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July 19, 2023 HB 23-1235
Legislative Council Staff
Nonpartisan Services for Colorado’s Legislature
Final Fiscal Note
Drafting Number:
Prime Sponsors:
LLS 23-0854
Rep. Sirota
Sen. Buckner
Date:
Bill Status:
Fiscal Analyst:
July 19, 2023
Signed into Law
Anna Gerstle | 303-866-4375
anna.gerstle@coleg.gov
Bill Topic: TECHNICAL MODIFICATIONS TO DEPT OF EARLY CHILDHOOD
Summary of
Fiscal Impact:
☐ State Revenue
☒ State Expenditure
☐ State Transfer
☐ TABOR Refund
☐ Local Government
☐ Statutory Public Entity
The bill makes modifications to the new Department of Early Childhood. The bill
minimally increases state workload.
Appropriation
Summary:
No appropriation is required.
Fiscal Note
Status:
The fiscal note reflects the enacted bill.
Summary of Legislation
The bill makes the following changes to the Department of Early Childhood (CDEC):
adds the Commissioner of the Behavioral Health Administration to the Child Abuse Prevention
Board and decreases the number of subject matter experts on the bill from 3 to 2;
adds the Executive Director of the CDEC to the Health Equity Commission;
increases the deadline for CDEC or the Department of Human Services (CDHS) to respond to
operator requests for dependency and neglect reports from 10 days to 20 days;
allows the CDEC to enter into a contract for early literacy programming and supports and whole-
child services;
modifies the school district preschool hold harmless provision to account for how preschool slots
are currently used and the definition of state average per pupil funding as it relates to the
calculating minimum preschool provider rates;
makes technical changes to definitions, Colorado Child Care Assistance Program (CCCAP)
reporting dates, and rulemaking for early childhood grant programs; Page 2
July 19, 2023 HB 23-1235
repeals unnecessary language that does not apply to the CDEC and updates statutory citations
and references;
modifies when state and federal fingerprint based criminal record checks for family child care
home providers in the CCCAP must be completed;
clarifies when CDEC may provide dependency and neglect records; and
clarifies CDEC’s authority to seek, accept, and expend gifts, grants, and donations.
Background
The CDEC was created in 2021 and is responsible for administering early childhood programs and
services, beginning on July 1, 2022. House Bill 22-1295 established the new department’s duties,
relocated early childhood programs from the CDHS and CDE, and created the new universal
preschool program, which begins in FY 2023-24.
State Expenditures
The bill minimally impacts workload for multiple state agencies, as discussed below.
CDEC. The CDEC will have minimal workload to implement the bill’s changes, and for a
representative to sit on the Health Equity Commission. Several sections of the bill, including
definition clarifications related preschool provider rates and background check timelines, codify
current practice or align with other sections of statute. No change in appropriations is required.
Department of Human Services. The CDHS will have minimal workload to make small rule and
procedure changes, and the Behavioral Health Administration will have workload for a staff member
to sit on the Child Abuse Prevention Board. No change in appropriations is required.
Judicial Department. The bill increases workload for the Judicial Department by a minimal amount
to update statutory references. No change in appropriations is required.
Effective Date
The bill was signed into law by the Governor took effect on June 7, 2023.
State and Local Government Contacts
Early Childhood Education Human Services
Information Technology Law Public Health and Environment
Public Safety
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.