Supporters behind two more initiatives vying for a spot on the November ballot have submitted signatures to the Secretary of State.

One would ensure a person convicted of violent offenses would serve a big chunk of a sentence before being paroled. The other measure would enshrine parents’ right to direct their children’s education in the state constitution.

Proposition 112 would require any person convicted and sentenced for the following crimes — second degree murder, first degree assault, first degree kidnapping unless the first degree kidnapping is a Class 1 felony, first degree arson, first degree burglary, or aggravated robbery, and committed on or after July 1, 2004, but before Jan. 1, 2025 —  to serve 85% of the sentence imposed before being eligible for parole.

Backed by Advance Colorado, Proposition 112’s fiscal summary indicates the measure would increase future state expenditures as offenders would need to be housed for longer periods in Department of Corrections facilities, instead of releasing them on parole.

On average, about 449 offenders per year are sentenced to prison for the offenses identified in the initiative. Also, they are on average sentenced to 12 to 24 years in prison, according to data from the Department of Corrections.

Advance Colorado Action President Michael Fields noted that Colorado has the 4th highest recidivism rate in the nation because violent criminals today serve an average of 46% of their sentences.

“It is no surprise that when violent criminals are released from prison before they have served even half of their sentences, these felons go right back to their lives of crime,” Fields said. “We can sharply reduce Colorado’s crime wave and make our communities and families safer by enacting Truth in Sentencing.”

Calculating exact costs depend on a number of factors, including the change to an offender’s length of stay. Some of those factors are difficult to estimate precisely.

A fiscal summary says that it currently costs $56,972 per year to house an offender in a state-run prison and $8,387 per year to supervise an offender on parole.

Since the measure would affect those convicted after the measure’s passage, the effects on the correctional system would not fully manifest until the mid-2030s.

Also sponsored by Advance Colorado, Proposition 138 proposes an amendment to the Colorado constitution that would add what state law already establishes on school choice. Current state law requires school districts to have school choice policies in place and estimates on state and local spending.

No fiscal impact is expected should the measure be passed.

Both measures met the July 25 deadline to turn in signatures.

Advance Colorado Vice President confirmed 197,646 signatures have been submitted for Proposition 112, and 201,784 for Proposition 138.

For a statewide initiative or referendum on to make it on the ballot, proponents must turn in valid signatures equal to 5% of the total votes cast for all Secretary of State candidates in the last general election, according to the Secretary’s website. In the November 2022 election, that number was 2,484,758 votes, so 124,238 signatures will be needed for any statewide petition from 2023 to 2026.

For initiatives that want to change the Colorado Constitution, signatures from at least 2% of the registered voters in each of the 35 state Senate districts is required.

The Secretary of State has until Aug. 23 to review the petition and signatures.

Editor’s note: This story has been updated to clarify language on Proposition 138.