foundations to disclose certain financial records that previously were not open to public scrutiny and makes such records subject to the Colorado Open Records Act.
"Accountability and credibility are essential if our universities and their associated foundations are to maintain the trust of the public. These foundations donate millions of dollars to our state universities and the public should know the nature and the amount of these donations. I believe that such disclosure will result in greater trust of the foundations which ultimately translates into greater financial support from donors," Owens said.
HB 1041, sponsored by Rep. Matt Knoedler (R-Lakewood) and Sen. Ron Tupa (D- Boulder), affects foundations that have been created with the primary purpose of benefiting a public university. The legislation requires those foundations to open their records regarding all expenditures made by the foundation to or on behalf of a university . Names of donors remain private under the legislation.
Owens also signed several other education-related bills today:
HB 1024 - sponsored by Rep. Judy Solano (D-Brighton) and Sen. Suzanne Williams (D- Aurora). Creates a dropout prevention grant program designed to reduce the number of dropouts from middle schools and high schools. Donations could be made to the program through a check-off on the state income tax return.
HB 1027 - sponsored by Rep. Cheri Jahn (D-Jefferson County) and Sen. Peter Groff (D- Denver). Requires parents of students who take a college entrance exam to be notified of what constitutes an inadequate score in math, writing or reading. Parents also would be informed of the basic college preparatory courses that are available in high school and students would have the opportunity to develop an academic remediation plan.
SB 191 - sponsored by Sen. Mark Hillman (R-Burlington) and Rep. Michael Merrifield (D-Manitou Springs). Continues through the academic year of 2008-09 the teacher loan forgiveness program, encouraging the recruitment of teachers for high-poverty public schools in rural Colorado.
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