Second Regular Session
Seventy-third General Assembly
STATE OF COLORADO
ENGROSSED
This Version Includes All Amendments Adopted
on Second Reading in the House of Introduction
LLS NO. 22-0909.02 Conrad Imel x2313
SENATE BILL 22-172
Senate Committees House Committees
Health & Human Services
Appropriations
A BILL FOR AN ACT
C
ONCERNING AN INITIATIVE TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF101
HEALTH-CARE PROFESSIONALS PRACTICING IN COLORADO'S102
RURAL AREAS, AND, IN CONNECTION THEREWITH , MAKING AN
103
APPROPRIATION.104
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,
SENATE
Amended 2nd Reading
May 3, 2022
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. an institution of higher education (institution) is authorized to establish
and operate a health-care professionals rural track within any health-care
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
172-2- health-care workforce across Colorado hit rural areas especially hard, and1
the associated burnout is causing health-care workers to leave medicine2
and nursing;3
(d) The university of Colorado (CU) school of medicine's rural4
office at the Anschutz medical campus provides a model program for5
educating health-care professionals that wish to live and work in rural6
areas. Other institutions that educate health-care professionals can take7
advantage of the expertise, experience, and infrastructure in place at the8
CU school of medicine's rural office in order to prepare their health-care9
students to work in rural or frontier counties.10
(e) Establishing and funding a limited number of health-care11
professional rural track programs allows the general assembly to collect12
data and information on best practices for providing13
rural-practice-focused education to health-care professionals; and14
(f) The general assembly can use the lessons learned to later15
expand the new Colorado rural health-care workforce initiative to other16
institutions and practice areas to increase the number of health-care17
professionals practicing in Colorado's rural and frontier counties.18
SECTION 2. In Colorado Revised Statutes, add article 76.5 to19
title 23 as follows:20
ARTICLE 76.521
Colorado Rural Health-care Workforce Initiative22
23-76.5-101. Definitions. A
S USED IN THIS ARTICLE 76.5, UNLESS23
THE CONTEXT OTHERWISE REQUIRES :24
(1) "H
EALTH-CARE PROFESSIONAL" MEANS A PHYSICIAN ,25
PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT, PHYSICAL THERAPIST, NURSE, INCLUDING NURSE26
PRACTITIONER, PHARMACIST, DENTIST, PROFESSIONAL COUNSELOR ,27
172
-3- PSYCHOLOGIST, SOCIAL WORKER, OR MARRIAGE AND FAMILY THERAPIST1
WHO IS REGISTERED, CERTIFIED, OR LICENSED PURSUANT TO TITLE 12 AND2
WHO IS SUBJECT TO CREDENTIALING. "HEALTH-CARE PROFESSIONAL" ALSO3
INCLUDES A PUBLIC HEALTH PROFESSIONAL WHO IS NOT REQUIRED TO BE4
REGISTERED, CERTIFIED, OR LICENSED PURSUANT TO STATE LAW .5
(2) "H
EALTH-CARE PROFESSIONALS RURAL TRACK " OR "RURAL6
TRACK" MEANS A HEALTH -CARE PROFESSIONALS RURAL TRACK OR
7
PROGRAM ESTABLISHED BY AN INSTITUTION PURSUANT TO SECTION8
