First Regular Session
Seventy-fourth General Assembly
STATE OF COLORADO
ENGROSSED
This Version Includes All Amendments Adopted
on Second Reading in the House of Introduction
LLS NO. 23-0647.01 Josh Schultz x5486
HOUSE BILL 23-1074
House Committees Senate Committees
Business Affairs & Labor
Appropriations
A BILL FOR AN ACT
C
ONCERNING A STUDY REGARDING WORKFORCE TRANSITIONS TO101
OTHER
INDUSTRIES, AND, IN CONNECTION THEREWITH, MAKING102
AN APPROPRIATION.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 requires the office of future of work (office) to contract
with a third party to study workforce transitions in Colorado's economy.
The workforce transitions study (study) must:
! Evaluate the skill transferability of workers in the oil and
gas industry and in occupations in Colorado that are facing
HOUSE
Amended 2nd Reading
March 11, 2023
HOUSE SPONSORSHIP
Dickson and Amabile,
SENATE SPONSORSHIP
Marchman,
Shading denotes HOUSE amendment. Double underlining denotes SENATE amendment.
Capital letters or bold & italic numbers indicate new material to be added to existing law.
Dashes through the words or numbers indicate deletions from existing law. the most disruption due to automation;
! Explore training availability, skills needed, and transition
strategies; and
! Provide recommendations for programs and policies to
prepare the workforce for these transitions.
On or before December 1, 2024, the office is required to submit a
report of the study's research and findings to the governor and to the
business, labor, and technology committee of the senate and the business
affairs and labor committee of the house of representatives.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Colorado:1
SECTION 1. In Colorado Revised Statutes, add part 7 to article2
83 of title 8 as follows: 3
PART 74
WORKFORCE TRANSITIONS STUDY5
8-83-701. Definitions. A
S USED IN THIS PART 7, UNLESS THE6
CONTEXT OTHERWISE REQUIRES :7
(1) "E
MERGING INDUSTRIES" MEANS INDUSTRIES THAT ARE IN THE8
EARLY STAGE OF
POTENTIAL MARKET SHARE IN COLORADO BUT ARE9
GROWING IN ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE AND JOB CREATION .10
(2) "O
FFICE" MEANS THE COLORADO OFFICE OF FUTURE OF WORK11
CREATED IN SECTION 8-77-110.12
(3) "S
TUDY" MEANS THE WORKFORCE TRANSITIONS STUDY13
REQUIRED BY SECTION 8-83-702 (1).14
8-83-702. Workforce transitions study - report. (1) O
N OR15
BEFORE DECEMBER 1, 2023, THE OFFICE SHALL CONTRACT WITH AN16
INDEPENDENT THIRD PARTY TO CONDUCT A STUDY THAT EXPLORES17
WORKFORCE TRANSITIONS IN COLORADO'S ECONOMY FOR WORKERS IN THE18
OIL AND GAS INDUSTRY AND WORKERS AFFECTED BY INDUSTRY19
DISRUPTION DUE TO AUTOMATION .20
1074-2- (2) THE OFFICE SHALL ADMINISTER A REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS1
AND SOLICIT FIRMS OR PUBLIC ENTITIES WITH THE NECESSARY2
CREDENTIALS, AS DETERMINED BY THE OFFICE, TO BID ON PERFORMING3
THE STUDY.4
(3) I
N PERFORMING THE STUDY, THE CONTRACTOR SHALL:5
(a) R
EGARDING OIL AND GAS WORKERS :6
(I) E
VALUATE THE TRANSFERABLE AND NONTRANSFERABLE SKILLS7
OF WORKERS IN OIL AND GAS EXTRACTION
JOBS, IDENTIFY KEY8
POPULATIONS OF THE WORKFORCE WHOSE JOBS MAY NOT EASILY9
TRANSITION TO NEW INDUSTRIES OR NEW TYPES OF WORK, AND MAKE10
RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE OFFICE ON NEXT STEPS TO DEVELOP11
WORKFORCE ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS TO ASSIST THESE WORKERS ;12
(II) IDENTIFY EXISTING AND EMERGING INDUSTRIES RELATED TO13
OIL AND GAS EXTRACTION AND THE UTILITY SECTOR, AND EVALUATE JOB14
TRANSFERABILITY TO AND RETRAINING FOR THESE EXISTING AND15
EMERGING INDUSTRIES, INCLUDING ADJACENT ENERGY AND CARBON16
MANAGEMENT INDUSTRIES SUCH AS HYDROGEN FUELS; ENHANCED17
GEOTHERMAL SYSTEMS ; CARBON CAPTURE , UTILIZATION, AND18
