First Regular Session
Seventy-fourth General Assembly
STATE OF COLORADO
INTRODUCED
LLS NO. 23-0585.01 Christopher McMichael x4775
HOUSE BILL 23-1094
House Committees Senate Committees
Agriculture, Water & Natural Resources
A BILL FOR AN ACT
C
ONCERNING MODIFICATIONS TO THE AGRICULTURAL WORKFORCE101
DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM .102
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 makes the following changes to the agricultural workforce
development program (program):
! Allows internships under the program to last for up to one
year in duration; and
! Extends the repeal date of the program by 7 years to July 1,
2031.
HOUSE SPONSORSHIP
Lukens and Catlin,
SENATE SPONSORSHIP
Roberts and Pelton R.,
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. 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) Finding qualified and trained agricultural employees,4
especially young and beginning farmers and ranchers, remains a5
significant challenge for farmers, ranchers, and agricultural businesses;6
(b) Internships are a recognized way to build a talent pipeline and7
career pathway to provide young and beginning farmers and ranchers8
education, training, and hands-on experience;9
(c) The agricultural workforce development program was10
established in 2018 to find and train interns for Colorado farmers,11
ranchers, and agricultural businesses and to begin building a well-trained12
workforce for Colorado's agricultural industry;13
(d) The agricultural workforce development program provides14
financial incentives to farmers, ranchers, and agricultural businesses to15
hire interns and provide the interns with the hands-on training and16
experience needed to pursue a career in agriculture;17
(e) The agricultural workforce development program has been18
instrumental in training young and beginning farmers and ranchers and19
in developing an experienced agricultural workforce, but the program is20
currently scheduled for repeal in July 2024;21
(f) By extending the duration of internships from six months to up22
to one year, the agricultural workforce development program can provide23
additional, year-round training and experience to interns and provide24
farmers, ranchers, and agricultural businesses well-trained help25
throughout different agricultural seasons; and26
HB23-1094-2- (g) Additionally, by extending the scheduled repeal date for the1
agricultural workforce development program, the program will continue2
to serve Colorado's farmers, ranchers, agricultural businesses, and the3
next generation of agriculturalists.4
SECTION 2. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 35-1-104.5, amend5
(2) introductory portion, (2)(b)(II), and (4) as follows:6
35-1-104.5. Agricultural workforce development program -7
legislative declaration - creation - rules - repeal. (2) The commissioner8
shall promulgate rules by January 1, 2019, creating the agricultural9
workforce development program to provide incentives to agricultural10
businesses to hire interns through partial reimbursement of internship11
costs. The rules must specify, at a minimum:12
(b) The criteria for an internship to qualify under the program,13
including the following:14
(II) The internship cannot exceed six months ONE YEAR in15
duration per intern;16
(4) This section is repealed, effective July 1, 2024 JULY 1, 2031.17
SECTION 3. Safety clause. The general assembly hereby finds,18
determines, and declares that this act is necessary for the immediate19
preservation of the public peace, health, or safety.20
HB23-1094
-3-