Second Regular Session
Seventy-third General Assembly
STATE OF COLORADO
INTRODUCED
LLS NO. 22-0909.02 Conrad Imel x2313
SENATE BILL 22-172
Senate Committees House Committees
Health & Human Services
A BILL FOR AN ACT
C
ONCERNING AN INITIATIVE TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF101
HEALTH-CARE PROFESSIONALS PRACTICING IN COLORADO'S102
RURAL AREAS.103
Bill Summary
(Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced and does
not reflect any amendments that may be subsequently adopted. If this bill
passes third reading in the house of introduction, a bill summary that
applies to the reengrossed version of this bill will be available at
http://leg.colorado.gov
.)
The bill establishes the Colorado rural health-care workforce
initiative (initiative) to expand the number of health-care professionals
practicing in Colorado's rural or frontier counties. As part of the initiative,
an institution of higher education (institution) is authorized to establish
and operate a health-care professionals rural track within any health-care
SENATE SPONSORSHIP
Winter and Rankin, Coleman, Liston, Priola
HOUSE SPONSORSHIP
Roberts and Rich, Bernett, Bird, Caraveo, Catlin, McLachlan, Mullica, Pelton, Soper,
Valdez D., Van Beber
Shading denotes HOUSE amendment. Double underlining denotes SENATE amendment.
Capital letters or bold & italic numbers indicate new material to be added to existing statute.
Dashes through the words indicate deletions from existing statute. professional education program offered by the institution.
A rural track must set aside seats in its health-care professional
education program for students who express an interest in studying and
working in a rural or frontier county, offer didactic curriculum related to
practicing the health-care discipline in rural or frontier counties, place
students in rural or frontier counties for hands-on instruction and training,
and award scholarships to students in the rural track. In order to receive
a scholarship, a student must commit to working as a health-care
professional in a rural or frontier county for 2 years after completing
education and training.
The rural office at the university of Colorado's school of medicine
(rural program office) provides technical assistance to the institutions
operating a rural track regarding recruiting and admitting students
committed to working in rural areas and identifying rural or frontier
counties in which students may be placed for clinical training. The rural
program office also facilitates, arranges, or advises an institution about
arranging housing for students placed in a rural or frontier county. The
rural program office must provide, without charge, to institutions
operating a rural track, didactic curriculum related to practicing in rural
or frontier counties. The bill requires the rural program office to annually
evaluate the effectiveness of the initiative and report to the general
