First Regular Session
Seventy-fourth General Assembly
STATE OF COLORADO
REVISED
This Version Includes All Amendments Adopted
on Second Reading in the Second House
LLS NO. 23-1030.01 Michael Dohr x4347
SENATE BILL 23-302
Senate Committees House Committees
State, Veterans, & Military Affairs State, Civic, Military, & Veterans Affairs
Appropriations Appropriations
A BILL FOR AN ACT
C
ONCERNING CHANGES TO THE COLORADO VETE RANS '101
SERVICE-TO-CAREER 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
.)
Current law includes a Colorado veterans' service-to-career
program (program), which authorizes nonprofit agencies to partner with
work force centers selected by the department of labor and employment
to provide veterans and other eligible participants with skills training,
internships, work placements, mentorship opportunities, career and
professional counseling, and support services. The program requires that
HOUSE
Amended 2nd Reading
May 7, 2023
SENATE
3rd Reading Unamended
May 2, 2023
SENATE
Amended 2nd Reading
May 1, 2023
SENATE SPONSORSHIP
Pelton B. and Hinrichsen, Bridges, Cutter, Danielson, Gardner, Ginal, Gonzales, Hansen,
Jaquez Lewis, Kirkmeyer, Kolker, Lundeen, Marchman, Mullica, Priola, Rodriguez, Sullivan,
Will, Winter F.
HOUSE SPONSORSHIP
Ortiz and Hartsook,
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. if a program participant is eligible for federal funding that federal funding
must be used first. The bill repeals that requirement. Obsolete language
related to the program is repealed. The bill extends the repeal date for the
program to January 1, 2029.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Colorado:1
SECTION 1. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 8-14.3-201.5, amend2
(1) as follows:3
8-14.3-201.5. Legislative declaration. (1) The general assembly4
finds, determines, and declares that5
(a)
the pilot program enacted in House Bill 16-1267, which6
created the Colorado veterans' service-to-career pilot program that7
authorized nonprofit agencies to partner with work force centers selected8
by the department to provide veterans and other eligible participants with9
skills training, internships, work placements, mentorship opportunities,10
career and professional counseling, and support services, has been11
successful in increasing the employment rates for veterans, veterans'12
spouses, and eligible participants. and13
(b) The services offered through the pilot program were designed14
to enhance work force center services not available under the federal act.15
16
SECTION 2. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 8-14.3-203, amend17
(6)(c); and repeal (2)(b), (6)(b), and (6)(d); and add (3.5) as follows:18
8-14.3-203. Colorado veterans' service-to-career program -19
report. (2) (b) If an eligible participant is eligible for funding through20
the act, this funding must be used first. If funding is not available or is21
limited or if the use of funds is not allowable under the act, the eligible22
participant may use program funding.23
302-2- (3.5) WORK FORCE CENTER STAFF SHALL VET POTENTIAL PROGRAM1
PARTICIPANTS AND LEVERAGE ADDITIONAL F UNDING SOURCES , INCLUDING2
THE ACT, TO DELIVER COMPREHENSIVE SERVICES .3
(6) (b) The department shall develop an evaluation methodology4
to measure program outcomes and effectiveness prior to initiating the bid5
process for awarding grants. To the extent feasible, the evaluation process6
must enable a comparison between programs serving similar populations.7
It is the intent of the general assembly that the department award the8
grants no later than January 1, 2019. The grant period may be extended9
for one year subject to money appropriated by the general assembly. The10
grant award must include data tracking requirements that will be used to11
measure outcomes and effectiveness.12
(c) Any unspent money remaining in the department's fiscal year13
2017-18 appropriation for administrative costs may be used for the14
purpose of designing an evaluation methodology or contracting out the15
design. Any unspent money for direct program services remaining as of16
June 30, 2018, may be used by the programs in effect as of June 30, 2018,17
for the fiscal year starting July 1, 2018. Unspent money available at the18
end of each fiscal year rolls over to the next fiscal year to be spent in that19
year.20
(d) In analyzing and reporting on the performance data described21
in subsections (6)(a) and (6)(b) of this section, the department shall22
separately account for data pertaining to significant barriers to23
employment.24
SECTION 3. In Colorado Revised Statutes, amend 8-14.3-20525
as follows:26
8-14.3-205. Repeal of part. This part 2 is repealed, effective27
302
-3- January 1, 2024 JULY 1, 2024.1
SECTION 4. Act subject to petition - effective date. This act2
takes effect at 12:01 a.m. on the day following the expiration of the3
ninety-day period after final adjournment of the general assembly; except4
that, if a referendum petition is filed pursuant to section 1 (3) of article V5
of the state constitution against this act or an item, section, or part of this6
act within such period, then the act, item, section, or part will not take7
effect unless approved by the people at the general election to be held in8
November 2024 and, in such case, will take effect on the date of the9
official declaration of the vote thereon by the governor.10
302
-4-