C.R.S. Section 22-30.5-703
Emergency powers

  • request
  • orders
  • process
  • rules

(1)

An authorizer may request that the commissioner permit external control over certain functions of a charter school or charter management organization by submitting to the commissioner and the charter school or charter management organization a concise written statement identifying the emergency that justifies external control and the form or forms of external control requested. The authorizer shall state clearly if it is requesting an order of reorganization. The commissioner may authorize external control over a charter school or charter management organization by issuing a temporary order as provided in subsection (2) of this section or a preliminary order as provided in subsection (3) of this section.

(2)

The commissioner may issue a temporary order in the event that immediate and irreparable injury, loss, or damage will result from the identified emergency before the charter respondent is able to state its opposition and before the authorizer certifies in writing or in person to the commissioner the efforts that have been made to give notice to the charter respondent. A temporary order issued pursuant to this subsection (2) shall state the date and hour of issuance, define the injury, state why the injury is irreparable, and state why the temporary order was given without notice. A temporary order issued under this subsection (2) shall be valid for ten days and may be extended for up to an additional ten days for good cause shown. The authorizer shall immediately provide the charter respondent with a copy of any temporary order issued pursuant to this subsection (2). A charter respondent shall provide an authorizer two business days’ notice prior to requesting that the commissioner dissolve a temporary order issued pursuant to this subsection (2).

(3)

The commissioner shall issue a preliminary order only if:

(a)

The charter respondent received two business days’ written notice that the authorizer has requested external control over certain functions of the charter respondent and the basis for the request;

(b)

In the case of a charter respondent that is a charter management organization, authorizers of each of the affected charter schools have received two business days’ written notice of the request for external control;

(c)

The authorizer requesting external control and all parties that received notice have had the opportunity to meet with the commissioner to present such evidence and argument as the commissioner finds appropriate under the circumstances. In any meeting held before issuing a preliminary order pursuant to this subsection (3), the commissioner may accept evidence and arguments from the parties involved as he or she deems appropriate, but neither a formal adversarial hearing nor application of the rules of evidence shall be required.

(d)

Following a meeting held pursuant to paragraph (c) of this subsection (3), the commissioner finds and determines that the authorizer has demonstrated an emergency and the risk of irreparable injury resulting from the emergency justifies an intrusion on the internal operations of the charter respondent.

(4)

The commissioner may demand production of information from the charter respondent that may be necessary to conduct an investigation pursuant to this section, may issue subpoenas as otherwise provided for in section 24-4-105 (5), C.R.S., and may draw appropriate inferences from failure of any party to promptly comply with such requests.

(5)

A preliminary order issued pursuant to subsection (3) of this section shall be valid for one hundred twenty days and may be extended for up to an additional one hundred twenty days, upon good cause shown.

(6)

Intentionally left blank —Ed.

(a)

A temporary or preliminary order may appoint the authorizer or another entity or person to act as a fiduciary; except that, if more than one authorizer is a party to the proceeding or if the authorizer is requesting an order of reorganization, the commissioner shall appoint a separate person or entity that is not a party to the proceeding to act as a fiduciary. The fiduciary may exercise, subject to the limitations set forth in paragraph (b) of this subsection (6), the powers over and for the charter respondent that are ordinarily exercised by the charter respondent’s board of directors and may take action respecting excess benefits as authorized pursuant to section 22-30.5-704.

(b)

A temporary or preliminary order shall not authorize, nor be construed to permit, a fiduciary to:

(I)

Conclude, dissolve, relinquish, or surrender the charter contract;

(II)

Effect nonrenewal or revocation of the charter contract;

(III)

Negotiate, renegotiate, or amend the charter contract;

(IV)

Exercise the legal standing of the charter respondent in any administrative or court proceeding other than one brought pursuant to this section; except that the fiduciary may seek recovery of unpaid moneys due to the charter respondent from an authorizer;

(V)

Transfer into a trust the assets of the charter respondent;

(VI)

Repeal, alter, amend, restate, or in any fashion modify the charter respondent’s organic documents;

(VII)

Remove, recall, or appoint any member of the charter respondent’s governing board or officers;

(VIII)

Take any action that is reserved for the membership of a charter respondent that is organized as a membership organization; or

(IX)

Take any action that is not within the power of the charter respondent’s governing board.