SEQUESTRATION; CONSTRUCTION; WELL-PLUGGING AND REMEDIATION;19
WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT FOR ELECTRIC LINEWORKERS AND20
CONTRACTORS FOCUSED ON BENEFICIAL ELECTRIFICATION AND ENERGY21
EFFICIENCY PROJECTS, AND IDENTIFY WAYS TO REMOVE BARRIERS TO22
OBTAINING APPROPRIATE SKILLS AND LICENSES ;23
(III) I
N PARTNERSHIP WITH THE COLORADO ENERGY OFFICE ,24
CREATED IN SECTION 24-38.5-101 (1), IDENTIFY POTENTIAL WORKFORCE25
NEEDS IN THE SHORT AND MEDIUM TERM IN EMERGING
INDUSTRIES AND26
RENEWABLE ENERGY RESOURCES, AS DEFINED IN SECTION 40-2-12427
1074
-3- (1)(a)(VII), AND ASSESS EMPLOYMENT TRENDS, TAKING HISTORICAL DATA1
INTO ACCOUNT;2
(IV) E
XPLORE SKILL DEVELOPMENT NEEDS , TRAINING3
AVAILABILITY, AND TRANSITION STRATEGIES FOR WORKERS AND4
EMPLOYERS SHIFTING FROM OIL AND GAS JOBS TO EMERGING INDUSTRIES5
IN THE REGION, INCLUDING CONSULTATION WITH OTHER WESTERN STATES6
FOR PURPOSES OF LEARNING ABOUT THEIR WORKFORCE TRANSITION IDEAS7
AND STRATEGIES; AND8 (V) DEVELOP POLICY AND INCENTIVE PROPOSALS FOR PROGRAMS9
TO TRANSITION WORKERS TO EXISTING AND EMERGING INDUSTRIES IN10
COLORADO AND THE SURROUNDING REGION, MAXIMIZING TRANSITION OF11
WORKERS TO JOBS IN THE SAME COMMUNITIES, AND INCLUDING ANALYSES12
OF FEDERAL FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES ; AND13
(b) R
EGARDING INDUSTRY DISRUPTION DUE TO AUTOMATION :14
(I) E
XPLORE HOW TECHNOLOGY IS SIMULTANEOUSLY REPLACING15
EXISTING WORK AND CREATING NEW WORK ;16
(II) E
VALUATE WHICH OCCUPATIONS IN COLORADO ARE FACING17
THE MOST DISRUPTION DUE TO AUTOMATION ;18
(III) I
DENTIFY SKILL TRANSFERABILITY TO EMERGING INDUSTRIES19
AND INDUSTRIES EXPERIENCING GROWTH FOR OCCUPATIONS THAT ARE20
DISPLACED DUE TO AUTOMATION AND DEVELOP TRANSITION STRATEGIES21
FOR THESE WORKERS AND EMPLOYERS ;22
(IV) I
DENTIFY THE SKILLS NEEDED FOR EMERGING AND GROWING23
INDUSTRIES AND EXPLORE THE AVAILABILITY OF SKILLS TRAINING FOR24
WORKERS TRANSITIONING TO THESE INDUSTRIES ;
25
(V) P
ROVIDE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR FUNDING , PROGRAMS, AND26
POLICIES NEEDED TO PREPARE EMPLOYERS AND WORKERS FOR THESE27
1074
-4- TRANSITIONS;1
(VI) CONSULT WITH RELEVANT STAKEHOLDERS ACROSS IMPACTED2
INDUSTRIES IN COLORADO TO DISCUSS THEIR HUMAN RESOURCE AND3
WORKFORCE STRATEGIES AND THEIR LONG-TERM OUTLOOK ON THE4
INDUSTRY AND THE STATE;5
(VII) CONSULT WITH RELEVANT EMPLOYERS AND EMPLOYEES6
ACROSS IMPACTED INDUSTRIES IN COLORADO, INCLUDING THOSE WHO7
MAY BE INDIRECTLY IMPACTED;8
(VIII) CONSULT WITH EMPLOYERS AND EMPLOYEES WHO MAY BE9
INDIRECTLY IMPACTED BY A WORKFORCE TRANSITION TO EMERGING10
INDUSTRIES, INCLUDING EMPLOYERS AND EMPLOYEES IN ENERGY SECTOR11
CONSTRUCTION, GAS DISTRIBUTION , NATURAL GAS UTILITIES ,12
EXPLORATION EQUIPMENT MANUFACTURING, AND WHOLESALE OR RETAIL13
SUPPLY; AND14
(c) REGARDING FUNDING FOR WORKFORCE TRANSITION AND15
COMMUNITY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT :16
(I) EVALUATE AND ANALYZE FEDERAL FUNDING SOURCES17
AVAILABLE TO THE STATE GOVERNMENT, LOCAL GOVERNMENTS, AND THE18
PRIVATE SECTOR FOR WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT AND COMMUNITY19
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ;20
(II) EVALUATE AND ANALYZE CURRENT STATE AND LOCAL21
GOVERNMENT WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, RESILIENCY, AND RECOVERY22
INFRASTRUCTURE;23
(III) TRACK CURRENT FEDERAL FUNDING SECURED FOR24
WORKFORCE TRANSITION AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN COMMUNITIES25
AFFECTED BY WORKFORCE TRANSITION AND IDENTIFY F UNDING GAPS; AND26
(IV) RECOMMEND POLICIES THAT PROMOTE INTERAGENCY27
1074
-5- COLLABORATION TO MAXIMIZE THE POTENTIAL OF GOVERNMENT AGENCIES1
AND THE PRIVATE SECTOR TO SECURE AVAILABLE FEDERAL FUNDING,2