assembly's education committees about the initiative.
The bill requires the general assembly to annually appropriate
$150,000 to the rural program office to support institutions that operate
a rural track. For state fiscal year 2022-23, the general assembly is
required to appropriate up to $400,000 to certain institutions to establish
or expand rural tracks in 12 programs specified in the bill.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Colorado:1
SECTION 1. Legislative declaration. (1) The general assembly2
finds and declares that:3
(a) Nearly three-quarters of Colorado's sixty-four counties are4
designated as rural or frontier counties by the state office of rural health;5
(b) Rural and frontier counties have difficulty recruiting and6
retaining health-care workers;7
(c) The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic that decimated the8
health-care workforce across Colorado hit rural areas especially hard, and9
the associated burnout is causing health-care workers to leave medicine10
SB22-172-2- and nursing;1
(d) The university of Colorado (CU) school of medicine's rural2
office at the Anschutz medical campus provides a model program for3
educating health-care professionals that wish to live and work in rural4
areas. Other institutions that educate health-care professionals can take5
advantage of the expertise, experience, and infrastructure in place at the6
CU school of medicine's rural office in order to prepare their health-care7
students to work in rural or frontier counties.8
(e) Establishing and funding a limited number of health-care9
professional rural track programs allows the general assembly to collect10
data and information on best practices for providing11
rural-practice-focused education to health-care professionals; and12
(f) The general assembly can use the lessons learned to later13
expand the new Colorado rural health-care workforce initiative to other14
institutions and practice areas to increase the number of health-care15
professionals practicing in Colorado's rural and frontier counties.16
SECTION 2. In Colorado Revised Statutes, add article 76.5 to17
title 23 as follows:18
ARTICLE 76.519
Colorado Rural Health-care Workforce Initiative20
23-76.5-101. Definitions. A
S USED IN THIS ARTICLE 76.5, UNLESS21
THE CONTEXT OTHERWISE REQUIRES :22
(1) "H
EALTH-CARE PROFESSIONAL" MEANS A PHYSICIAN ,23
PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT, PHYSICAL THERAPIST, NURSE, INCLUDING NURSE24
PRACTITIONER, PHARMACIST, DENTIST, PROFESSIONAL COUNSELOR ,25
PSYCHOLOGIST, SOCIAL WORKER, OR MARRIAGE AND FAMILY THERAPIST26
WHO IS REGISTERED, CERTIFIED, OR LICENSED PURSUANT TO TITLE 12 AND27
SB22-172
-3- WHO IS SUBJECT TO CREDENTIALING. "HEALTH-CARE PROFESSIONAL" ALSO1
INCLUDES A PUBLIC HEALTH PROFESSIONAL WHO IS NOT REQUIRED TO BE2
REGISTERED, CERTIFIED, OR LICENSED PURSUANT TO STATE LAW .3
