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Legislative/Public Policy Updates
New Law Helping Nonprofits Develop More Effective Partnerships with Government
We Need Your Feedback on a Draft of Model Guidelines!
Now in effect, this new law (HB 10–1010) allows nonprofits to submit unsolicited proposals to perform services for a state agency. State agencies that seek to accept unsolicited proposals from nonprofits must first adopt policies or guidelines for consideration and evaluation of such proposals.
The Colorado Nonprofit Association drafted a model set of policies for state agencies to adapt and use. Your feedback will help ensure that nonprofits can take full advantage of this opportunity and that guidelines are workable for nonprofits and state agencies.
Please email your comments by close of business, Friday, Sept. 3, to Mark Turner at mturner@ColoradoNonprofits.org. To facilitate the comment process, you may note comments on either the PDF or MS Word version of the draft linked above. Thanks for your help in this important effort.
Click here for more information on HB 10–1010.
Three Ballot Initiatives Would HARM Colorado
With the 2010 election quickly approaching, voters will make critical decisions about Colorado’s priorities. Three of the measures on the 2010 ballot would take Colorado in the wrong direction. The Colorado Nonprofit Association Board of Directors voted in January to actively oppose the following measures:
- Amendments 60 and 61
- Proposition 101
Proponents of these initiatives say they will reduce taxes, but at what price? These proposals would increase Colorado’s job loss by 70,000, burden small businesses, increase class sizes in schools, and impede the ability of nonprofits to deliver needed services.
Click here for information on these harmful ballot measures and how you can help defeat them.
Landmark Bill to Strengthen Nonprofit-Government
Partnership Introduced
On June 16 Congresswoman Betty McCollum (MN-04) introduced the Nonprofit Sector and Community Solutions Act (HR 5533), a bill that will transform the way that the federal government thinks about and deals with the charitable nonprofit community in the United States. Click here for the media release. Read more about the Act on the National Council of Nonprofits' website.
Small Nonprofits that Did Not File by the Deadline Can Still File
IRS Commissioner Doug Shulman released a statement on May 18 to address the fact that many small tax-exempt organizations (those with normal gross receipts of under $25,000) had not filed their required information return (990-N e-postcard) by the May 17 deadline. Click here for the IRS statement.
New Federal Legislation Impacts Nonprofit Organizations
The Home Improvements Revitalize the Economy (HIRE) Act contains several new federal tax credits that many nonprofit employers may be able to use in 2010. Click here to learn more.
The Health Care Reform legislation also has significant impacts on and implications for nonprofits. Click here for more information on the specific provisions of the bill.
2010 Legislative Session Report
Click here to learn about the most important bills that the Colorado Nonprofit Association tracked this year (PDF).
Click here to access the webinar – New Laws Your Nonprofit Should Know About. Click here to view the slides from the webinar (PDF).
Colorado Nonprofit Association members can stay up to date on public policy issues through free email updates! Email Mark Turner to request free updates.
2010 Legislative Proposals
Colorado Nonprofit Association’s Public Policy Committee formed the following proposals to pursue in 2010 to help nonprofits generate revenue, create jobs, and develop more effective partnerships with government.
Authorizing Public-Private Initiatives with 501(c)(3) Nonprofit Entities
Gov. Ritter signed HB 10-1010 into law, as described above. Click here for more information.
Charitable Contribution Subtraction
Click here to view a fact sheet (PDF).
Colorado Nonprofit Job Growth Income Tax Credit
Click here to view a fact sheet (PDF).
For more information, contact Mark Turner at mturner@coloradononprofits.org or (303) 832-5710/ (800) 333-6554 ext. 203 or Edie Busam at ebusam@aponte-busam.com or (303) 832-1472.
2010 Legislative Matrix
Want to know about legislation affecting your nonprofit? The Colorado Nonprofit Association tracks state legislation impacting nonprofits sector-wide. Click here for our latest legislative matrix (xls file).
HB 09-1088: Certification of Nonprofits as Local Public
Procurement Units
In a signing ceremony at the Colorado Nonprofit Association Awards Luncheon in 2009, Gov. Ritter signed HB 09-1088, sponsored by Rep. David Balmer (R–Centennial) and Sen. Linda Newell (D–Englewood).
Nonprofit Purchasing from State Price Agreements
Nonprofits receiving funds from local, state, or federal governments are now eligible to make purchases from State Price Agreements. Nonprofits must to be certified by the Department of Personnel and Administration (DPA) as local public procurement units. Click here to learn more about the system and how to participate.
Charitable Solicitations Registration Rules
Nonprofits who solicit charitable donations from the public are required by law to register for charitable solicitations with the Colorado Secretary of State's office and renew this registration on an annual basis unless specific exemptions apply. In accordance with HB 08-1109 , the Secretary of State has issued new rules on charitable solicitations. Click here for details.
Amendment 54
The Colorado Supreme Court ruled on February 22 that Amendment 54 is unconsitutional. Click here to read the court's opinion (PDF).
Amendment 54 would prohibit individuals and organizations from making campaign contributions if they hold a sole source government contract, or a collection of sole source government contracts. Your organization may be subject to Amendment 54 requirements if:
- it receives $100,000 or more in state and/or local government contracts (valued individually or together); and
- the contracts are "sole source" and do not solicit three or more competitive bids prior to being awarded.
Click here for Frequently Asked Questions about Amendment 54.
Public Policy Resources
The Colorado Nonprofit Association provides a variety of resources to help nonprofits understand their role in enhancing voter engagement, and build consensus on civic issues of primary concern to nonprofits and their constituencies. View a complete listing of the Association's public policy resources.