23-76.5-102.9
(3) "I
NITIATIVE" MEANS THE COLORADO RURAL HEALTH -CARE10
WORKFORCE INITIATIVE ESTABLISHED IN THIS ARTICLE 76.5.11
(4) "I
NSTITUTION OF HIGHER EDUCATION " OR "INSTITUTION"12
MEANS STATE INSTITUTIONS AS DEFINED IN SECTION 23-18-102 (10)(a),13
LOCAL DISTRICT COLLEGES, AND AREA TECHNICAL COLLEGES .14
(5) "P
RECEPTOR" MEANS A HEALTH-CARE PROFESSIONAL WHO IS15
REGISTERED, CERTIFIED, OR LICENSED, AS APPROPRIATE, PURSUANT TO16
TITLE 12 WHO ASSUMES THE RESPONSIBILITY OF TEACHING , SUPERVISING,17
AND EVALUATING A STUDENT SEEKING A DEGREE IN A HEALTH -CARE18
PROFESSION DISCIPLINE AS PART OF THE STUDENT 'S CLINICAL TRAINING19
AND EDUCATION IN A RURAL OR FRONTIER COUNTY .20
(6) "R
URAL OR FRONTIER COUNTY " MEANS A COUNTY IN21
C
OLORADO DESIGNATED BY THE STATE OFFICE OF RURAL HEALTH , KNOWN22
AS THE COLORADO RURAL HEALTH CENTER , AS A RURAL OR FRONTIER23
COUNTY.24
(7) "R
URAL PROGRAM OFFICE " MEANS THE OFFICE THAT25
ADMINISTERS THE UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO'S SCHOOL OF MEDICINE'S26
RURAL PROGRAM AT THE HEALTH SCIENCES CENTER CAMPUS .27
172
-4- 23-76.5-102. Colorado rural health-care workforce initiative1
- institution health-care professionals rural tracks. (1) T
HERE IS2
ESTABLISHED THE COLORADO RURAL HEALTH -CARE WORKFORCE3
INITIATIVE TO EXPAND THE NUMBER OF HEALTH -CARE PROFESSIONALS4
PRACTICING IN COLORADO'S RURAL OR FRONTIER COUNTIES.5
(2) A
S PART OF THE INITIATIVE, AN INSTITUTION OF HIGHER6
EDUCATION MAY ESTABLISH A HEALTH -CARE PROFESSIONALS RURAL7
TRACK, OR EXPAND AN EXISTING RURAL TRACK, THAT MEETS THE CRITERIA8
DESCRIBED IN SUBSECTION (3) OF THIS SECTION, WITHIN ANY SPECIFIED9
HEALTH-CARE PROFESSIONAL CREDENTIAL OR DEGREE PROGRAM OFFERED10
AT THE INSTITUTION. ON OR BEFORE AUGUST 1 OF EACH FISCAL YEAR IN11
WHICH AN INSTITUTION RECEIVES FUNDING FOR A RURAL TRACK , THE12
INSTITUTION SHALL SUBMIT TO THE RURAL PROGRAM OFFICE A WRITTEN13
PLAN DESCRIBING HOW THE INSTITUTION INTENDS TO USE THE FUNDING TO14
MEET THE REQUIREMENTS FOR A RURAL TRACK DESCRIBED IN SUBSECTION15
(3)
OF THIS SECTION.16
(3) S
UBJECT TO AVAILABLE APPROPRIATIONS , IN OPERATING A17
RURAL TRACK, AN INSTITUTION SHALL:18
(a) C
ONDUCT AN OUTREACH CAMPAIGN TO PROMOTE KNOWLEDGE19
OF AND INTEREST IN RURAL HEALTH -CARE CAREERS, INFORM STUDENTS20
AND PROSPECTIVE STUDENTS OF THE INITIATIVE, AND IDENTIFY POTENTIAL21
STUDENT APPLICANTS;22
(b) P
RIORITIZE ADMISSION TO THE INSTITUTION AND SET ASIDE23
SEATS IN ITS HEALTH-CARE PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION PROGRAM FOR24
STUDENTS IN THE RURAL TRACK;25
(c) A
WARD SCHOLARSHIPS TO STUDENTS IN THE RURAL TRACK , AS26
DESCRIBED IN SUBSECTION (6) OF THIS SECTION;27
172
-5- (d) OFFER DIDACTIC CURRICULUM THAT THE RURAL PROGRAM1
OFFICE DEVELOPS IN COLLABORATION WITH OTHER INSTITUTIONS THAT2
OPERATE A RURAL TRACK RELATED TO PRACTICING THE HEALTH -CARE3
DISCIPLINE IN RURAL OR FRONTIER COUNTIES TO STUDENTS IN THE RURAL4
TRACK;5
(e) I
DENTIFY RURAL OR FRONTIER COUNTIES IN WHICH STUDENTS6
MAY ACCOMPLISH THEIR CLINICAL TRAINING AND ESTABLISH7
RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN STUDENTS AND HEALTH -CARE PROFESSIONALS8
IN RURAL OR FRONTIER COUNTIES WHO CAN SERVE AS PRECEPTORS ;9
(f) P
ROVIDE INSTRUCTIONAL SUPPORT AND ADMINISTRATIVE10
RESOURCES FOR PRECEPTORS; AND11
(g) P
LACE STUDENTS FOR A SIGNIFICANT DURATION IN RURAL OR12
FRONTIER COUNTIES FOR CLINICAL INSTRUCTION AND TRAINING OF13
SIGNIFICANT DEPTH FROM A PRECEPTOR , WHICH PLACEMENT MAY BE IN14
COLLABORATION WITH THE RURAL PROGRAM OFFICE AND OTHER15
PARTICIPATING PROGRAMS IN THE INITIATIVE.16
(4) A
N INSTITUTION THAT RECEIVES FUNDING FOR A RURAL TRACK17
SHALL REPORT TO THE RURAL PROGRAM OFFICE INFORMATION ABOUT THE18
RURAL TRACK REQUESTED BY THE RURAL PROGRAM OFFICE FOR THE19
PURPOSE OF PREPARING THE REPORT DESCRIBED IN SECTION 23-76.5-104.20
(5) A
N INSTITUTION MAY USE THE MONEY APPROPRIATED FOR ITS21
RURAL TRACK PURSUANT TO SECTION 23-76.5-105 FOR THE FOLLOWING:22
(a) T
OTAL OR PARTIAL COMPENSATION FOR ONE OR MORE FACULTY23
OR STAFF TO DEVELOP THE RURAL TRACK AND TO OPERATE THE RURAL24
TRACK IN A MANNER THAT MEETS THE REQUIREMENTS LISTED IN25
SUBSECTION (3) OF THIS SECTION;26
(b) T
HE COST OF HOUSING FOR STUDENTS FOR ALL OR PART OF THE27
172
-6- DURATION OF THE STUDENTS' CLINICAL INSTRUCTION AND TRAINING IN A1
RURAL OR FRONTIER COUNTY ;2
(c) T
RAINING PRECEPTORS WHO PRACTICE IN RURAL OR FRONTIER3
COUNTIES TO PROVIDE PERSONALIZED CLINICAL INSTRUCTION OR TRAINING4
TO RURAL TRACK STUDENTS; AND5
(d) P
ROVIDING SCHOLARSHIPS TO STUDENTS IN THE RURAL TRACK ,6
AS DESCRIBED IN SUBSECTION (6) OF THIS SECTION.7
(6) (a) A
N INSTITUTION THAT OPERATES A RURAL TRACK SHALL8
AWARD SCHOLARSHIPS TO STUDENTS PARTICIPATING IN THE RURAL TRACK9
WHO COMMIT IN WRITING TO LIVING AND WORKING AS A HEALTH -CARE10
PROFESSIONAL IN A RURAL OR FRONTIER COUNTY FOR TWO YEARS AFTER11
COMPLETING EDUCATION AND TRAINING . AN INSTITUTION SHALL USE12
FORTY PERCENT OF THE FUNDING RECEIVED FOR THE RURAL TRACK TO13
AWARD SCHOLARSHIPS. THE INSTITUTION MAY DETERMINE THE AMOUNT14
OF EACH SCHOLARSHIP BASED ON THE SCHOLARSHIP APPLICANT 'S15
DEMONSTRATED FINANCIAL NEED AND DEMONSTRATED COMMITMENT TO16
WORKING AS A HEALTH-CARE PROFESSIONAL IN A RURAL OR FRONTIER17
COUNTY.18
(b) A
STUDENT WHO FAILS TO FULFILL THE COMMITMENT TO WORK19
IN A RURAL OR FRONTIER COUNTY AFTER ACCEPTING A SCHOLARSHIP20
SHALL REMIT THE FULL AMOUNT OF THE SCHOLARSHIP TO THE INSTITUTION21
THAT AWARDED THE SCHOLARSHIP . EACH INSTITUTION THAT OPERATES A22
RURAL TRACK IS RESPONSIBLE FOR DEVELOPING A PROCESS FOR23
DETERMINING WHETHER A STUDENT FULFILLS THE COMMITMENT AND FOR24
RECOVERING SCHOLARSHIP MONEY WHEN NECESSARY . AN INSTITUTION25
THAT RECOVERS SCHOLARSHIP MONEY PURSUANT TO THIS SUBSECTION26
(6)(b)
SHALL USE THE MONEY FOR ANY PERMISSIBLE USE DESCRIBED IN27
172
-7- SUBSECTION (3) OF THIS SECTION.1
(c) R
ECEIVING A SCHOLARSHIP DESCRIBED IN THIS SUBSECTION (6)2
DOES NOT AFFECT THE STUDENTS ' ELIGIBILITY FOR THE COLORADO3
HEALTH SERVICE CORPS DESCRIBED IN PART 5 OF ARTICLE 1.5 OF TITLE 25
4
OR FOR THE DENTAL LOAN REPAYMENT PROGRAM DESCRIBED IN ARTICLE5
23
OF TITLE 25.
