(1) The general assembly hereby finds and declares that the construction, expansion, renovation, or improvement of state-built and operated department of corrections facilities is a matter of statewide and not local concern. Therefore, the department, in authorizing and financing the construction, expansion, renovation, or improvement of its facilities, is exempt from regional, county, and local planning requirements, including those specified in section 30-28-110, C.R.S., and those authorized by section 29-20-104, C.R.S.
Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (1) of this section, whenever the department plans to locate a new corrections facility or expand an existing corrections facility, the department shall submit facility program plans to the governing body of the county or municipality in which the facility is proposed to be located or expanded and afford the governing body an opportunity for advisory review of such plans.
The intent of the general assembly in enacting this section is to clarify the meaningof current law concerning regional, county, and local planning requirements and to clarify that the general assembly never intended to require the department to submit plans to authorize or construct its facilities for approval by local, county, or regional planning authorities. Accordingly, this section is intended to apply to causes of action pending on or filed on or after July 1, 1996.
Source: L. 96: Entire section added, p. 1147, § 4, effective July 1.