Proposed Initiative for the 2008 Ballot Enters Circulation

Denver, October 1, 2007 – Secretary of State Mike Coffman today announced a proposed initiative for the 2008 ballot may begin collecting petition signatures.

Ballot titles for proposed initiatives are set by a "title board," consisting of the Secretary of State, the Attorney General, and the director of the Office of Legislative Legal Services or their designees.

The ballot title and submission clause as designated and fixed by the Board is as follows:
Shall there be an amendment to the Colorado constitution concerning a prohibition against discrimination by the state, and, in connection therewith, prohibiting the state from discriminating against or granting preferential treatment to any individual or group on the basis of race, sex, color, ethnicity, or national origin in the operation of public employment, public education, or public contracting; allowing exceptions to the prohibition when bona fide qualifications based on sex are reasonably necessary or when action is necessary to establish or maintain eligibility for federal funds; preserving the validity of court orders or consent decrees in effect at the time the measure becomes effective; defining "state" to include the state of Colorado, agencies or departments of the state, public institutions of higher education, political subdivisions, or governmental instrumentalities of or within the state; and making portions of the measure found invalid severable from the remainder of the measure?

The Secretary of State’s office has reviewed the petition format, and it conforms to applicable statutory requirements. The petition format is therefore approved pursuant to C.R.S 1-40-113(1).

The Secretary of State’s tracking number for this measure is #31.

The proponents for this measure, Valery Orr and Linda Chavez, must collect the signatures of 76,047 registered voters. The proponents have six months from the date the title is set to gather signatures. Signatures must be turned into the Secretary of State’s office by December 20, 2007 at 3:00 p.m.

The initiative proponents can be reached at (303) 968-7077.