(2) "H
EALTH-CARE PROFESSIONALS RURAL TRACK " OR "RURAL4
TRACK" MEANS A HEALTH -CARE PROFESSIONALS RURAL TRACK5
ESTABLISHED BY AN INSTITUTION PURSUANT TO SECTION 23-76.5-102.6
(3) "I
NITIATIVE" MEANS THE COLORADO RURAL HEALTH -CARE7
WORKFORCE INITIATIVE ESTABLISHED IN THIS ARTICLE 76.5.8
(4) "I
NSTITUTION OF HIGHER EDUCATION " OR "INSTITUTION"9
MEANS STATE INSTITUTIONS AS DEFINED IN SECTION 23-18-102 (10)(a),10
LOCAL DISTRICT COLLEGES, AND AREA TECHNICAL COLLEGES .11
(5) "P
RECEPTOR" MEANS A HEALTH-CARE PROFESSIONAL WHO IS12
REGISTERED, CERTIFIED, OR LICENSED, AS APPROPRIATE, PURSUANT TO13
TITLE 12 WHO ASSUMES THE RESPONSIBILITY OF TEACHING , SUPERVISING,14
AND EVALUATING A STUDENT SEEKING A DEGREE IN A HEALTH -CARE15
PROFESSION DISCIPLINE AS PART OF THE STUDENT 'S CLINICAL TRAINING16
AND EDUCATION IN A RURAL OR FRONTIER COUNTY .17
(6) "R
URAL OR FRONTIER COUNTY " MEANS A COUNTY IN18
C
OLORADO DESIGNATED BY THE STATE OFFICE OF RURAL HEALTH , KNOWN19
AS THE COLORADO RURAL HEALTH CENTER , AS A RURAL OR FRONTIER20
COUNTY.21
(7) "R
URAL PROGRAM OFFICE " MEANS THE OFFICE THAT22
ADMINISTERS THE UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO'S SCHOOL OF MEDICINE'S23
RURAL PROGRAM AT THE HEALTH SCIENCES CENTER CAMPUS .24
23-76.5-102. Colorado rural health-care workforce initiative25
- institution health-care professionals rural tracks. (1) T
HERE IS26
ESTABLISHED THE COLORADO RURAL HEALTH -CARE WORKFORCE27
SB22-172
-4- INITIATIVE TO EXPAND THE NUMBER OF HEALTH -CARE PROFESSIONALS1
PRACTICING IN COLORADO'S RURAL OR FRONTIER COUNTIES.2
(2) A
S PART OF THE INITIATIVE, AN INSTITUTION OF HIGHER3
EDUCATION MAY ESTABLISH A HEALTH -CARE PROFESSIONALS RURAL4
TRACK, OR EXPAND AN EXISTING RURAL TRACK, THAT MEETS THE CRITERIA5
DESCRIBED IN SUBSECTION (3) OF THIS SECTION, WITHIN ANY SPECIFIED6
HEALTH-CARE PROFESSIONAL CREDENTIAL OR DEGREE PROGRAM OFFERED7
AT THE INSTITUTION. ON OR BEFORE AUGUST 1 OF EACH FISCAL YEAR IN8
WHICH AN INSTITUTION RECEIVES FUNDING FOR A RURAL TRACK , THE9
INSTITUTION SHALL SUBMIT TO THE RURAL PROGRAM OFFICE A WRITTEN10
PLAN DESCRIBING HOW THE INSTITUTION INTENDS TO USE THE FUNDING TO11
MEET THE REQUIREMENTS FOR A RURAL TRACK DESCRIBED IN SUBSECTION12
(3)
OF THIS SECTION.13
(3) S
UBJECT TO AVAILABLE APPROPRIATIONS , IN OPERATING A14
RURAL TRACK, AN INSTITUTION SHALL:15
(a) C
ONDUCT AN OUTREACH CAMPAIGN TO PROMOTE KNOWLEDGE16
OF AND INTEREST IN RURAL HEALTH -CARE CAREERS, INFORM STUDENTS17
AND PROSPECTIVE STUDENTS OF THE INITIATIVE, AND IDENTIFY POTENTIAL18
STUDENT APPLICANTS;19
(b) P
RIORITIZE ADMISSION TO THE INSTITUTION AND SET ASIDE20
SEATS IN ITS HEALTH-CARE PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION PROGRAM FOR21
STUDENTS IN THE RURAL TRACK;22
(c) A
WARD SCHOLARSHIPS TO STUDENTS IN THE RURAL TRACK , AS23
DESCRIBED IN SUBSECTION (6) OF THIS SECTION;24
(d) O
FFER DIDACTIC CURRICULUM THAT THE RURAL PROGRAM25
