A new law requiring more transparency for the community-centered boards that manage benefit money for people with disabilities goes into effect Wednesday.
The law requires that boards that receive more than 75 percent of their funding from public dollars are subject to a state audit once every five years or “as requested” by the state auditor. It also requires community-centered boards to post meeting notices, financial statements, annual budgets and board members on their websites.
The bill ultimately passed the legislature this year with bipartisan support, but the battle was hard-fought. It originally called for making the boards subject to the Colorado Open Records Act, but that element was removed.
A Denver city audit last year found that one board, Rocky Mountain Human Services, had misspent public funds and paid its former executive director nearly $500,000 in salary and benefits.
Bill sponsor Sen. Irene Aguilar, D-Denver, said the law will allow community-centered boards to continue their “amazing work,” but will provide “the transparency needed to give Coloradans the peace of mind that their tax dollars are being used efficiently and effectively.”
