The governor is authorized to organize and maintain within this state such military forces as the governor deems necessary to defend this state. Such forces shall be known as the state defense force and shall be composed of such citizens of the state as shall volunteer or be ordered by the governor and qualify for service therein. Such forces shall be additional to and distinct from the National Guard. The Colorado state defense force shall be maintained in numbers to be determined by the governor. No officer or enlisted person of this force shall be a member of the National Guard or other armed force of the United States. Such part of this force as ordered by the governor shall be uniformed. Any part or all of this force may be called to state defense force active duty at the pleasure of the governor. All costs and expenses of the state defense force shall be paid from the general fund by separate appropriation to the department of military and veterans affairs.
Source: L. 43: p. 439, § 3. CSA: C. 111, § 125. CRS 53: § 94-7-3. C.R.S. 1963: § 94-2-3. L. 82: Entire section amended, p. 451, § 1, effective March 5. L. 86: Entire section amended, p. 1017, § 12, effective May 3. L. 2002: Entire section amended, p. 591, § 20, effective May 24. L. 2021: Entire section amended, (SB 21-266), ch. 423, p. 2804, § 28, effective July 2.