OFFICE DEVELOPS IN COLLABORATION WITH OTHER INSTITUTIONS THAT26
OPERATE A RURAL TRACK RELATED TO PRACTICING THE HEALTH -CARE27
SB22-172
-5- DISCIPLINE IN RURAL OR FRONTIER COUNTIES TO STUDENTS IN THE RURAL1
TRACK;2
(e) I
DENTIFY RURAL OR FRONTIER COUNTIES IN WHICH STUDENTS3
MAY ACCOMPLISH THEIR CLINICAL TRAINING AND ESTABLISH4
RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN STUDENTS AND HEALTH -CARE PROFESSIONALS5
IN RURAL OR FRONTIER COUNTIES WHO CAN SERVE AS PRECEPTORS ;6
(f) P
ROVIDE INSTRUCTIONAL SUPPORT AND ADMINISTRATIVE7
RESOURCES FOR PRECEPTORS; AND8
(g) P
LACE STUDENTS FOR A SIGNIFICANT DURATION IN RURAL OR9
FRONTIER COUNTIES FOR CLINICAL INSTRUCTION AND TRAINING OF10
SIGNIFICANT DEPTH FROM A PRECEPTOR , WHICH PLACEMENT MAY BE IN11
COLLABORATION WITH THE RURAL PROGRAM OFFICE AND OTHER12
PARTICIPATING PROGRAMS IN THE INITIATIVE.13
(4) A
N INSTITUTION THAT RECEIVES FUNDING FOR A RURAL TRACK14
SHALL REPORT TO THE RURAL PROGRAM OFFICE INFORMATION ABOUT THE15
RURAL TRACK REQUESTED BY THE RURAL PROGRAM OFFICE FOR THE16
PURPOSE OF PREPARING THE REPORT DESCRIBED IN SECTION 23-76.5-104.17
(5) A
N INSTITUTION MAY USE THE MONEY APPROPRIATED FOR ITS18
RURAL TRACK PURSUANT TO SECTION 23-76.5-105 FOR THE FOLLOWING:19
(a) T
OTAL OR PARTIAL COMPENSATION FOR ONE OR MORE FACULTY20
OR STAFF TO DEVELOP THE RURAL TRACK AND TO OPERATE THE RURAL21
TRACK IN A MANNER THAT MEETS THE REQUIREMENTS LISTED IN22
SUBSECTION (3) OF THIS SECTION;23
(b) T
HE COST OF HOUSING FOR STUDENTS FOR ALL OR PART OF THE24
DURATION OF THE STUDENTS' CLINICAL INSTRUCTION AND TRAINING IN A25
RURAL OR FRONTIER COUNTY ;26
(c) T
RAINING PRECEPTORS WHO PRACTICE IN RURAL OR FRONTIER27
SB22-172
-6- COUNTIES TO PROVIDE PERSONALIZED CLINICAL INSTRUCTION OR TRAINING1
TO RURAL TRACK STUDENTS; AND2
(d) P
ROVIDING SCHOLARSHIPS TO STUDENTS IN THE RURAL TRACK ,3
AS DESCRIBED IN SUBSECTION (6) OF THIS SECTION.4
(6) (a) A
N INSTITUTION THAT OPERATES A RURAL TRACK SHALL5
AWARD SCHOLARSHIPS TO STUDENTS PARTICIPATING IN THE RURAL TRACK6
WHO COMMIT IN WRITING TO LIVING AND WORKING AS A HEALTH -CARE7
PROFESSIONAL IN A RURAL OR FRONTIER COUNTY FOR TWO YEARS AFTER8
COMPLETING EDUCATION AND TRAINING . AN INSTITUTION SHALL USE9
FORTY PERCENT OF THE FUNDING RECEIVED FOR THE RURAL TRACK TO10
AWARD SCHOLARSHIPS. THE INSTITUTION MAY DETERMINE THE AMOUNT11
OF EACH SCHOLARSHIP BASED ON THE SCHOLARSHIP APPLICANT 'S12
DEMONSTRATED FINANCIAL NEED AND DEMONSTRATED COMMITMENT TO13
WORKING AS A HEALTH-CARE PROFESSIONAL IN A RURAL OR FRONTIER14
COUNTY.15
(b) A
STUDENT WHO FAILS TO FULFILL THE COMMITMENT TO WORK16
IN A RURAL OR FRONTIER COUNTY AFTER ACCEPTING A SCHOLARSHIP17
SHALL REMIT THE FULL AMOUNT OF THE SCHOLARSHIP TO THE INSTITUTION18
THAT AWARDED THE SCHOLARSHIP . EACH INSTITUTION THAT OPERATES A19
RURAL TRACK IS RESPONSIBLE FOR DEVELOPING A PROCESS FOR20
DETERMINING WHETHER A STUDENT FULFILLS THE COMMITMENT AND FOR21
