C.R.S. Section 24-50-903
State employee idea application


(1)(a)(I) No later than October 1, 2010, the state personnel director, or his or her designee, shall create and make publicly available to all employees on the department of personnel’s website an idea application, substantially similar to the Air Force form AF 1000, to allow employees to suggest state agency improvements that may result in cost savings at the state agency where the employee works. Each state agency executive director shall create agency-specific supplemental submission materials to the idea application if such materials are deemed necessary by the executive director to manage the submission process. Each state agency shall post such materials on its respective website.

(II)

The idea application shall not be used for ideas that:

(A)

Would result from obvious and progressive normal business practices, such as a foreseeable expectation that the idea would be implemented in a reasonable time frame as a result of evolving business or industry practice;

(B)

Are obvious solutions to mandated budget cuts, such as abolishing vacant funded positions or reducing staff through layoffs;

(C)

Result in cost avoidance as the method of documenting cost savings, such as no or lowered increases in costs for staff, supplies, or equipment;

(D)

Result in revenue enhancement as the method of documenting cost savings, such as new or increased fees for services; or

(E)

Simply shift the cost from one state agency to another.

(b)

No later than October 1, 2010, the state personnel director, or his or her designee, shall establish standard evaluation criteria substantially similar to the evaluation criteria used to evaluate the Air Force form AF 1000, by which all idea applications shall be evaluated. The state personnel director, or his or her designee, shall make such criteria available to all executive directors. Each state agency executive director may establish additional evaluation criteria specific to his or her agency if such criteria are deemed necessary by the executive director to manage the submission process.

(c)

Intentionally left blank —Ed.

(I)

Any employee may complete an idea application. For processing, the employee shall submit the idea application to the executive director of the employee’s state agency. An employee shall not be retaliated against for submitting an idea application.

(II)

The identity of an employee who submits an idea application shall remain confidential and shall be redacted from the application until the employee has been determined to be eligible for an honorary award as specified in paragraph (d) of subsection (4) of this section, except that the identity of the employee may be made known to the executive director, or his or her designee, for purposes of obtaining reasonably necessary additional information related to the idea application.

(III)

Intentionally left blank —Ed.

(A)

The executive director, or his or her designee, shall provide notification of receipt of the idea application to the employee within fifteen days after submission of such application. The executive director, or his or her designee, may automatically deny an idea application if he or she deems such application to be duplicative of another application that was submitted within the prior twelve-month period or duplicative of a recommendation contained in an audit report from the office of the state auditor or any privately contracted auditor, a joint budget committee staff document, or any other published evaluation of Colorado state government. The executive director, or his or her designee, shall provide notice of an automatic denial within fifteen days pursuant to this sub-subparagraph (A).

(B)

The executive director, or his or her designee, shall cause, within forty-five business days from the date of submission of an idea application that was not automatically denied for reasons listed in this section or agency-specific evaluation criteria as developed by an executive director, a projected savings calculation to be made.

(C)

The executive director shall respond with a decision either approving or denying the employee’s idea application within sixty business days after the date of submission of the idea application. For any idea application that is approved, the executive director, or his or her designee, shall identify, to the extent possible, any state laws or rules that would need to be changed as part of the review and approval process. The executive director, or his or her designee, shall submit a request for legislation to the committee of reference assigned to such executive director’s state agency regarding any approved idea application that requires legislation for implementation. Idea applications that do not require legislation for implementation shall be implemented by the state agency as soon as reasonably possible, and no later than July 1 of the fiscal year following acceptance of the idea application.

(IV)

A copy of any employee’s idea application that is not approved, along with a copy of the executive director’s response, and any document indicating the projected savings shall be submitted by the director to the office of state planning and budgeting created in section 24-37-102 within sixty business days after submission of the idea application for the office of state planning and budgeting to review.

(V)

The executive director, or his or her designee, shall maintain copies of all idea applications that are submitted, along with the following information for approved idea applications:

(A)

A description of the innovative idea implemented;

(B)

The total savings achieved in the first fiscal year or first full twelve-month period after full implementation;

(C)

The total dollars awarded as an incentive to the employee who submitted the idea application;

(D)

Any affected general appropriations act line item, if applicable; and

(E)

An evaluation of the effectiveness in achieving the goals set forth in section 24-50-901 of the implemented idea and the honorary award to the employee.

(2)

Commencing on or after October 1, 2010, all state agencies shall advertise that the idea application is available on the department of personnel’s website on any type of electronic payroll statements issued to employees and in any electronic broadcast communication made to employees, so long as the advertisement for the idea application occurs at least monthly.

(3)

The idea application and the advertisement described in subsection (2) of this section shall include information related to the honorary award specified in paragraph (d) of subsection (4) of this section that an employee may earn.

(4)

Intentionally left blank —Ed.

(a)

Once an idea application is submitted, reviewed, and accepted by the executive director, or his or her designee, the employee shall be informed of the honorary award he or she may earn.

