(1) The state department, in consultation with the Colorado board of veterans affairs, is responsible for recommending any proposed sites for veterans centers to be constructed, leased, or purchased on or after July 1, 1998, to the capital development committee and the joint budget committee. The general assembly is responsible for the selection of any proposed site for such veterans centers.
(2) When evaluating a potential site for a proposed veterans center, the following criteria must be considered:
The proximity of the proposed veterans center to veterans affairs medical services;
The impact the proposed veterans center would have upon the financial viability ofexisting veterans centers; and
Whether there is an established bed need for the proposed veterans center based uponthe location of Colorado veterans, their families, and support systems.
A veterans center constructed, leased, or purchased on or after July 1, 1998, musthave a bed capacity of at least one hundred twenty beds.
A veterans center must not be constructed on or after July 1, 1998, unless otherveterans centers have maintained an average occupancy rate of at least eighty percent over the six-month period immediately prior to the commencement of the construction of the new veterans center.
Source: L. 98: Entire article R&RE, p. 186, § 1, effective April 10. L. 2014: Entire section amended, (SB 14-096), ch. 59, p. 267, § 15, effective August 6.
Editor's note: This section is similar to former § 26-12-109.5 as it existed prior to 1998.