RECOVERING SCHOLARSHIP MONEY WHEN NECESSARY . AN INSTITUTION22
THAT RECOVERS SCHOLARSHIP MONEY PURSUANT TO THIS SUBSECTION23
(6)(b)
SHALL USE THE MONEY FOR ANY PERMISSIBLE USE DESCRIBED IN24
SUBSECTION (3) OF THIS SECTION.25
(c) R
ECEIVING A SCHOLARSHIP DESCRIBED IN THIS SUBSECTION (6)26
DOES NOT AFFECT THE STUDENTS ' ELIGIBILITY FOR THE COLORADO27
SB22-172
-7- HEALTH SERVICE CORPS DESCRIBED IN PART 5 OF ARTICLE 1.5 OF TITLE 25.1
23-76.5-103. Initiative administrative and education support2
- university of Colorado school of medicine rural program. (1) T
HE3
RURAL PROGRAM OFFICE SHALL PROVIDE ASSISTANCE TO THE4
INSTITUTIONS ESTABLISHING AND OPERATING A RURAL TRACK . THE RURAL5
PROGRAM OFFICE SHALL:6
(a) P
ROVIDE GUIDANCE TO AN INSTITUTION REGARDING7
RECRUITING AND ADMITTING STUDENTS COMMITTED TO WORKING IN8
RURAL AREAS;9
(b) A
SSIST AN INSTITUTION WITH IDENTIFYING RURAL OR FRONTIER10
COUNTIES IN WHICH STUDENTS MAY ACCOMPLISH THEIR CLINICAL11
TRAINING AND ESTABLISHING RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN STUDENTS AND12
HEALTH-CARE PROFESSIONALS IN RURAL OR FRONTIER C OUNTIES WHO CAN13
SERVE AS PRECEPTORS;14
(c) F
ACILITATE, ARRANGE, OR ADVISE AN INSTITUTION ABOUT15
ARRANGING HOUSING FOR STUDENTS RECEIVING CLINICAL INSTRUCTION16
AND TRAINING IN A RURAL OR FRONTIER COUNTY ;17
(d) D
EVELOP, IN COLLABORATION WITH INSTITUTIONS THAT18
OPERATE A RURAL TRACK , DIDACTIC CURRICULUM RELATED TO19
PRACTICING IN RURAL OR FRONTIER COUNTIES AND PROVIDE THE20
CURRICULUM WITHOUT CHARGE TO EACH INSTITUTION THAT OPERATES A21
RURAL TRACK; AND22
(e) P
ROVIDE ANY OTHER TECHNICAL OR ADMINISTRATIVE23
ASSISTANCE THAT MAY BENEFIT AN INSTITUTION THAT IS ESTABLISHING OR24
OPERATING A RURAL TRACK.25
(2) (a) T
HE RURAL PROGRAM OFFICE SHALL DEVELOP METRICS TO26
EVALUATE THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE INITIATIVE AND RURAL TRACKS ,27
SB22-172
-8- ANNUALLY EVALUATE THE INITIATIVE AND RURAL TRACKS , AND CREATE1
THE REPORT DESCRIBED IN SECTION 23-76.5-104.2
(b) T
HE RURAL PROGRAM OFFICE MAY COLLABORATE WITH THE3
REGIONAL AREA HEALTH EDUCATION CENTERS AND THE COLORADO RURAL4
HEALTH CENTER TO ASSESS RURAL COMMUNITY HEALTH -CARE PRIORITY5
NEEDS IN ORDER TO INFORM DECISIONS ABOUT RURAL TRACK FUNDING ,6
AND MAY INCLUDE ANY RELEVANT FINDINGS AND INFORMATION IN THE7
REPORT.8
23-76.5-104. Initiative reporting. (1) O
N OR BEFORE NOVEMBER9
1,
2023, AND ON OR BEFORE NOVEMBER 1 EACH YEAR THEREAFTER, THE10
RURAL PROGRAM OFFICE SHALL SUBMIT A REPORT TO THE HOUSE OF11
REPRESENTATIVES EDUCATION COMMITTEE AND THE SENATE EDUCATION12
COMMITTEE, OR THEIR SUCCESSOR COMMITTEES , CONCERNING THE13
INITIATIVE. THE REPORT MUST INCLUDE:14
(a) I
NFORMATION ABOUT EACH INSTITUTION 'S HEALTH-CARE15
PROFESSIONALS RURAL TRACKS , THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS ENROLLED IN16
EACH RURAL TRACK, THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS WHO HAVE COMPLETED17
