Colorado 2024 2024 Regular Session

Colorado House Bill HB1364 Introduced / Fiscal Note

Filed 07/08/2024

                    Page 1 
July 8, 2024  HB 24-1364 
 
 
 
 Legislative Council Staff 
Nonpartisan Services for Colorado’s Legislature 
 
Final Fiscal Note  
   
 
Drafting Number: 
Prime Sponsors: 
LLS 24-0963  
Rep. McCluskie; Bacon 
Sen. Bridges; Lundeen  
Date: 
Bill Status: 
Fiscal Analyst: 
July 8, 2024 
Signed into Law 
Anna Gerstle | 303-866-4375 
anna.gerstle@coleg.gov  
Bill Topic: EDUCATION-BASED WORKFORCE READINESS  
Summary of  
Fiscal Impact: 
☒ State Revenue 
☒ State Expenditure 
☒ State Transfer 
☐ TABOR Refund 
☐ Local Government 
☒ School District 
 
The bill requires the Colorado Department of Education to complete a financial study 
on postsecondary and workforce readiness programs, and creates the Colorado 
Statewide Longitudinal Data System in the Office of Informational Technology. The bill 
increases state expenditures, includes a state transfer, minimally increases school 
district workload, and may increase state revenue on an ongoing basis. 
Appropriation 
Summary: 
For FY 2024-25, the bill requires and includes an appropriation of $5.4 million to 
multiple state agencies. See State Appropriations section. 
Fiscal Note 
Status: 
The final fiscal note reflects the enacted bill. 
Table 1 
State Fiscal Impacts Under HB 24-1364 
  
Budget Year 
FY 2024-25 
Out Year 
FY 2025-26 
Out Year  
FY 2026-27 
Revenue  	-     -     - 
Expenditures 	General Fund $800,005  $1,414,552  $1,426,501  
 	Cash Fund $4,635,411  $364,584  - 
 
Centrally Appropriated $191,944  $117,970  $102,344  
 
Total Expenditures $5,627,360  $1,897,106  $1,528,845  
 	Total FTE 8.1 FTE 4.9 FTE 4.3 FTE 
Transfers 	General Fund ($5,000,000)  -  - 
 	Cash Fund $5,000,000 	- 	- 
 	Total Transfers 	$0 	- 	- 
Other Budget Impacts General Fund Reserve $120,000  $212,183  $213,975  
   Page 2 
July 8, 2024  HB 24-1364 
 
 
 
Summary of Legislation 
The bill requires the Colorado Department of Education (CDE) to complete a financial study and 
creates the Colorado Statewide Longitudinal Data System in the Office of Information 
Technology (OIT).  
Financial study. The bill requires that CDE contract for a financial study to review of a variety of 
existing postsecondary and workforce readiness programs and to analyze potential costs and 
cost savings related to the programs. Specifically, the study must: 
 analyze state and local education provider costs to offer such opportunities; 
 examine cost variation by region, types of credentials offered, quality of non-degree 
credentials, and types of work-based learning opportunities; 
 streamline financial administration and reporting into one comprehensive program;  
 analyze different funding mechanisms and identify and model costs, benefits, and potential 
savings of funding mechanisms; 
 project costs to expand opportunities for students and education providers; 
 analyze state-level incentives and barriers for adoption of programs; 
 review statutory purposes and outcomes of programs; and 
 develop and implement recommendations for the FY 2025-26 budget. 
In FY 2024-25, the General Assembly must appropriate $800,000 from the General Fund for the 
study. State agencies with programs related to education and workforce must provide guidance 
as necessary. Legislative Council Staff and Joint Budget Committee Staff must provide input on 
the financial modeling on the costs and savings of these programs. The CDE must provide the 
financial study and final report to the General Assembly by December 1, 2024. 
Statewide Longitudinal Data System. The bill creates the Colorado Statewide Longitudinal 
Data System (SLDS) in OIT to establish a means to share education and workforce data and 
outcomes that support decision making by students, families, educators, and policy makers. The 
bill creates the SLDS Cash Fund and requires that the State Treasurer transfers $5.0 million into 
the fund in FY 2024-25, to be spent by OIT and CDE through FY 2026-27. OIT may seek, accept, 
and expend gifts, grants, and donations for the system. 
OIT must adopt a timeline to phase-in the system, initiate work on the system, ensure data 
privacy and security, provide technical support to contributing agencies, and align existing data 
systems. State agencies are required to contribute data to the system beginning in FY 2025-26.  
The bill creates the following boards to support the system: 
 The SLDS Governing Board, which oversees creation of the system, establishes processes 
and procedures for aligning data systems, defining metrics, and determining system 
requirements, data sharing agreements and protocols. It includes leadership from 
contributing agencies, which include OIT, CDE, the Department of Early Childhood (CDEC), 
CDHE, CDLE, the Governor’s Office, Office of State Planning and Budgeting (OSPB), the 
Department of Law (DOL). Nonvoting members also include the Colorado Community 
College System (CCCS) and the public.  Page 3 
July 8, 2024  HB 24-1364 
 