(7)

The commissioner may require a fiduciary to provide evidence of appropriate insurance coverage, including but not limited to appropriate certificates of insurance. The insurance coverage shall be reasonably adequate to protect against risks of liability for any actions taken under an order granted pursuant to this section.

(8)

Intentionally left blank —Ed.

(a)

If an authorizer has requested an order of reorganization and the commissioner, after appropriate proceedings pursuant to this section, has appointed a fiduciary other than the authorizer to exercise certain powers, the fiduciary shall independently determine whether to continue to request the order of reorganization. An order of reorganization shall be authorized only if it is issued in compliance with the processes, standards, and purposes set forth in this section.

(b)

A fiduciary other than an authorizer may request an order of reorganization at any time while a preliminary order or an extension of a preliminary order is pending, so long as the fiduciary provides at least ten days’ notice to the charter respondent, the authorizer, and the commissioner. The fiduciary shall specifically state in the notice the powers of reorganization he or she is requesting and the reasons justifying the request. Notwithstanding the limitations placed on the powers of a fiduciary acting under a temporary or preliminary order, as set forth in subsection (6) of this section, the powers of reorganization shall only include one or more of the following powers:

(I)

To fill one or more board vacancies, notwithstanding the charter respondent’s organic documents;

(II)

To remove one or more board directors or officers, notwithstanding the charter respondent’s organic documents; or

(III)

To make specific, stated modifications to the charter respondent’s organic documents, notwithstanding the process for amendment or restatement otherwise prescribed in those documents.

(c)

The commissioner may issue an order of reorganization only after giving the authorizer and the charter respondent a reasonable opportunity to be heard, and then only if the commissioner finds that the risks created by the emergency to the charter respondent and the authorizer cannot be resolved by any less restrictive means. In any meeting held before issuing an order of reorganization, the commissioner may accept evidence and argument from the parties involved as he or she deems appropriate, but neither a formal adversarial hearing nor application of the rules of evidence shall be required.

(d)

An order of reorganization shall be valid for the balance of the term of any pending preliminary order or for sixty days, whichever is greater, and may be renewed for an additional thirty days upon good cause shown. An order of reorganization shall be valid for no more than ninety days.

(9)

The fiduciary shall submit appropriate financial information to the commissioner and the director of public school finance within the department of education and provide copies to the charter respondent and authorizer. The charter respondent and authorizer may submit additional information to the director of public school finance. After receipt of all pertinent financial information, the director of public school finance shall make a written recommendation to the commissioner.

(10)

A temporary or preliminary order or an order for reorganization granted pursuant to this section shall state the reasons for issuance; be specific in its terms; and describe in reasonable detail, without reference to the request or other documents, the act or acts authorized. An order granted pursuant to this section is binding only upon the charter school and its employees. An order appointing a fiduciary may specify or limit the fiduciary’s powers and may direct the fiduciary to act only upon particular issues or only to exercise certain powers.

(11)

Expenses incurred by an authorizer in pursuing a proceeding pursuant to this section shall be borne by the authorizer, and expenses incurred by a charter respondent in defending any proceeding pursuant to this section shall be borne by the charter respondent. Expenses incurred by the department shall be borne equally by the authorizer and the charter respondent. Expenses incurred by a fiduciary shall be submitted to the charter respondent and commissioner for approval and, after the commissioner resolves any disputed charges, shall be borne by the charter respondent.

(12)

Notwithstanding any other provision of Colorado law, including but not limited to the “Colorado Revised Nonprofit Corporation Act”, articles 121 to 137 of title 7, C.R.S., or any provision of a charter contract to the contrary, the powers granted pursuant to this part 7 shall be effective and valid as a matter of law.

(13)

Nothing in this part 7 shall limit the authority of an authorizer to exercise any contractual rights, including any remedies, emergency or otherwise, for breach of a charter contract. A charter contract provision that purports to grant authority to an authorizer to exercise emergency powers as described in this part 7 shall be construed, if possible, to be consistent with this part 7. A provision construed to be inconsistent with this part 7 shall be deemed contrary to public policy, void, unenforceable, and of no legal effect. The burden shall be on the party asserting an inconsistency to demonstrate that such a provision is inconsistent with this part 7.