(b)

Thirteen months after the innovative idea described in the idea application is fully implemented, the executive director shall calculate the savings realized for the first twelve months of full implementation. All documentation of the savings realized calculation satisfying the requirements of paragraph (f) of this subsection (4) shall be forwarded to the state auditor for review and verification no later than two months after the twelve months of full implementation of the innovative idea described in the idea application. The state auditor shall have one hundred twenty days from receipt of the savings realized calculation to:

(I)

Conduct the review and verification of the savings realized calculation; and

(II)

Submit a report with his or her findings, recommendations, and conclusions to the legislative audit committee, which shall hold a public hearing for the purposes of a review of the report.

(c)

The state auditor’s report described in subparagraph (II) of paragraph (b) of this subsection (4) shall be submitted to the executive director who approved the idea application and to any members of the general assembly who carried any legislation to implement the idea.

(d)

Intentionally left blank —Ed.

(I)

Except as provided in subparagraphs (II), (III), and (IV) of this paragraph (d), and unless otherwise prohibited, the savings realized as verified by the state auditor as specified in paragraph (b) of this subsection (4) shall be distributed, no later than the last day of the eighteenth month following the implementation of the innovative idea, as follows:

(A)

Five percent, up to five thousand dollars, of the savings realized as a one-time honorary award to the employee who submitted the idea application;

(B)

Twenty-five percent, up to twenty-five thousand dollars, of the savings realized to the state agency that the employee’s idea application directly affects; and

(C)

The remainder after distributions are made pursuant to sub-subparagraphs (A) and (B) of this subparagraph (I) to the state general fund.

(II)

For a state agency that constitutes an enterprise for purposes of section 20 of article X of the state constitution, the savings realized as verified by the state auditor as specified in paragraph (b) of this subsection (4) shall be distributed, no later than the last day of the eighteenth month following the implementation of the innovative idea, as follows:

(A)

Five percent, up to five thousand dollars, of the savings realized as a one-time honorary award to the employee who submitted the idea application;

(B)

The remainder, after the distribution made pursuant to sub-subparagraph (A) of this subparagraph (II), to the state agency and to the general fund. The amount distributed to the general fund shall be the same percentage of the savings realized that the state agency receives in total annual revenues from the state general fund.

(III)

If the savings realized result in savings of federal moneys, the federal moneys saved shall not be distributed as specified in this paragraph (d) but shall either be used for a reallocation of moneys within the state agency or shall revert, depending on the use specified for those particular federal moneys.

(IV)

If the savings realized result in savings of moneys from public or private grants, gifts, awards, or donations where the use of such moneys is restricted, such restricted moneys shall not be distributed as specified in this paragraph (d) but shall either be used for a reallocation of moneys within the state agency or shall revert, depending on the use specified for such particular restricted moneys.

(e)

Intentionally left blank —Ed.

(I)

Except as provided in subparagraphs (II) and (III) of this paragraph (e), the state agency may use the distribution specified in sub-subparagraph (B) of subparagraph (I) of paragraph (d) of this subsection (4) for any projects that would increase that state agency’s efficiency or improve services provided to state residents, but the distribution shall not be used to hire additional full-time equivalent employees or for personnel services expenditures other than the distribution specified in sub-subparagraph (A) of subparagraph (I) of paragraph (d) of this subsection (4).

(II)

Any savings realized distributed to the department of transportation pursuant to sub-subparagraph (B) of subparagraph (I) of paragraph (d) of this subsection (4) shall be transferred to the state highway fund created in section 43-1-219, C.R.S., and shall only be used for material costs of road and bridge repairs.

(III)

This paragraph (e) shall not apply to a state agency that constitutes an enterprise for purposes of section 20 of article X of the state constitution.

(f)

Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, the state auditor shall only be required to undertake the review and verification required by paragraph (b) of this subsection (4) where the executive director has made a determination that the savings realized for the first twelve months of full implementation of the innovative idea described in the idea application equals ten thousand or more dollars.

(5)

Nothing in this part 9 shall be construed to provide employees with any grievance, dispute resolution, or appeals process with regard to any idea application submitted by the employee.

Source: Section 24-50-903 — State employee idea application, https://leg.­colorado.­gov/sites/default/files/images/olls/crs2023-title-24.­pdf (accessed Oct. 20, 2023).