INCLUDING CONSIDERATION OF CREATING POSITIONS FOR STAFF WHO WILL3
SERVE AS A LIAISON WITH EXISTING STATE GOVERNMENT OFFICES, LOCAL4
GOVERNMENTS, AND THE PRIVATE SECTOR FOR THE PURPOSES OF GRANT5
WRITING AND OTHER SUPPORT.6
(4) (a) ON OR BEFORE DECEMBER 1, 2024, THE OFFICE SHALL7
SUBMIT A REPORT TO THE GOVERNOR AND TO THE BUSINESS , LABOR, AND8
TECHNOLOGY COMMITTEE OF THE SENATE AND THE BUSINESS AFFAIRS AND9
LABOR COMMITTEE OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES , OR THEIR10
SUCCESSOR COMMITTEES . THE REPORT MUST INCLUDE THE STUDY 'S11
RESEARCH, FINDINGS, AND RECOMMENDATIONS , IN ACCORDANCE WITH12
SUBSECTION (3) OF THIS SECTION.13
(b) THE REPORT REQUIRED BY THIS SUBSECTION (4) MUST INCLUDE,14
BUT SHOULD NOT BE LIMITED TO:15
(I) CONSIDERATION AND COMPARISON OF WAGES AND SALARIES IN16
BOTH EXISTING INDUSTRIES AND EMERGING INDUSTRIES , AND AN17
ASSESSMENT OF POTENTIAL GAPS THAT MAY EXIST ; AND18
(II) DISAGGREGATED DATA THAT MAPS THE IMPACT OF19
WORKFORCE TRANSITION AND MAPS THE GEOGRAPHIC LOCATION OF20
POTENTIAL JOBS IN EXISTING OR EMERGING INDUSTRIES .21
(c) THE OFFICE SHALL ISSUE AN UPDATE ON THE KEY FINDINGS OF22
THE STUDY TO THE BUSINESS, LABOR, AND TECHNOLOGY COMMITTEE OF23
THE SENATE AND THE BUSINESS AFFAIRS AND LABOR COMMITTEE OF THE24
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, OR THEIR SUCCESSOR COMMITTEES, BY25
AUGUST 1, 2024.26
8-83-703. Repeal of part. T
HIS PART 7 IS REPEALED, EFFECTIVE27
1074
-6- SEPTEMBER 1, 2025.1
SECTION 2. In Colorado Revised Statutes, amend 8-77-110 as2
follows:3
8-77-110. Office of future of work - study - report. (1) The4
office of future
OF work in the department of labor and employment,5
created by executive order B 2019 009, shall, within the scope of the6
executive order, study unemployment assistance as part of its study on the7
modernization of worker benefits and protections.8
(2) On or before January 15, 2021, the office of future
OF work9
shall submit an initial report as directed by executive order B 2019 00910
to the governor and to the business, labor, and technology committee of11
the senate and the business affairs and labor committee of the house of12
representatives, or their successor committees.13
SECTION 3. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 8-83-601, amend (7)14
as follows:15
8-83-601. Definitions. As used in this part 6:16
(7) "Office" means the office of future
OF work described in17
section 8-77-110.18
SECTION 4. Appropriation. (1) For the 2023-24 state fiscal19
year, $317,318 is appropriated to the department of labor and employment20
for use by the executive director's office. This appropriation is from the21
general fund and is based on an assumption that the department will22
require an additional 0.2 FTE. To implement this act, the department may23
use this appropriation for the office of future work. Any money24
appropriated in this section not expended prior to July 1, 2024, is further25
appropriated to the department for the 2024-25 state fiscal year, for the26
same purpose.27
1074
-7- SECTION 5. Act subject to petition - effective date. This act1
takes effect at 12:01 a.m. on the day following the expiration of the2
ninety-day period after final adjournment of the general assembly; except3
that, if a referendum petition is filed pursuant to section 1 (3) of article V4
of the state constitution against this act or an item, section, or part of this5
act within such period, then the act, item, section, or part will not take6
effect unless approved by the people at the general election to be held in7
November 2024 and, in such case, will take effect on the date of the8
official declaration of the vote thereon by the governor.9
1074
-8-