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March 15, 2022 SB 22-008
Legislative Council Staff
Nonpartisan Services for Colorado’s Legislature
Revised Fiscal Note
(replaces fiscal note dated January 24, 2022)
Drafting Number:
Prime Sponsors:
LLS 22-0118
Sen. Zenzinger; Priola
Rep. McLachlan; McKean
Date:
Bill Status:
Fiscal Analyst:
March 15, 2022
Senate Appropriations
Aaron Carpenter | 303-866-4918
Aaron.Carpenter@state.co.us
Bill Topic: HIGHER EDUCATION SUPPORT FOR FOSTER YOUTH
Summary of
Fiscal Impact:
☐ State Revenue
☒ State Expenditure
☐ State Transfer
☐ TABOR Refund
☐ Local Government
☐ School Districts
The bill provides financial assistance to foster students to cover the cost of attendance
at state institutions of higher education. Starting in FY 2022-23, the bill will increase
state expenditures on an ongoing basis.
Appropriation
Summary:
For FY 2022-23, the bill requires an appropriation of $2.7 million to the Department of
Higher Education.
Fiscal Note
Status:
This revised fiscal note reflects the introduced bill, as amended by the Senate
Education Committee. The bill was recommended by the Colorado Youth Advisory
Council Review Committee.
Table 1
State Fiscal Impacts Under SB 22-008
Budget Year
FY 2022-23
Out Year
FY 2023-24
Revenue
- -
Expenditures General Fund $2,702,512 $2,698,928
Institutional Expenditures
1
$2,328,035 $2,328,035
Centrally Appropriated $73,126 $79,592
Total Expenditures $5,103,673 $5,106,555
Total FTE 4.6 FTE 5.0 FTE
Transfers - -
Other Budget Impacts General Fund Reserve $405,377 $404,839
1
These funds are not appropriated in the bill and are shown for informational purposes.
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March 15, 2022 SB 22-008
Summary of Legislation
Starting in the 2022-23 academic year, the state must provide financial assistance in excess of any
financial aid to cover the total cost of attendance at a higher education institution for students who
have been:
placed in foster care in Colorado before their 13
th
birthday;
placed in non-kinship care after their 13
th
birthday; or
adjudicated neglected or dependent at any time.
The bill requires the General Assembly to appropriate an amount to the Colorado Commission on
Higher Education (CCHE) within the Department of Higher Education (DHE) that covers half the cost
of providing financial assistance to foster children, with institutions of higher education covering the
other half from financial aid allotments. Foster students are eligible for aid for the first 132 semester
credit hours or 198 quarter credit hours. In order to qualify for assistance, a student must complete
the free application for federal student aid (FAFSA) and an application for the Chafee Education and
Training Voucher (ETV) grant; work towards a bachelor’s, postgraduate, or an associate’s degree, or
a certificate; and remain in satisfactory academic standing.
Foster Care Student Navigator Office and liaisons. The bill establishes the Foster Care Student
Navigator Office to assist foster students in applying for and enrolling in institutions of higher
education. The bill requires that CCHE appoint a director of the office, and for the director of the
office to assign four regional navigators to four regions of the state to assist foster students wanting to
enroll in higher education. In addition, each higher education institutions must designate
one employee as a liaison to assist qualified students with receiving assistance. The liaison must work
with the assigned regional navigator and provide information regarding application assistance,
financial assistance, support services, and other resources available to students, local education
providers, and child welfare liaisons. Finally, school district child welfare liaisons must provide
information on the waiver to eligible students.
Assumptions
The fiscal note makes the following assumptions on the eligible population and financial aid.
Eligible population. The fiscal note assumes that there will be 4,500 eligible students per year and
that 15 percent of eligible students will attend an institution of higher education. The fiscal note also
assumes that 64 percent of eligible students attending an institution of higher education will attend a
two-year college, 27 percent will attend a four-year college, and the remaining will attend a private
college.
