(1) As used in this section, state agency means a state agency that submits a budget request to the joint budget committee in accordance with section 2-3-208, whether the request is submitted directly by the state agency or by the office of state planning and budgeting on behalf of the state agency.
(2) Each state agency shall develop a long-range financial plan on or before November 1, 2019, and update the plan on or before November 1 of each of the next four years thereafter. The purpose of the long-range financial plan is to:
(a) Require the state agency to anticipate and strategically plan for future contingencies that may impact the state agency's ability to meet its performance goals;
(b) Assist the state agency as it prepares its annual budget request;
(c) Provide additional information to the general assembly so that it can appropriate money in light of possible future changes; and
(d) Provide notice to the public about the potential growth or decline of state government in the future.
(3) The department of state, the department of treasury, the department of law, and the judicial branch shall each publish the required components of the long-range financial plan for their respective state agencies. The office of state planning and budgeting shall publish the required components of the long-range financial plan in its annual budget instructions for all other state agencies. A long-range financial plan submitted pursuant to this subsection (3) may include the following components:
(a) A statement of the state agency's mission;
(b) A description of the major functions of the state agency;
(c) A description of the state agency's performance goals;
(d) A performance evaluation of the state agency's major programs, including an identification of programs that may not be meeting the program objectives or performance goals, and a recommendation on strategies to improve performance;
(e) A description of anticipated trends, conditions, or events that could impact the ability of the state agency to meet its goals and objectives; and
(f) A description of any programs currently funded in whole or in part with federal funds or gifts, grants, or donations that the department anticipates will decrease in the future and, therefore, may require state money as a backfill.
(4) Each state agency shall submit a copy of its long-range financial plan to the joint budget committee along with its budget request that is submitted in accordance with section 2-3-208; except that, if the office of state planning and budgeting submits a budget request on behalf of a state agency, the office may also submit the state agency's long-range financial plan.
(5) Notwithstanding section 24-1-136 (11)(a)(I), the requirement to update and submit the long-range financial plan continues as set forth in subsection (2) of this section. A long-range financial plan remains in effect until it is updated for the next state fiscal year. To the extent possible, the state agency shall utilize information that is included in the state agency's annual performance report prepared in accordance with section 2-7-205.
(6) Each state agency shall post its long-range financial plans on its official website at the same time it is submitted to the joint budget committee.
Source: L. 2018: Entire section added, (HB 18-1430), ch. 356, p. 2117, � 2, effective August 8.
Cross references: For the legislative declaration in HB 18-1430, see section 1 of chapter 356, Session Laws of Colorado 2018.
2-3-210. Evidence-based decision-making - budget requests - legislative declaration. (1) The general assembly hereby finds and declares that:
(a) The use of the best available research evidence in the analysis of programs and practices implemented and delivered by state agencies is an effective means through which funding decisions concerning the improvement, expansion, discontinuation, or redirection of funds can be achieved;
(b) The integration of the best available research evidence regarding the effectiveness of programs, practices, or incremental changes to programs and practices within the budget process will provide members of the general assembly information that can be used in the prioritization of requests for funding for new or existing programs and practices in the state; and
(c) Evidence-based decision-making is the intersection of the best available research evidence, decision-makers' expertise, constituent needs, and implementation context. Evidence-based decision-making recognizes that research evidence alone is not the only contributing factor to policy and budget decisions.
(2) Repealed.
(3) (a) If a state agency or the office of state planning and budgeting includes information on the best available research evidence regarding the effectiveness of a program or practice in a budget request, request for a supplemental appropriation, or budget request amendment submitted in accordance with section 2-3-208, the state agency or office shall describe the program or practice using one of the following evidence designations:
(I) Evidence-informed means that the best available research evidence supports the effectiveness of the program or practice, as demonstrated by at least one quality evaluation that shows improvement over time;
(II) Harmful means that the best available research evidence shows the program or practice is associated with harm, as demonstrated by at least one quality evaluation that shows harm over time;
(III) Insufficient evidence means that the best available research evidence is not yet robust enough to achieve the harmful, evidence-informed, promising, or proven evidence designations outlined in this subsection (3)(a);
(IV) Promising means that the best available research evidence supports the effectiveness of the program or practice, as demonstrated by at least one quality evaluation with a strong comparison group; or
(V) Proven means that the best available research evidence supports the effectiveness of a program or practice, as demonstrated by at least one quality randomized controlled trial or at least two quality evaluations with strong comparison groups.
(a.5) (I) If a budget request, request for a supplemental appropriation, or budget request amendment does not meet the definition of a program or practice, the state agency or the office of state planning and budgeting may include with its request that an evidence designation is not applicable.
(II) If the best available research evidence regarding a program or practice in a budget request, request for a supplemental appropriation, or budget request amendment does not include an evaluation measuring relevant outcomes that meets the methodological requirements for an evidence designation set forth in subsection (3)(a) of this section, the state agency or the office of state planning and budgeting may include that the request is ineligible for an evidence designation.
(b) If subsection (3)(a) of this section applies, the state agency or the office of state planning and budgeting shall also provide the following information to justify its selected evidence designation:
(I) A summary of the best available research evidence about the program or practice;
(II) Any plans to evaluate the program or practice to build evidence regarding its effectiveness; and
(III) Information concerning how the best available research evidence is connected to the budget request, request for a supplemental appropriation, or budget request amendment.
(c) If subsections (3)(a) and (3)(b) of this section apply, joint budget committee staff, as part of the responsibilities described in section 2-3-204, shall review the information provided pursuant to subsection (3)(b) of this section and other relevant evidence, as necessary. Joint budget committee staff shall include an evidence designation pursuant to subsection (3)(a) of this section or state that such designation is not applicable or that the request is ineligible pursuant to subsection (3)(a.5) of this section as part of any recommendation it makes regarding a budget request, request for a supplemental appropriation, or budget request amendment.
(4) and (5) Repealed.
(6) State agencies shall participate in the evidence-based decision-making process, including investing in building evidence, as applicable, to work toward the harmful, evidence-informed, promising, and proven evidence designations outlined in this section.
Source: L. 2021: Entire section added, (SB 21-284), ch. 445, p. 2937, � 1, effective September 7. L. 2024: (1), IP(2), (2)(a), (2)(c), (2)(d), and (3) amended, (2)(b), (2)(f), (4), and (5) repealed, and (6) added, (HB 24-1428), ch. 89, p. 289, � 3, effective August 7. L. 2025: (2) repealed and (3)(a.5)(I) amended, (SB 25-275), ch. 377, pp. 2109, 2030, �� 336, 13, effective August 6.
Editor's note: Subsection (2) was relocated to � 2-3-200.3 in 2025.