C.R.S. Section 22-1-133
Prohibition on use of American Indian mascots

  • exemptions
  • definitions

(1)

As used in this section, unless the context otherwise requires:

(a)

“American Indian mascot” means a name, symbol, or image that depicts or refers to an American Indian tribe, individual, custom, or tradition that is used as a mascot, nickname, logo, letterhead, or team name for the school.

(b)

“Commission” means the Colorado commission of Indian affairs, established pursuant to section 24-44-102.

(c)

“Institute charter school” means a charter school authorized by the state charter school institute pursuant to part 5 of article 30.5 of this title 22.

(d)

“Public school” means:

(I)

An elementary, middle, junior high, high school, or district charter school of a school district that serves any of grades kindergarten through twelve; and

(II)

An institute charter school that serves any of grades kindergarten through twelve.

(2)

Intentionally left blank —Ed.

(a)

Except as provided for in subsection (2)(b) of this section, on or after June 1, 2022, a public school in the state is prohibited from using an American Indian mascot. Notwithstanding the definition of the term “American Indian mascot” in subsection (1) of this section, a public school that is named after an American Indian tribe or American Indian individual may use the tribe’s or individual’s name, but not an image or symbol, on the public school’s letterhead. Any public school that is using such an American Indian mascot as of June 1, 2022, shall immediately cease use of such American Indian mascot.

(b)

The prohibition set forth in subsection (2)(a) of this section does not apply to:

(I)

Any agreement that exists prior to June 30, 2021, between a federally recognized Indian tribe and a public school. A public school that is a party to such an agreement is held to a high standard and expected to honor the agreement. The federally recognized Indian tribe has the right and ability to revoke any such agreement at any time at its discretion. If an agreement entered into pursuant to this subsection (2)(b)(I) between a federally recognized Indian tribe and a public school is terminated by either party, the public school has one year from the date of termination to discontinue its use of its American Indian mascot before the penalties set forth in subsection (3) of this section apply.

(II)

Any public school that is operated by a federally recognized Indian tribe or with the approval of a federally recognized Indian tribe and existing within the boundaries of such tribe’s reservation.

(III)

Intentionally left blank —Ed.

(A)

The ability of any federally recognized Indian tribe to create and maintain a relationship or agreement with a public school that fosters goodwill, emphasizes education and supports a curriculum that teaches American Indian history, and encourages a positive cultural exchange. Such relationships and agreements may include important historical figures, names, imagery, tribal names, and more.

(B)

Any such agreement entered into pursuant to this section between a public school and a federally recognized Indian tribe may allow any American Indian mascot that is culturally affiliated with that federally recognized Indian tribe as determined at the discretion of the tribe’s governing body. If an agreement entered into pursuant to this subsection (2)(b)(III) between a federally recognized Indian tribe and a public school is terminated by either party, the public school has one year from the date of termination to discontinue its use of its American Indian mascot before the penalties set forth in subsection (3) of this section apply.

(C)

For the purposes of this section, a “federally recognized Indian tribe” is one of the forty-eight contemporary tribes with ties to Colorado, developed by history Colorado in partnership with the Colorado commission of Indian affairs. This list may change over time but is the official list to be used for the purposes of this section.

(3)

For each month during which a public school uses an American Indian mascot after June 1, 2022, the school district of the public school, or in the case of an institute charter school, the state charter school institute, shall pay a fine of twenty-five thousand dollars to the state treasurer, who shall credit the money received to the state education fund created in section 17 (4) of article IX of the state constitution.

(4)

Intentionally left blank —Ed.

(a)

No later than thirty days after June 28, 2021, the commission shall identify each public school in the state that is using an American Indian mascot and that does not meet the criteria for an exemption as outlined in subsection (2)(b) of this section. The commission shall post such information on its website.

(b)

In addition to posting on its website the information concerning public schools that are using an American Indian mascot, the commission, in coordination with the department of education, shall notify the school district of a public school identified by the commission pursuant to subsection (4)(a) of this section of the requirements related to the use of American Indian mascots, as set forth in subsection (2) of this section, as well as the penalty for continued used of such mascots as outlined in subsection (3) of this section. The commission, in coordination with the department of education, shall also provide the same notification to the charter school institute if any institute schools are identified pursuant to subsection (4)(a) of this section.

