Colorado Revised Statutes Title 24. Government State § 24-50-501. Legislative declaration

Recognizing that the adoption of section 20 of article X of the state constitution at the 1992 general election has imposed strict new constraints on state government, it is hereby declared to be the policy of this state to encourage the use of private contractors for personal services to achieve increased efficiency in the delivery of government services, without undermining the principles of the state personnel system requiring competence in state government and the avoidance of political patronage. The general assembly recognizes that such contracting may result in variances from legislatively mandated pay scales and other employment practices that apply to the state personnel system. In order to ensure that such privatization of government services does not subvert the policies underlying the civil service system, the purpose of this part 5 is to balance the benefits of privatization of personal services against its impact upon the state personnel system as a whole. The general assembly finds and declares that, in the use of private contractors for personal services, the dangers of arbitrary and capricious political action or patronage and the promotion of competence in the provision of government services are adequately safeguarded by existing laws on public procurement, public contracts, financial administration, employment practices, ethics in government, licensure, certification, open meetings, open records, and the provisions of this part 5. Recognizing that the ultimate beneficiaries of all government services are the citizens of the state of Colorado, it is the intent of the general assembly that privatization of government services not result in diminished quality in order to save money.