 
 
 The Systems Build and Implementation Interagency Advisory Group, which advises the 
governing board on the technical development and implementation of the system. It 
includes staff with technical and systems expertise from contributing agencies.  
 The Sustainability Interagency Advisory Group, which advises the governing board on the 
use and function of the system. It includes staff from contributing agencies who have an 
understanding of the data in the system and how agencies use it for decision making.  
OIT must submit an interim report on the system to the General Assembly by January 15, 2025, 
and an annual report by April 15, 2026, and each year thereafter, that includes education and 
workforce outcomes.  
State Revenue  
The bill potentially increases state revenue from gifts, grants, or donations; however, no sources 
have been identified at this time. Gifts, grants, and donations are exempt from TABOR revenue 
limits. 
State Transfers  
In FY 2024-25, the bill transfers $5.0 million from the General Fund to the newly created SLDS 
Cash Fund.  
State Expenditures 
The bill increases state expenditures by $5.6 million in FY 2024-25, $1.9 million in FY 2025-26, 
and $1.5 million in subsequent years, paid from the General Fund and SLDS Cash Fund. 
Expenditures are shown in Table 2. 
The bill includes a requirement for General Fund appropriations of $800,000 for the financial 
study and a $5.0 million transfer for the SLDS. In the first year, costs are covered by the amounts 
provided, with about $365,000 in the SLDS Cash Fund remaining to cover a portion of the SLDS 
costs in FY 2025-26. The remaining $1.4 million in FY 2025-26 and all costs in subsequent years 
require General Fund in addition to the amounts provided in the bill. 
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July 8, 2024  HB 24-1364 
 
 
 
Table 2 
Expenditures Under HB 24-1364 
 FY 2024-25 FY 2025-26 FY 2026-27 
Department of Education        
Personal Services 	$169,846  $72,521  $72,521  
Operating Expenses 	$1,536  $640  $640  
Capital Outlay Costs 	$6,670  - - 
Financial Study Contract 	$753,245  - - 
RFP 	$21,700  - - 
Technical Support 	$50,000  $150,000  $150,000  
Centrally Appropriated Costs
1
 	$29,023  $12,257  $12,257  
FTE – Personal Services 	1.2 FTE 0.5 FTE 0.5 FTE 
CDE Subtotal 	$1,032,020  $235,418  $235,418  
Office of Information Technology  
Personal Services 	$817,630  $514,292  $401,101  
Operating Expenses 	$8,832  $5,120  $3,840  
Capital Outlay Costs 	$46,690  - - 
Data System Contract 	$3,000,000  - - 
Data Software License 	$500,000  $500,000  $500,000  
Applications 	$59,267  $5,400  $4,050  
Centrally Appropriated Costs
1
 	$162,921  $98,226  $75,111  
FTE – Personal Services 	6.9 FTE 4.0 FTE 3.0 FTE 
OIT Subtotal 	$4,595,340  $1,123,038  $984,102  
Department of Labor and Employment  
Vendor Costs – Employment & Training Systems – OIT  - $150,000  - 
Vendor Costs – Unemployment Insurance – OIT   	- $100,000  - 
CDLE Subtotal 	- $250,000  - 
Department of Higher Education  
Contract Costs 	-  $196,000  $186,000  
CDHE Subtotal 	-  $196,000  $186,000  
  Page 5 
July 8, 2024  HB 24-1364 
 