(c)

When a public school identified pursuant to subsection (4)(a) of this section discontinues its use of its American Indian mascot prior to June 1, 2022, the public school shall notify its school district, or, in the case of an institute charter school, its authorizer, the commission, and the department of education of such discontinuation.

(5)

A public school that is identified to be in violation of subsection (2) of this section for using an American Indian mascot may apply to the department of education for a grant through the “Building Excellent Schools Today Act”, article 43.7 of title 22, to accomplish any structural changes that might be necessary to come into compliance with this section. The time required for making an application or for the awarding of such grant does not impact the time requirement set forth in subsection (2)(a) of this section.

(6)

Intentionally left blank —Ed.

(a)

Notwithstanding the provisions of this section to the contrary, a public school in the state is prohibited from using an American Indian mascot one year after notification by the commission, in coordination with the department of education, if:

(I)

The public school was in existence and using an American Indian mascot as of June 28, 2021;

(II)

The public school does not meet the criteria for an exemption as outlined in subsection (2)(b) of this section;

(III)

The public school was not identified pursuant to subsection (4)(a) of this section; and

(IV)

The school district of the public school or, in the case of an institute charter school, the state charter school institute is first notified on or after May 1, 2022, by the commission, in coordination with the department of education, that it is using an American Indian mascot in violation of subsection (2) of this section.

(b)

When a public school described pursuant to subsection (6)(a) of this section discontinues its use of an American Indian mascot prior to the one-year deadline after notification by the commission, in coordination with the department of education, the public school shall notify its school district or, in the case of an institute charter school, the state charter school institute, the commission, and the department of education, of the discontinuation.

(c)

For each month during which a public school described pursuant to subsection (6)(a) of this section uses an American Indian mascot after the one-year deadline after notification by the commission, in coordination with the department of education, the school district of the public school, or, in the case of an institute charter school, the state charter school institute, shall pay a fine of twenty-five thousand dollars to the state treasurer, who shall credit the money received to the state education fund created in section 17 (4) of article IX of the state constitution.

(7)

Intentionally left blank —Ed.

(a)

A public school that is identified to be in violation of subsection (2) of this section for using an American Indian mascot may apply to the department of education for reimbursement of expenses incurred for the 2021-22 budget year through the 2023-24 budget year that were necessary to comply with this section.

(b)

Intentionally left blank —Ed.

(I)

On or after July 1, 2023, the department of education shall distribute funds for reimbursement of expenses incurred for the 2021-22 budget year and the 2022-23 budget year that were necessary to comply with this section. The department of education shall fully fund all requests for reimbursement; except that if insufficient funds exist pursuant to the appropriation made pursuant to this subsection (7), the department shall reimburse expenses proportionately.

(II)

On or after July 1, 2024, the department of education shall distribute funds for reimbursement of expenses incurred for the 2023-24 budget year that were necessary to comply with this section. The department of education shall fully fund all requests for reimbursement; except that if insufficient funds exist pursuant to the appropriation made pursuant to this subsection (7), the department shall reimburse expenses proportionately.

(III)

The department of education shall establish a process and deadlines for receiving requests for reimbursement pursuant to this subsection (7), the timing for disbursements, and any parameters necessary to determine proportionate reimbursement.

(c)

The department of education shall not reimburse expenses incurred by a public school for paying the fine pursuant to subsection (3) of this section.

(d)

For the 2023-24 budget year, the general assembly shall appropriate three hundred thousand dollars from the state education fund for the purpose of this subsection (7). Any unexpended money remaining at the end of the 2023-24 budget year may be used by the department of education through the 2024-25 budget year without further appropriation and must not be used for any other purpose other than the purposes set forth in this subsection (7).

