(1) Declaration of the people.
The people of the state of Colorado find and declare that:(b) the public's interest in prohibiting political gerrymandering is best achieved by creating a new and independent commission that is politically balanced, provides representation to voters not affiliated with either of the state's two largest parties, and utilizes nonpartisan legislative staff to draw maps;
(c) the redistricting commission should set district lines by ensuring constitutionally guaranteed voting rights, including the protection of minority group voting, as well as fair and effective representation of constituents using politically neutral criteria;
(d) competitive elections for members of the general assembly provide voters with a meaningful choice among candidates, promote a healthy democracy, help ensure that constituents receive fair and effective representation, and contribute to the political well-being of key communities of interest and political subdivisions;
(e) for years certain political interests opposed competitive districts in Colorado because they are primarily concerned about maintaining their own political power at the expense of fair and effective representation; and
(f) citizens want and deserve an inclusive and meaningful legislative redistricting process that provides the public with the ability to be heard as redistricting maps are drawn, to be able to watch the witnesses who deliver testimony and the redistricting commission's deliberations, and to have their written comments considered before any proposed map is voted upon by the commission as the final map.
(2) Legislative districts - commission created.
There is hereby created the independent legislative redistricting commission.The commission shall divide the state into as many senatorial and representative districts as there are members of the senate and house of representatives respectively. After each federal decennial census, the senatorial districts and representative districts shall be established, revised, or altered, and the member of the senate and the house of representatives apportioned among them, by the independent legislative redistricting commission.
(3) Definitions.
As used in this section and in sections 47 through 48.4 of this Article V, unless the context otherwise requires:(b)
(II) Such interests include but are not limited to matters reflecting:
(B) shared public policy concerns such as education, employment, environment, public health, transportation, water needs and supplies, and issues of demonstrable regional significance.
(IV) "Community of interest" does not include relationships with political parties, incumbents, or political candidates.
(d) "Redistricting year" means the year following the year in which the federal decennial census is taken.
(e) "Staff" or "Nonpartisan staff" means the staff of the general assembly's legislative council and office of legislative legal services, or their successor offices, who are assigned to assist the commission by the directors of those offices in accordance with section 48 of this Article V.