Financial aid. The bill requires the state and institutions of higher education to cover the cost of
attendance minus any financial aid received by a student. Based data provided by the DHE, the fiscal
note makes the following assumptions:
the average COA is $22,500 a year for a two-year institution and $26,500 a year for a four-year
institution;
foster students will receive a full Chafee ETV grant at $5,000 per year; Page 3
March 15, 2022 SB 22-008
foster students will receive a max Pell Award at $6,495 per year;
foster students who attend a 2-year institution will receive an additional $4,400 from other federal,
state, and private sources; and
foster students who attend a four-year institution will receive an additional $5,100 from other
federal, state, and private sources.
State Expenditures
The bill increases state expenditures in the DHE and institutions of higher education by $5.1 million
per year, as shown in Table 2, and increases workload in the Department of Human Services, as
described below.
Table 2
Expenditures Under SB 22-008
Cost Components FY 2022-23 FY 2023-24
Department of Higher Education
Personal Services $301,567 $328,983
Operating Expenses $6,750 $6,750
Capital Outlay Costs $31,000 -
Aid to Foster Children $2,328,035 $2,328,035
Travel Costs $20,160 $20,160
Outreach Materials $15,000 $15,000
Centrally Appropriated Costs
1
$73,126 $79,592
FTE – Personal Services 4.6 FTE 5.0 FTE
DHE Subtotal $2,775,638 $2,778,520
Institutions of Higher Education
Aid to Foster Children $2,328,035 $2,328,035
Institutions of Higher Education Subtotal
2
$2,328,035 $2,328,035
Total $5,103,673 $5,106,555
Total FTE 4.6 FTE 5.0 FTE
1
Centrally appropriated costs are not included in the bill's appropriation.
2
Costs to institutions of higher education are not included in the bill’s appropriation and are shown for informational
purposes.
Department of Higher Education. Starting in FY 2022-23, the DHE will require 5.0 FTE to staff the
new Foster Care Student Navigator Office. This includes 1.0 FTE director and 4.0 FTE regional
navigators as outlined in the bill. Staffing costs include personal services, operating expenses, and
capital outlay costs, and FY 2022-23 costs are prorated for the General Fund paydate shift. In addition,
the department requires $20,160 to cover travel costs for the four navigators to travel around their
assigned region. This includes costs for mileage reimbursement, lodging, and per diem. Finally, the
department will require $15,000 to create outreach materials. Page 4
March 15, 2022 SB 22-008
Aid to foster students. Starting in FY 2022-23, state expenditures will increase by $4.7 million per
year to cover the cost of attendance for foster children attending two-year and four-year institutions,
after accounting for financial aid. Half of these costs will be paid from the General Fund and the other
half will come from institution of higher education funds. Table 3 outlines the estimated cost after
taking into account financial aid.
Table 3
State Aid for Foster Students
Institution
Average Cost of
Attendance
Financial
Aid
Remaining
Cost
Assumed
Students Total Cost
2-year $22,500 $15,895 $6,605 432 $2,853,360
4-year $26,500 $16,595 $9,905 182 $1,802,710
Total $4,656,070
General Fund
Institutions of higher education
$2,328,035
$2,328,035
Institutions of higher education—liaisons. Starting in FY 2022-23, workload in institutions of higher
education will increase to assign a liaison to assist eligible students in receiving assistance. The
amount of work required will depend on the institution and how many eligible students choose to
attend the institution. In addition, to the extent additional students attend institutions of higher
education that would not otherwise attend an institution under current law, expenditures in higher
education institutions will increase. It is assumed that any increase in costs to teach additional
students will be accomplished within current appropriations and revenue streams to institutions of
higher education.
Department of Human Services. Starting in FY 2022-23, workload in the Department of Human
Services will increase to coordinate with institutions of higher education to provide information about
financial assistance to eligible students. The fiscal note assumes this work can be accomplished within
existing appropriations.
Effective Date
The bill takes effect upon signature of the Governor, or upon becoming law without his signature.
State Appropriations
For FY 2022-23, the bill requires an appropriation of $2,698,928 General Fund to the Department of
Higher Education and 4.6 FTE.
State and Local Government Contacts
Education Higher Education
Human Services Information Technology
The revenue and expenditure impacts in this fiscal note represent changes from current law under the bill for each
fiscal year. For additional information about fiscal notes, please visit: leg.colorado.gov/fiscalnotes.