(e)

The general assembly finds and declares that for the purposes of section 17 of article IX of the state constitution, providing reimbursement of expenses pursuant to this subsection (7) that were incurred in order to comply with this section is a program for accountable education reform and may therefore receive funding from the state education fund created in section 17 (4) of article IX of the state constitution.

Source: Section 22-1-133 — Prohibition on use of American Indian mascots - exemptions - definitions, https://leg.­colorado.­gov/sites/default/files/images/olls/crs2023-title-22.­pdf (accessed Oct. 20, 2023).

22‑1‑101
Schools defined
22‑1‑102
Residence of child
22‑1‑102.5
Definition of homeless child
22‑1‑103
Policy of state to instruct in English - exceptions
22‑1‑104
Teaching of history, culture, and civil government
22‑1‑104.3
History, culture, social contributions, and civil government in education commission - established - membership - duties
22‑1‑104.5
Teaching of visual arts and performing arts - definitions
22‑1‑104.7
Teaching of Holocaust and genocide studies - definitions
22‑1‑106
Information as to honor and use of flag
22‑1‑107
Pupils to be instructed
22‑1‑108
Federal constitution to be taught
22‑1‑109
Taught at what stages
22‑1‑110
Effect of use of alcohol and controlled substances to be taught
22‑1‑112
School year - national holidays
22‑1‑114
Statements from private schools
22‑1‑115
School census - school age
22‑1‑116
School children - sight and hearing tests
22‑1‑117
Secret fraternities forbidden
22‑1‑118
School board to enforce
22‑1‑119
Students - dispensing of drugs to - liability
22‑1‑119.1
Policy for employee and agent possession and administration of opiate antagonists - definitions
22‑1‑119.2
Policy for employee and agent furnishing non-laboratory synthetic opiate detection tests - definition
22‑1‑119.3
Policy for student possession and administration of prescription medication - rules - definitions
22‑1‑119.5
Asthma, food allergy, and anaphylaxis health management - self-administered medication - staff-administered medication - rules - definitions
22‑1‑120
Rights of free expression for public school students
22‑1‑121
Nonpublic schools - employment of personnel - notification by department of education
22‑1‑122
Transportation token program - legislative declaration - eligibility - fund
22‑1‑123
Protection of student data - parental or legal guardian consent for surveys
22‑1‑124
Sex offender information
22‑1‑125.5
Requirement for certification of public school athletic coaches in cardiopulmonary resuscitation - use of automated external defibrillators - definitions
22‑1‑126
Safe2tell program
22‑1‑127
Incentives for school enrollment or attendance - prohibited - exceptions - definitions
22‑1‑128
Comprehensive human sexuality education - legislative declaration - definitions - guidelines and content standards
22‑1‑129
Instruction in cardiopulmonary resuscitation and the use of automated external defibrillators - grants - definitions - rules
22‑1‑129.5
Instruction in cardiopulmonary resuscitation and the use of automated external defibrillators - guidelines and content standards - definition
22‑1‑130
Notice to parents of alleged criminal conduct by school employees - legislative declaration - definitions
22‑1‑131
Online instruction - student protections - short title - definitions
22‑1‑132
Seizure safe schools - action plan - training - rules - short title - definitions
22‑1‑133
Prohibition on use of American Indian mascots - exemptions - definitions
22‑1‑134
Hunter education course - gifts, grants, or donations - definitions
22‑1‑135
Terms and conditions in public school contracts - definitions
22‑1‑135.5
Nondisclosure agreements - protection of school district, board of cooperative services, and public school employees - definitions
22‑1‑136
Student identification cards - information required
22‑1‑138
Information collected and posted on department website
22‑1‑139
Accessible district profile reports - school climate reports and surveys - reporting - definition
22‑1‑140
Corporal punishment prohibited - definition
22‑1‑141
Legal representation - due process complaints - appointments - report - definitions - repeal
22‑1‑142
Tribal regalia at school graduation ceremonies - definitions
22‑1‑143
Harassment or discrimination - policy required - training and notification - definitions
Green check means up to date. Up to date

Current through Fall 2024

§ 22-1-133’s source at colorado​.gov