(1) The general assembly hereby finds, determines, and declares that:
Colorado for Healthy Landscapes is a collaboration of noxious weed and invasivespecies control advocacy organizations including the Colorado Weed Management Association, the nonprofit organization that serves as the fiscal manager for Colorado for Healthy Landscapes;
A lack of access to noxious weed and invasive species control services is often citedas one of the leading threats to Colorado's natural resources;
The control efforts to counter the impacts of invasive species cost Americans approximately one hundred twenty billion dollars annually; and (d) In Colorado:
Stands of tamarisk have decreased bird populations along the Colorado river by ninety-seven percent;
In the flat tops wilderness, yellow toadflax has caused declines in native plant populations, thereby degrading wildlife habitat;
Cheatgrass increases the frequency and intensity of wildfires;
Leafy spurge has decreased elk habitat usage by over eighty percent and native birdnesting and species numbers by forty-two and thirty-seven percent, respectively;
Diffuse knapweed replaces traditional wildlife forage and degrades wildlife habitat;
Canada thistle infestations threaten endangered species such as the Colorado butterfly plant; and
Russian knapweed produces chemicals that displace native plants and degradeswildlife habitat.
(2) The general assembly further finds and declares that Colorado for Healthy Landscapes:
Promotes noxious weed and invasive species prevention efforts and education;
Increases access to appropriate noxious weed and invasive species funding, thus strengthening and enhancing Colorado's noxious weed and invasive species control system;
Ensures that controlling entities obtain community support and services so that landscapes evolve in a healthy manner and are able to maximize their potential; and
Educates Coloradans about noxious weed and invasive species to reduce careless actsthat encourage unwanted spread of such species.
(3) In order to assist Colorado for Healthy Landscapes in fulfilling its mission, the general assembly recognizes that many citizens of Colorado may be willing to provide moneys to assist in its efforts. It is therefore the intent of the general assembly to provide Coloradans the opportunity to support the efforts of the Colorado Weed Management Association by allowing citizens to make a voluntary contribution on their state income tax return form to the Colorado for Healthy Landscapes fund for such a purpose. The Colorado Weed Management Association shall administer the moneys in furtherance of its mission to protect Colorado's natural resources from the degrading effects of invasive species of terrestrial and aquatic vegetation.
Source: L. 2012: Entire part added, (HB 12-1290), ch. 140, p. 507, § 1, effective August 8.