CO HB1266

Replaces "prevailing" with "innovative" total compensation philosophy for state employees, allowing compensation to meet or exceed amounts provided by public or private sector employers or combinations thereof.

Expands the definition of total compensation to include salary, group benefit plans, retirement benefits, merit pay, incentives, premium pay practices, and leave as specified in statute or state personnel director policies.

Adds requirement that all monetary components of total compensation are subject to available appropriations by the General Assembly.

Modifies Colorado State Patrol law enforcement salary methodology to require at least 99 percent of the actual average salary provided to the top three state law enforcement agencies with more than 100 commissioned officers and the highest actual average salary.

Changes leave benefits language from "typically consistent with prevailing practices" to subject to provisions governing benefits, maintaining requirement that General Assembly approve any statutory leave benefit changes before implementation.