6
23-76.5-103. Initiative administrative and education support7
- university of Colorado school of medicine rural program. (1) T
HE8
RURAL PROGRAM OFFICE SHALL PROVIDE ASSISTANCE TO THE9
INSTITUTIONS ESTABLISHING AND OPERATING A RURAL TRACK . THE RURAL10
PROGRAM OFFICE SHALL:11
(a) P
ROVIDE GUIDANCE TO AN INSTITUTION REGARDING12
RECRUITING AND ADMITTING STUDENTS COMMITTED TO WORKING IN13
RURAL AREAS;14
(b) A
SSIST AN INSTITUTION WITH IDENTIFYING RURAL OR FRONTIER15
COUNTIES IN WHICH STUDENTS MAY ACCOMPLISH THEIR CLINICAL16
TRAINING AND ESTABLISHING RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN STUDENTS AND17
HEALTH-CARE PROFESSIONALS IN RURAL OR FRONTIER COUNTIES WHO CAN18
SERVE AS PRECEPTORS;19
(c) F
ACILITATE, ARRANGE, OR ADVISE AN INSTITUTION ABOUT20
ARRANGING HOUSING FOR STUDENTS RECEIVING CLINICAL INSTRUCTION21
AND TRAINING IN A RURAL OR FRONTIER COUNTY ;22
(d) D
EVELOP, IN COLLABORATION WITH INSTITUTIONS THAT23
OPERATE A RURAL TRACK , DIDACTIC CURRICULUM RELATED TO24
PRACTICING IN RURAL OR FRONTIER COUNTIES AND PROVIDE THE25
CURRICULUM WITHOUT CHARGE TO EACH INSTITUTION THAT OPERATES A26
RURAL TRACK; AND27
172
-8- (e) PROVIDE ANY OTHER TECHNICAL OR ADMINISTRATIVE1
ASSISTANCE THAT MAY BENEFIT AN INSTITUTION THAT IS ESTABLISHING OR2
OPERATING A RURAL TRACK.3
(2) (a) T
HE RURAL PROGRAM OFFICE SHALL DEVELOP METRICS TO4
EVALUATE THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE INITIATIVE AND RURAL TRACKS ,5
ANNUALLY EVALUATE THE INITIATIVE AND RURAL TRACKS , AND CREATE6
THE REPORT DESCRIBED IN SECTION 23-76.5-104.7
(b) T
HE RURAL PROGRAM OFFICE MAY COLLABORATE WITH THE
8
C
OLORADO AREA HEALTH EDUCATION CENTERS , THE DEPARTMENT OF
9
PUBLIC HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENT , A STATEWIDE ORGANIZATION OF10
HOSPITALS, AND THE COLORADO RURAL HEALTH CENTER TO ASSESS11
UNMET RURAL COMMUNITY HEALTH -CARE PRIORITY NEEDS, COLLECT12
DATA TO SUPPORT THE ASSESSMENT , AND MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS TO13
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY FOR FUNDING TO SUPPORT ADDING MORE14
SCHOOLS, PROGRAMS, AND HEALTH-CARE PROFESSIONALS TO MEET THAT15
NEED. THE RURAL PROGRAM OFFICE MAY INCLUDE THE16
RECOMMENDATIONS IN ITS ANNUAL REPORT .17
23-76.5-104. Initiative reporting. (1) O
N OR BEFORE NOVEMBER18
1,
2023, AND ON OR BEFORE NOVEMBER 1 EACH YEAR THEREAFTER, THE19
RURAL PROGRAM OFFICE SHALL SUBMIT A REPORT TO THE HOUSE OF20
REPRESENTATIVES EDUCATION COMMITTEE AND THE SENATE EDUCATION21
COMMITTEE, OR THEIR SUCCESSOR COMMITTEES , CONCERNING THE22
INITIATIVE. THE REPORT MUST INCLUDE:23
(a) I
NFORMATION ABOUT EACH INSTITUTION 'S HEALTH-CARE24
PROFESSIONALS RURAL TRACKS , THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS ENROLLED IN25
EACH RURAL TRACK, THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS WHO HAVE COMPLETED26
EACH RURAL TRACK AND ARE PRACTICING IN A RURAL OR FRONTIER27