EACH RURAL TRACK AND ARE PRACTICING IN A RURAL OR FRONTIER18
COUNTY; AND ANY OTHER RELEVANT DATA AND INFORMATION ABOUT THE19
INITIATIVE; AND20
(b) T
HE RURAL PROGRAM OFFICE 'S ANALYSIS OF THE21
EFFECTIVENESS OF THE INITIATIVE AND RURAL TRACKS .22
(2)
THE REPORT MAY INCLUDE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR23
LEGISLATIVE CHANGES TO THE INITIATIVE, INCLUDING RECOMMENDATIONS24
FOR EXPANDING THE INITIATIVE.25
23-76.5-105. Initiative funding - repeal. (1) T
HE GENERAL26
ASSEMBLY SHALL ANNUALLY APPROPRIATE TO THE UNIVERSITY OF27
SB22-172
-9- COLORADO HEALTH SCIENCES CENTER CAMPUS ONE HUNDRED FIFTY1
THOUSAND DOLLARS FOR THE RURAL PROGRAM OFFICE TO CARRY OUT ITS2
DUTIES DESCRIBED IN SECTION 23-76.5-103. THE APPROPRIATION3
DESCRIBED IN THIS SUBSECTION (1) IS SEPARATE FROM ANY4
APPROPRIATION TO THE UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO, OR ANY CAMPUS OR5
PROGRAM THEREOF, FOR A RURAL TRACK, AS DESCRIBED IN SUBSECTION6
(2)
OF THIS SECTION.7
(2) (a) F
OR THE 2022-23 STATE FISCAL YEAR, THE GENERAL8
ASSEMBLY SHALL APPROPRIATE TO EACH OF THE FOLLOWING INSTITUTIONS9
A MAXIMUM OF FOUR HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS FOR EACH PROGRAM10
OR SCHOOL LISTED IN THIS SUBSECTION (2) TO ESTABLISH OR EXPAND AN11
EXISTING RURAL TRACK PURSUANT TO THIS ARTICLE 76.5:12
(I) A
DAMS STATE UNIVERSITY, IN ITS NURSING PROGRAM;13
(II) C
OLORADO MESA UNIVERSITY, IN ITS NURSING PROGRAM;14
(III) T
HE COLORADO SCHOOL OF PUBLIC HEALTH , IN ITS MASTER15
OF PUBLIC HEALTH PROGRAM;16
(IV) C
OLORADO STATE UNIVERSITY - PUEBLO, IN ITS SCHOOL OF17
NURSING;18
(V) M
ETROPOLITAN STATE UNIVERSITY OF DENVER, IN ITS19
NURSING PROGRAM;20
(VI) T
HE UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO, IN THE FOLLOWING21
PROGRAMS OR SCHOOLS:22
(A) A
T THE HEALTH SCIENCES CENTER CAMPUS , IN ITS SCHOOL OF23
DENTAL MEDICINE AND SCHOOL OF MEDICINE ; AND24
(B) A
T THE COLORADO SPRINGS CAMPUS, IN ITS NURSING25
PROGRAM;26
(VII) T
HE UNIVERSITY OF NORTHERN COLORADO, IN ITS SCHOOL27
SB22-172
-10- OF NURSING;1
(VIII) W
ESTERN COLORADO UNIVERSITY, IN ITS MASTER OF2
BEHAVIORAL SCIENCE IN RURAL COMMUNITY HEALTH PROGRAM ; AND3
(IX) A
T THE FOLLOWING INSTITUTIONS GOVERNED BY THE STATE4
BOARD FOR COMMUNITY COLLEGES AND OCCUPATIONAL EDUCATION :5
(A) F
RONT RANGE COMMUNITY COLLEGE , IN ITS NURSING6
PROGRAM; AND7
(B) O
TERO COLLEGE, IN ITS NURSING PROGRAM.8
(b) F
OR FISCAL YEAR 2022-23, THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY SHALL9
NOT APPROPRIATE MONEY TO AN INSTITUTION TO ESTABLISH OR OPERATE10
A RURAL TRACK OTHER THAN AS DESCRIBED IN THIS SUBSECTION (2).11
(c) T
HIS SUBSECTION (2) IS REPEALED, EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2023.12
SECTION 3. Safety clause. The general assembly hereby finds,13
determines, and declares that this act is necessary for the immediate14
preservation of the public peace, health, or safety.15
SB22-172
-11-