(14)

An order issued pursuant to this section shall be final and binding and not subject to appeal. A charter respondent may seek judicial review of an order issued pursuant to this section under rule 106 (a)(4) of the Colorado rules of civil procedure; except that a temporary order shall not be subject to judicial review. A charter respondent may file an action for judicial review in the district court for the city and county of Denver or the district court in the county in which the charter respondent is located.

(15)

An order issued pursuant to this section shall not be deemed to be an appointment of a trustee or receiver under the terms of any financing of a charter school facility or other instrument.

(16)

The commissioner may fill any vacancy created by the death or inability of a fiduciary or, for good cause shown, may remove a fiduciary that is exercising powers pursuant to a preliminary order or order of reorganization and appoint a new fiduciary.

(17)

A meeting conducted by the commissioner pursuant to this section shall be open to all parties to the proceeding. An order of the commissioner issued pursuant to this section and all requests for orders, by any party, shall be considered public documents.

(18)

The state board is authorized to adopt rules, pursuant to the “State Administrative Procedure Act”, article 4 of title 24, C.R.S., for the implementation of this section.

Source: Section 22-30.5-703 — Emergency powers - request - orders - process - rules, https://leg.­colorado.­gov/sites/default/files/images/olls/crs2023-title-22.­pdf (accessed Oct. 20, 2023).