172
-9- COUNTY; AND ANY OTHER RELEVANT DATA AND INFORMATION ABOUT THE1
INITIATIVE; AND2
(b) T
HE RURAL PROGRAM OFFICE 'S ANALYSIS OF THE3
EFFECTIVENESS OF THE INITIATIVE AND RURAL TRACKS .4
(2)
THE REPORT MAY INCLUDE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR5
LEGISLATIVE CHANGES TO THE INITIATIVE, INCLUDING RECOMMENDATIONS6
FOR EXPANDING THE INITIATIVE.7
23-76.5-105. Initiative funding - fee for service contracts -
8
repeal. (1) S
UBJECT TO AVAILABLE APPROPRIATIONS , THE DEPARTMENT
9
OF HIGHER EDUCATION SHALL ENTER INTO A LIMITED PURPOSE10
FEE-FOR-SERVICE CONTRACT WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO11
HEALTH SCIENCES CENTER PURSUANT TO SECTION 23-18-308 TO PROVIDE12
FUNDING FOR THE RURAL PROGRAM OFFICE TO CARRY OUT ITS DUTIES13
DESCRIBED IN SECTION 23-76.5-103. THE FUNDING FOR THE RURAL14
PROGRAM OFFICE MAY BE INCLUDED IN A SINGLE FEE -FOR-SERVICE15
CONTRACT WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO HEALTH SCIENCES16
CENTER DESCRIBED IN SUBSECTION (2) OF THIS SECTION.17
(2) S
UBJECT TO AVAILABLE APPROPRIATIONS, THE DEPARTMENT OF
18
HIGHER EDUCATION SHALL ENTER INTO A LIMITED PURPOSE19
FEE-FOR-SERVICE CONTRACT WITH THE GOVERNING BOARDS OF EACH OF20
THE FOLLOWING INSTITUTIONS , EXCEPT FOR COLORADO MOUNTAIN21
COLLEGE, FOR ALLOCATION TO EACH PROGRAM OR SCHOOL LISTED IN22
THIS SUBSECTION (2) TO ESTABLISH OR EXPAND AN EXISTING RURAL23
TRACK PURSUANT TO THIS ARTICLE 76.5:24
(I) A
DAMS STATE UNIVERSITY, IN ITS NURSING PROGRAM;25
(II) C
OLORADO MESA UNIVERSITY, IN ITS NURSING PROGRAM;26
(III) T
HE COLORADO SCHOOL OF PUBLIC HEALTH , IN ITS MASTER27
172
-10- OF PUBLIC HEALTH PROGRAM;1
(IV) C
OLORADO STATE UNIVERSITY - PUEBLO, IN ITS SCHOOL OF2
NURSING;3
(V) M
ETROPOLITAN STATE UNIVERSITY OF DENVER, IN ITS4
NURSING PROGRAM;5
(VI) T
HE UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO, IN THE FOLLOWING6
PROGRAMS OR SCHOOLS:7
(A) A
T THE HEALTH SCIENCES CENTER CAMPUS , IN ITS SCHOOL OF8
DENTAL MEDICINE AND IN ITS DOCTOR OF MEDICINE PROGRAM IN THE
9
SCHOOL OF MEDICINE; 10
(B) A
T THE COLORADO SPRINGS CAMPUS, IN ITS NURSING11
PROGRAM; AND
12
(C) A
T THE HEALTH SCIENCES CENTER CAMPUS , IN ITS PHYSICIAN
13
ASSISTANTS PROGRAM IN THE SCHOOL OF MEDICINE ;14
(VII) T
HE UNIVERSITY OF NORTHERN COLORADO, IN ITS SCHOOL15
OF NURSING;16
(VIII) W
ESTERN COLORADO UNIVERSITY, IN ITS MASTER OF17
BEHAVIORAL SCIENCE IN RURAL COMMUNITY HEALTH PROGRAM ;
18
(IX) C
OLORADO MOUNTAIN COLLEGE , IN ITS NURSING PROGRAM;
19
(X) F
ORT LEWIS COLLEGE, IN ITS NURSING PROGRAM OPERATED IN
20
AGREEMENT WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO NURSING PROGRAM ;21
AND22
(XI) AT THE FOLLOWING INSTITUTIONS GOVERNED BY THE STATE23
BOARD FOR COMMUNITY COLLEGES AND OCCUPATIONAL EDUCATION :24
(A) M
ORGAN COMMUNITY COLLEGE , IN ITS NURSING PROGRAM;
25
AND26
(B) T
RINIDAD STATE COLLEGE, IN ITS NURSING PROGRAM.