 
 
Table 2 
Expenditures Under HB 24-1364 (Cont.) 
 	FY 2024-25 FY 2025-26 FY 2026-27 
Department of Early Childhood   
Personal Services 	- $30,798  $61,595  
Operating Expenses 	- $512  $1,024  
Capital Outlay Costs 	- $6,670  - 
Vendor Costs 	- $29,900  $5,980  
Integration – OIT  	- $17,283  $39,750  
Centrally Appropriated Costs
1
 	- $7,487  $14,975  
FTE – Personal Services 	- 0.4 FTE 0.8 FTE 
CDEC Subtotal 	-  $92,650  $123,324  
Total Cost $5,627,365  $1,897,106  $1,528,845  
Total FTE 8.1 FTE 4.9 FTE 3.8 FTE 
1 
Centrally appropriated costs are not included in the bill's appropriation. 
Department of Education. CDE will have staff and contractor costs to conduct the financial 
study and participate in the SLDS system.  
 Staff. In FY 2024-25 only, CDE requires 0.2 FTE to manage the financial study contract. In 
FY 2024-25, CDE requires 1.0 FTE to participate in the development of the SLDS and manage 
the integration of CDE data collections into the new SLDS; this role reduces to 0.5 FTE in 
FY 2025-26 and ongoing to manage CDE system interactions with the SDLS. 
 Contract costs. The bill provides $800,005 for the financial study in FY 2024-25 only. After 
administrative costs and $21,700 for procurement, about $753,245 is available for the 
financial study contract. Actual costs will be determined through the procurement process.  
 Technical assistance. In FY 2024-25 only, CDE requires $50,000 in FY 2024-25 and $150,000 
in subsequent years for contract technical assistance to align CDE data systems with the 
SLDS. Work will include modifying current systems and building and maintaining integration 
between systems. 
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July 8, 2024  HB 24-1364 
 
 
 
Office of Information Technology. OIT will incur staff, data system, and software licensing 
costs.  
 Staff. OIT requires 6.9 FTE in FY 2024-25, 4.0 FTE in FY 2025-26, and 3.0 FTE in subsequent 
years to manage the implementation and ongoing function of the SLDS, including the 
following positions: 
• a project manager to manage the development and implementation of the SLDS;  
• data engineers to develop the processes for the other agencies to align with the new 
system and submit data;  
• a data architect to design the system and data flows;  
• a platform manager to implement the set-up of the new data platforms and connects to 
other platforms;   
• a data governance manager to ensure data collection and sharing meetings all policies, 
privacy, and other data regulations; and 
• a data analyst and visualization developer to produce reports and develop interactive 
dashboards. 
 Data system and software costs. In FY 2024-25 only, OIT requires $3.0 million to contract 
for the data system. Beginning in FY 2024-25, OIT requires $500,000 per year for the 
software licenses associated with the SLDS. Application costs are estimated at $59,267 in 
FY 2024-25, $5,400 in FY 2025-26, and $4,050 in subsequent years.  
Department of Labor. In FY 2025-26 only, CDLE requires $250,000 for vendor costs for software 
development and data submission to the SLDS from the employment and training systems 
($150,000), and unemployment insurance systems ($100,000). These costs are reappropriated to 
OIT. The fiscal note assumes that the necessary system changes in the Office of Vocational 
Rehabilitation will be incorporated into an ongoing system modernization project. If it cannot be 
incorporated, CDLE costs will be $40,000 higher than estimated. 
Department of Higher Education. CDHE requires $196,000 in FY 2025-26 and $186,000 in 
subsequent years to provide data and connect the Student Unit Records System to the SLDS. 
Costs are assumed to be contract costs, and may be used for either vendor costs or contract 
staff, depending on whether existing vendors are utilized.  
Department of Early Childhood. CDEC requires 0.4 FTE in FY 2025-26 and 0.8 FTE in 
subsequent years to develop and manage the connection of the Universal Preschool Program 
system to the SLDS, and will incur vendor costs for modifications. In addition, OIT manages the 
integration of CDEC systems and requires $17,283 in FY 2025-26 and $39,750 in subsequent 
years to complete the integration with SLDS. These costs are reappropriated to OIT. The fiscal 
note assumes that the Professional Development Information System (PDIS) will not be initially 
connected to the system. If initial planning requires the connection of the PDIS system to the 
SLDS, costs will be higher than estimated and requested through the annual budget process.   Page 7 
July 8, 2024  HB 24-1364 
 