24‑50‑101
Short title - legislative declaration - terminology
24‑50‑102
Department of personnel - state personnel director
24‑50‑103
State personnel board
24‑50‑103.5
Department of personnel - review
24‑50‑104
Job evaluation and compensation - state employee reserve fund - created - study - report - definitions - repeal
24‑50‑104.5
Compliance with federal laws
24‑50‑109.5
Fiscal emergencies - emergency orders
24‑50‑110
Budget control - personal services
24‑50‑112.5
Selection system - definitions - rules - report - repeal
24‑50‑114
Temporary appointments - term - tenure
24‑50‑116
Standards of performance and conduct
24‑50‑117
Prohibited activities of employees
24‑50‑122
Opportunities for training - professional development center cash fund - creation - rules
24‑50‑123
Grievances - review
24‑50‑124
Reduction of employees - definition
24‑50‑125
Disciplinary proceedings - appeals - hearings - procedure - definitions
24‑50‑125.3
Discrimination appeals
24‑50‑125.4
Hearings
24‑50‑125.5
Recovery for improper personnel action
24‑50‑126
Resignation - procedure and effect
24‑50‑127
Employee records - release of location information concerning individuals with outstanding felony arrest warrants - state personnel director’s duties
24‑50‑128
Certification required before salary paid
24‑50‑129
Appointing authority’s salary liability
24‑50‑130
Form of records and reports
24‑50‑131
Subpoena powers
24‑50‑132
Political considerations and prohibited activities
24‑50‑133
Subversive acts - disqualification
24‑50‑134
Moving and relocation expenses
24‑50‑135
Exemptions from personnel system
24‑50‑136
Persons brought into the personnel system
24‑50‑137
Persons holding exempted positions
24‑50‑138
Effect of transfer of powers, duties, and functions
24‑50‑140
Reports on other employment systems
24‑50‑141
Rules and regulations - limitations - affirmative action corrective remedies - implementation
24‑50‑142
Repayment of debts to state-supported institutions of higher education by state employees
24‑50‑145
Agency-based human resource innovation and management processes - legislative declaration - definitions - guidelines and goals
24‑50‑146
Colorado statewide equity office - legislative declaration
24‑50‑201
Legislative declaration
24‑50‑203
Preretirement education and counseling
24‑50‑206
Cooperation of public employees’ retirement association
24‑50‑208
Voluntary separation incentive program
24‑50‑301
Status while in military service
24‑50‑302
Rights
24‑50‑303
No compensation - rights of National Guard
24‑50‑304
Applicability
24‑50‑401
Office hours of state offices
24‑50‑402
Appointment by outgoing officers prohibited
24‑50‑501
Legislative declaration
24‑50‑502
Definitions
24‑50‑503
Personal services contracts implicating state personnel system - no separation of existing classified employees
24‑50‑504
Personal services contracts not implicating state personnel system
24‑50‑505
Liability and immunity
24‑50‑506
Applicability of other laws
24‑50‑507
Conflict of interest
24‑50‑508
Intergovernmental agreements - agreements by state institutions of higher education - excluded
24‑50‑509
Review of individual contracts by state personnel director - when not required
24‑50‑511
State personnel director procedures
24‑50‑512
State personnel board rules
24‑50‑513
Contracts of six months or less - permitted
24‑50‑601
Short title
24‑50‑602
Legislative declaration
24‑50‑603
Definitions
24‑50‑604
Powers and duties of the director
24‑50‑605
Group benefit plans - specifications - contracts
24‑50‑607
Employees - eligibility - election of coverage
24‑50‑608
Dependents - eligibility - election of coverage
24‑50‑609
State contributions - supplemental state contribution fund - creation
24‑50‑609.5
Supplemental state contribution for eligible state employees - legislative declaration - definitions
24‑50‑610
Payroll deductions - employees
24‑50‑611
Employer payments
24‑50‑612
Administrative duties
24‑50‑613
Group benefit plans reserve fund
24‑50‑614
State payments - authority of controller
24‑50‑615
Continuation of previously existing benefits for persons absorbed by the state personnel system
24‑50‑618
Group benefit plans - institutions of higher education
24‑50‑619
Continuation of dental or medical benefits - dependents of state employee - work-related death - definitions
24‑50‑620
Targets for investment in primary care
24‑50‑801
Legislative declaration
24‑50‑802
Definitions
24‑50‑804
Development of recommendations for an employee incentive program
24‑50‑805
Institutions of higher education - alternative employee incentive programs
24‑50‑901
Legislative declaration
24‑50‑902
Definitions
24‑50‑903
State employee idea application
24‑50‑1001
Definitions
24‑50‑1002
State agencies with access to federal tax information - authorization for background checks - procedure - costs
24‑50‑1003
County departments with access to federal tax information - authorization for background checks - procedure - costs
24‑50‑1004
State agencies sharing federal tax information with other state agencies
24‑50‑1101
Short title
24‑50‑1102
Definitions
24‑50‑1103
Duties and responsibilities of the division - rules
24‑50‑1104
Duties and responsibilities of the director - rules
24‑50‑1105
Partnership units
24‑50‑1106
Covered employees’ choice of certified employee organization - rules
24‑50‑1107
Rights of covered employees
24‑50‑1108
Rights of certified employee organizations
24‑50‑1109
Duties of the certified employee organization
24‑50‑1110
Executive and management rights
24‑50‑1111
Duties of the state
24‑50‑1112
Partnership agreements
24‑50‑1113
Dispute resolution
24‑50‑1114
Maintenance of the partnership relationship
24‑50‑1115
Judicial review
24‑50‑1116
Construction of other laws
24‑50‑1117
Implementation and administration - costs
24‑50‑1201
Short title
24‑50‑1202
Legislative declaration - intent
24‑50‑1203
Definitions
24‑50‑1204
Competitive pharmacy benefit manager - contract - requirements
Green check means up to date. Up to date

Current through Fall 2024

§ 24-50-903’s source at colorado​.gov