22‑30.5‑101
Short title
22‑30.5‑102
Legislative declaration
22‑30.5‑103
Definitions
22‑30.5‑104
Charter school - requirements - authority - rules - definitions
22‑30.5‑104.7
Charter school networks - authority - definitions
22‑30.5‑104.9
Charter schools - status as public entities - requirements - charter school boards of directors and school leaders - duties - conflicts - applicable law - definitions
22‑30.5‑105
Charter schools - contract contents - regulations
22‑30.5‑105.3
Charter schools - alternative administrative units - process
22‑30.5‑106
Charter application - contents
22‑30.5‑107
Charter application - process
22‑30.5‑107.3
Optional charter school application timeline for rural school districts
22‑30.5‑107.5
Dispute resolution - governing policy provisions - appeal
22‑30.5‑108
Appeal - standard of review - procedures
22‑30.5‑109
Charter schools - reporting - publicizing - limits on enrollment - moratorium prohibited
22‑30.5‑110
Charter schools - term - renewal of charter - grounds for nonrenewal or revocation
22‑30.5‑110.3
Nonrenewal or revocation - qualified charter school - exceptions
22‑30.5‑110.5
Background investigation - charter school employees - information provided to department - definitions
22‑30.5‑110.7
Fingerprint-based criminal history record checks - charter school employees - procedures - exceptions - definitions
22‑30.5‑111
Charter schools - employee options
22‑30.5‑112
Charter schools - financing - guidelines - definitions
22‑30.5‑112.1
Charter schools - exclusive jurisdiction districts - authorized on or after July 1, 2004 - financing - definitions
22‑30.5‑112.2
Charter schools - at-risk supplemental aid - definitions - legislative declaration
22‑30.5‑112.3
Charter schools - additional aid from district
22‑30.5‑112.5
Charter schools - transportation plans
22‑30.5‑113
State board - department of education - duties - charter schools - evaluation - report
22‑30.5‑115
Construction of article - severability
22‑30.5‑116
Charter schools - school bullying policies required
22‑30.5‑117
Developmental education placement or assessment tests - intervention plans
22‑30.5‑118
Needs-based inclusion of charter schools in school district mill levy elections - eligibility - allocation of additional local revenues - definitions
22‑30.5‑119
Mill levy for charter school operating revenues
22‑30.5‑120
Charter schools - child sexual abuse and assault prevention plan
22‑30.5‑301
Legislative declaration
22‑30.5‑302
Definitions
22‑30.5‑303
Independent charter schools - request for proposals - response contents
22‑30.5‑304
Review committee - membership - recommendations
22‑30.5‑305
Independent charter schools - selection
22‑30.5‑306
Independent charter schools - charter - term
22‑30.5‑307
Independent charter schools - expiration - renewal - conversion
22‑30.5‑308
Independent charter schools - employee options - financing options - guidelines
22‑30.5‑401
Short title
22‑30.5‑402
Legislative declaration
22‑30.5‑403
Definitions
22‑30.5‑404
Needs-based inclusion of charter schools in district bond elections - eligibility - allocation of bond revenues
22‑30.5‑405
Mill levy for charter school capital construction
22‑30.5‑406
Direct payment of charter school bonds by the state treasurer and school districts
22‑30.5‑407
State charter school debt reserve fund - creation - use of fund moneys - legislative declaration
22‑30.5‑408
Replenishment of qualified charter school debt service reserve funds - additional responsibilities - state treasurer - qualified charter schools - definitions
22‑30.5‑409
Annual reports on bonds issued on behalf of charter schools - review by state auditor
22‑30.5‑501
Legislative declaration
22‑30.5‑502
Definitions
22‑30.5‑503
State charter school institute - establishment - rules
22‑30.5‑503.5
School response framework
22‑30.5‑504
Institute chartering authority - institute charter schools - exclusive authority - retention - recovery - revocation
22‑30.5‑505
State charter school institute - institute board - appointment - powers and duties - rules
22‑30.5‑506
State charter school institute fund - created
22‑30.5‑507
Institute charter school - requirements - authority - rules - definitions
22‑30.5‑508
Institute charter schools - contract contents - regulations
22‑30.5‑509
Institute charter school application - contents
22‑30.5‑510
Institute charter school application - process - rule-making
22‑30.5‑511
Institute charter schools - term - renewal of contract - grounds for nonrenewal or revocation - appeal
22‑30.5‑511.3
Nonrenewal or revocation - qualified charter school - exceptions
22‑30.5‑511.5
Background investigation - prohibition against employing persons - institute charter school employees’ information provided to department
22‑30.5‑512
Institute charter schools - employee retirement funds
22‑30.5‑513
Institute charter schools - funding - at-risk supplemental aid - legislative declaration - definitions
22‑30.5‑513.1
Mill levy equalization - fund created - legislative declaration - definitions
22‑30.5‑514
Institute charter school - capital reserve, risk management, and instructional purposes
22‑30.5‑515
Institute charter school - additional aid
22‑30.5‑515.5
Institute charter school assistance fund - created - grants - loans - rules
22‑30.5‑516
Notice of precollegiate admission guidelines - report to Colorado commission on higher education
22‑30.5‑517
Institute charter school nutritional beverage policy
22‑30.5‑518
Institute charter school food allergy and anaphylaxis management policy required
22‑30.5‑519
Institute charter school standardized immunization information policy
22‑30.5‑520
Parent engagement - policy - communications - incentives
22‑30.5‑521
Institute charter schools - school bullying policies required
22‑30.5‑522
Restorative justice practices
22‑30.5‑523
Intervention strategies - students at risk of dropping out
22‑30.5‑524
Institute charter schools - children’s nutrition - no trans fats in school foods - definitions - rules
22‑30.5‑525
Individual career and academic plans
22‑30.5‑526
Developmental education placement or assessment tests - intervention plans
22‑30.5‑526.5
Intervention strategies - improving mathematics outcomes - definitions
22‑30.5‑527
Institute charter schools - child sexual abuse and assault prevention plan
22‑30.5‑528
Institute charter schools - use of restraints on students - certain restraints prohibited - reports and review process - complaints and investigations - rules - definitions
22‑30.5‑529
Contracting for facial recognition service by institute charter schools prohibited - definition - repeal
22‑30.5‑530
Testing for the presence of lead in drinking water in eligible schools - compliance with public health requirements - repeal
22‑30.5‑601
Short title
22‑30.5‑602
Definitions
22‑30.5‑603
Charter school collaborative - creation - public status - structure
22‑30.5‑604
Charter school collaborative - nonexclusive
22‑30.5‑605
Administration fee
22‑30.5‑701
Short title
22‑30.5‑702
Definitions
22‑30.5‑703
Emergency powers - request - orders - process - rules
22‑30.5‑704
Excess benefits - cancellation of contracts - civil action and penalty
Green check means up to date. Up to date

Current through Fall 2024

§ 22-30.5-703’s source at colorado​.gov