27
172
-11- (b) (I) SUBJECT TO AVAILABLE APPROPRIATIONS, THE DEPARTMENT1
OF HIGHER EDUCATION SHALL ALLOCATE MONEY TO COLORADO2
MOUNTAIN COLLEGE TO ESTABLISH A RURAL TRACK IN ITS NURSING3
PROGRAM.4
(II) FOR FISCAL YEAR 2022-23, THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY SHALL5
NOT APPROPRIATE MONEY TO AN INSTITUTION AND THE DEPARTMENT OF6
HIGHER EDUCATION SHALL NOT ENTER INTO A LIMITED PURPOSE7
FEE-FOR-SERVICE CONTRACT WITH A GOVERNING BOARD OR ALLOCATE8
MONEY TO AN INSTITUTION TO ESTABLISH OR OPERATE A RURAL TRACK9
OTHER THAN AS DESCRIBED IN THIS SUBSECTION (2).10
(III) T
HIS SUBSECTION (2)(b)
IS REPEALED, EFFECTIVE JULY 1,11
2023.12
SECTION 3. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 23-18-308, add (1)(j)13
as follows:14
23-18-308. Fee-for-service contracts - limited purpose - repeal.15
(1) Subject to available appropriations, the department shall enter into16
fee-for-service contracts for the following purposes:17
(j) T
HE COLORADO RURAL HEALTH -CARE WORKFORCE INITIATIVE
18
ESTABLISHED IN ARTICLE 76.5 OF THIS TITLE 23, INCLUDING FOR19
HEALTH-CARE PROFESSIONALS RURAL TRACKS AT INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER20
EDUCATION AND ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS AND EDUCATIONAL SUPPORT21
PROVIDED BY THE UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO'S SCHOOL OF MEDICINE'S22
RURAL PROGRAM.23
SECTION 4. Appropriation. (1) For the 2022-23 state fiscal24
year, $1,135,000 is appropriated to the department of higher education.25
This appropriation is from the general fund. To implement this act, the26
department may use this appropriation for the college opportunity fund27
172
-12- program to be used for limited purpose fee-for-service contracts with1
state institutions. 2
(2) For the FY 2022-23 state fiscal year $1,135,000 is3
appropriated to the department of higher education. This appropriation is4
from reappropriated funds received from the limited purpose5
fee-for-service contracts with state institutions under subsection (1) of6
this section. To implement this act, the department may use this7
appropriation as follows:8
(a) $65,000 for the trustees of Adams state university for9
allocation to its nursing program;10
(b) $65,000 for the trustees of Colorado Mesa university for11
allocation to its nursing program;12
(c) $65,000 for the trustees of Metropolitan state university of13
Denver for allocation to its nursing program;14
(d) $65,000 for the trustees of Western Colorado university for15
allocation to its behavioral science in rural community health program;16
(e) $65,000 for the board of governors of the Colorado state17
university system for allocation to Colorado state university Pueblo for its18
school of nursing;19
(f) $65,000 for the trustees of Fort Lewis college for allocation to20
its nursing program;21
(g) $550,000 for the regents of the university of Colorado, which22
amount includes $225,000 for allocation to the health sciences center for23
the rural program office, $65,000 for allocation to the health sciences24
center for the school of dental medicine, $65,000 for allocation to the25
health sciences center for the school of medicine for the doctor of26
medicine program, $65,000 for allocation to the health sciences center for27
172
-13- the school of medicine for the physician assistant program, $65,000 for1
allocation to the Colorado Springs campus for its nursing program, and2
$65,000 for allocation to the Colorado school of public health operated3
by the university of Colorado, Colorado state university, and the4
university of Northern Colorado;5
(h) $65,000 for the university of Northern Colorado for allocation6
to its school of nursing; and7
(i) $130,000 for the state board for community colleges and8
occupational education state system community colleges, which amount9
includes $65,000 for allocation to Morgan community college for its10
nursing program and $65,000 for allocation to Trinidad state college for11
its nursing program.12
(3) For the 2022-23 state fiscal year, $65,000 is appropriated to13
the department of higher education. This appropriation is from the general14
fund. To implement this act, the department may use this appropriation15
for Colorado mountain college for allocation to its nursing program.16
SECTION 5. Safety clause. The general assembly hereby finds,17
determines, and declares that this act is necessary for the immediate18
preservation of the public peace, health, or safety.19
172
-14-