Colo. Rev. Stat. § 24-2-102 – Appointment of officers and employees.

(1) Except as otherwise provided by law, such officers and employees as may be necessary in each principal department or institution of higher education shall be appointed by the head of each such department or institution in conformity with section 13 of article XII of the constitution of the state and the laws enacted in accordance therewith.
(2) The head of each principal department shall certify to the governor the number of officers and employees needed or required for the operation of his or her department for the ensuing twelve-month period in accordance with article 37 of this title.
(3) If, after appointments have been made to any principal department, the governor is of the opinion that the appointed personnel of any such department is in excess of its needs, the governor may require the separation of any of said appointees if ten days' prior notice of the proposed action is given by the governor to the head of any such department affected and opportunity given to such head within said ten-day period to be heard as to the necessity for the retention of all or any of said appointees proposed to be separated. The decision of the governor after such hearing shall be final and conclusive.
(4) Repealed.
(5) Elective officers shall not be subject to the provisions of this article 2, parts 2 and 11 of article 30, and articles 31, 35, 36, and 101 to 111 of this title 24.

Source: L. 41: p. 37, § 5. CSA: C. 3, §§ 5, 6. CRS 53: § 3-1-5. C.R.S. 1963: § 3-1-4. L. 68: p. 137, § 171. L. 72: p. 182, §§ 2, 3. L. 81: (4) amended, p. 1286, § 4, effective January 1, 1982. L. 91: (4) amended, p. 805, § 2, effective July 1. L. 95: (4) amended, p. 1103, § 35, effective May 31. L. 99: (1) amended, p. 164, § 23, effective August 4. L. 2004: (1) and (2) amended, p. 1693, § 29, effective July 1, 2005. L. 2025, 1st Ex. Sess.: (4) repealed and (5) added, (SB 25B-001), ch. 11, p. 69, § 2, effective August 28.

Editor's note: (1) Subsection (4) was relocated to § 24-75-201.5 (1) in 2025.

(2) Section 4 of chapter 11 (SB 25B-001), Session Laws of Colorado 2025, First Extraordinary Session, provides that the act changing this section applies to revenue estimates and interim revenue estimates presented, and executive orders issued, on or after August 28, 2025.

Cross references: For power of the head of a principal department to discontinue divisions, sections, or units other than those created by law, see § 24-1-107.