 
 
Office of Economic Development and International Trade. The bill increases workload and 
potentially costs for OEDIT to participate in the working groups and connect their data systems 
to the SLDS. It is unknown which data systems within OEDIT may need to be aligned with the 
SLDS. As a result, no appropriation is required and any resources in future years will be 
requested through the budget process.  
Department of Law. The bill increases workload for the Department of Law to serve on the 
working groups and provide legal counsel to participating agencies related to the SLDS. No 
change in appropriations is required.  
Governor’s Office. The bill increases workload for the Governor’s Office to serve on the working 
groups. No change in appropriations is required. 
Legislative Department. The bill increases workload for Legislative Council Staff and Joint 
Budget Committee staff to provide input on the modeling for the financial study. No change in 
appropriations is required. 
Centrally appropriated costs. Pursuant to a Joint Budget Committee policy, certain costs 
associated with this bill are addressed through the annual budget process and centrally 
appropriated in the Long Bill or supplemental appropriations bills, rather than in this bill. These 
costs, which include employee insurance and supplemental employee retirement payments, are 
shown in Table 2. 
Other Budget Impacts 
General Fund reserve. Under current law, an amount equal to 15 percent of General Fund 
appropriations must be set aside in the General Fund statutory reserve. Based on this fiscal note, 
the bill is expected to increase the amount of General Fund held in reserve by the amounts 
shown in Table 1, decreasing the amount of General Fund available for other purposes. 
School Districts 
The bill minimally increases workload for school districts that engage in the financial study 
process.  
Effective Date 
The bill was signed into law by the Governor and took effect on May 23, 2024.  
   Page 8 
July 8, 2024  HB 24-1364 
 
 
 
State Appropriations 
For FY 2024-25, the bill requires and includes the following appropriations: 
 $800,005 from the General Fund to the Colorado Department of Education, and 0.2 FTE;  
 $202,992 from the Statewide Longitudinal Data System Cash Fund to the Colorado 
Department of Education, and 1.0 FTE; and 
 $4,432,419 from the Statewide Longitudinal Data System Cash Fund to the Office of 
Information Technology, and 6.9 FTE, to be spent through FY 2026-27. 
Departmental Difference 
CDEC and OIT estimate that an additional $233,068 in FY 2025-26 and $47,086 in subsequent 
years is required for OIT staff to support the integration of CDEC systems into the SLDS. The 
fiscal note assumes that the new project staff in CDEC, vendor contracts, integration costs 
incurred by OIT, and technical OIT data integration staff are sufficient to manage the integration 
of CDEC systems into the SLDS. 
State and Local Government Contacts 
Early Childhood            Education     
Governor's Office of Boards and Commissions    Higher Education   
Information Technology          Joint Budget Committee Staff  
Labor               Law      
Legislative Council Staff          Office of Economic Development  
 
 
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 the General Assembly website.