Ritter is ordering cuts in nearly all areas to deal with the $320 million budget shortfall.

One thing aimed to be cut is a DNA technician from the state lab, even though the state has a backlog of 2,700 samples for homicides, sex assaults and other crimes.

That will soon be compounded because Ritter signed "Katie's Law" earlier this year. The law is named after 22-year-old Katie Sepich, who was raped and murdered in 2003. Her killer was captured using DNA. The law requires that anyone arrested for a felony in Colorado to submit a DNA sample.

The sponsor of the law, State Senate Majority Leader John Morse, says the recommended cut is ironic, but he understands that Ritter has few options when it comes to the budget.

"The governor is a former prosecutor and we're both law enforcement types of folks. We understand how important DNA is, but that is how much of a budget catastrophe we are facing currently," Morse said.

Ritter also plans to eliminate a school safety officer, cut research on ways to prevent school violence, and the Department of Natural Resources will have to cut a coordinator for wild and scenic designation, which could hurt the state's ability to negotiate issues with the federal government.

Other cuts will reduce enforcement of water laws, the state's ability to fix problems with its troubled welfare computer system, therapy programs for the mentally ill and money for seniors awaiting federal financial aid.