AGO 86-6.

• Case Date: June 12, 1986
• Court: Colorado

Colorado Attorney General Opinions 1986. AGO 86-6. June 12, 1986Department of Law Attorney General Opinion FORMAL OPINION of DUANE WOODARD Attorney General Opinion No. 86-6 AG Alpha No. HI AD AGAPF Joe Dolan Executive Director Colorado Department of Highways 4201 E. Arkansas Avenue Denver, Colorado 80222 RE: Applicability of Colo. Const. art. V, sec. 8, to, and General Assembly's power to transfer functions of, Highway CommissionDear Mr. Dolan: This opinion letter is in response to your letter of March 25, 1986 in which you inquired about the applicability of article V, section 8 of the Colorado Constitution to members of the Highway Commission, Regional Transportation District, and Denver Regional Council of Governments, and whether the General Assembly could abolish those entities and transfer their powers to a legislative group. Your letter does not indicate the interest, if any, of the Highway Department in the answers to the questions as they pertain to the Regional Transportation District and the Denver Regional Council of Governments. Therefore, I will address the questions only as they pertain to the Highway Commission. QUESTIONS PRESENTED AND CONCLUSIONS Are members of the Colorado Highway Commission within the purview of Colo. Const. art. V, sec. 8? Yes. May the General Assembly abolish the Colorado Highway Commission, and transfer its powers to a legislative group of less than full membership of both houses? No. ANALYSIS Article V, section 8 of our state constitution provides that no Senator or Representative shall, while serving as such, be appointed to any civil office under this state. The prohibition applies to appointive, not elective, offices. Carpenter v. People ex rel. Tilford, 8 Colo. 116, 5 P. 828 (1884). Highway commissioners are appointed. Section 43-1-103, C.R.S. (1984). Therefore, a Senator or Representative could not serve as a highway commissioner. The State Highway Commission was created by the General Assembly, which delegated to it the power to formulate and implement the general policy of the state with respect to the management, construction and maintenance of state highways. State Highway Commission v. Haase, 189 Colo. 69, 537 P.2d 300 (1975). The General Assembly has the sole power to enact general laws which formulate the state's public policy. See Denver and Rio Grande Western...