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Colorado House Bill HB1186

Colorado 2025 Regular Session

Colorado House Bill HB1186 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.
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11 First Regular Session
22 Seventy-fifth General Assembly
33 STATE OF COLORADO
44 INTRODUCED
55
66
77 LLS NO. 25-0734.01 Alana Rosen x2606
88 HOUSE BILL 25-1186
99 House Committees Senate Committees
1010 Education
1111 A BILL FOR AN ACT
1212 C
1313 ONCERNING EXPANDING WORK -BASED LEARNING EXPERIENCES IN101
1414 HIGHER EDUCATION.102
1515 Bill Summary
1616 (Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced and does
1717 not reflect any amendments that may be subsequently adopted. If this bill
1818 passes third reading in the house of introduction, a bill summary that
1919 applies to the reengrossed version of this bill will be available at
2020 http://leg.colorado.gov
2121 .)
2222 The bill creates the work-based learning consortium pilot program
2323 (pilot program) in the department of higher education (department). The
2424 purpose of the pilot program is to develop and expand the integration of
2525 work-based learning experiences for students enrolled in higher
2626 education.
2727 On or before July 1, 2026, or within 90 days after the department
2828 HOUSE SPONSORSHIP
2929 Martinez and Lukens,
3030 SENATE SPONSORSHIP
3131 (None),
3232 Shading denotes HOUSE amendment. Double underlining denotes SENATE amendment.
3333 Capital letters or bold & italic numbers indicate new material to be added to existing law.
3434 Dashes through the words or numbers indicate deletions from existing law. receives sufficient funding, the department shall convene a consortium
3535 consisting of a group of representatives from institutions of higher
3636 education to:
3737 ! Share best practices on improving access to quality
3838 work-based learning opportunities for students;
3939 ! Help participating institutions of higher education meet
4040 workforce needs in Colorado and connect academic
4141 learning with real-world experiences through career
4242 preparation and skill development for students; and
4343 ! Make recommendations to the general assembly and
4444 institutions of higher education on the best practices.
4545 Subject to available appropriations, at the end of the 3-year pilot
4646 program, the consortium shall complete and submit a report to the
4747 education committees of the house of representatives and the senate, or
4848 their successor committees. The report must include:
4949 ! A description of the consortium's findings and
5050 recommendations;
5151 ! Details on the consortium's impacts on participating
5252 institutions of higher education and the effects of creating
5353 additional work-based learning activities on students,
5454 faculty, and employers; and
5555 ! Recommendations for statutory changes, financial
5656 resources, department policy changes, and institution of
5757 higher education policy changes necessary to improve
5858 successful work-based learning opportunities for students
5959 in institutions of higher education.
6060 Funds appropriated to the commission on higher education
6161 (commission) may be used by the commission to cover the costs of
6262 work-based learning requirements for students who are required to
6363 complete credit-bearing work-based learning requirements to graduate
6464 from an institution of higher education.
6565 Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Colorado:1
6666 SECTION 1. Legislative declaration. (1) The general assembly2
6767 finds and declares that:3
6868 (a) To ensure the economic vitality of Colorado, every industry4
6969 needs access to a skilled workforce and every Coloradan needs access to5
7070 sustainable employment;6
7171 (b) According to the 2024 Colorado workforce development7
7272 HB25-1186-2- council's talent pipeline report, Colorado ranks fourth among states in1
7373 terms of its proportion of jobs that will require postsecondary education2
7474 beyond high school in 2031. Of all jobs in Colorado, 73% of jobs will3
7575 require some postsecondary education training beyond high school in4
7676 2031.5
7777 (c) Research has shown that work-based learning leads students6
7878 to develop essential skills, broadening a student's social capital and7
7979 leading to job offers;8
8080 (d) There is a strong connection between internships and9
8181 college-level employment after graduation. Controlling for factors,10
8282 including gender, race, ethnicity, and institutional characteristics,11
8383 graduates who have had at least one internship are 48.5% less likely to be12
8484 underemployed than graduates who did not have an internship.13
8585 (e) Inequities in who can participate in work-based learning14
8686 persist. Students who identify as women, Black, Hispanic, and15
8787 first-generation are underrepresented in paid internships and16
8888 overrepresented in unpaid internships.17
8989 (f) The 2 largest barriers for students participating in an internship18
9090 are the competing demands of college and existing work commitments;19
9191 (g) Incorporating project-based and work-based learning20
9292 opportunities into curriculum is one way to address competing demands21
9393 and to reduce inequities in a student's ability to participate in a22
9494 work-based learning experience;23
9595 (h) Currently, faculty must work independently to integrate24
9696 work-based learning into their curriculum and to develop partnerships25
9797 with employers, which creates a heavy burden for faculty and results in26
9898 an uneven inclusion of work-based learning across multiple subjects or27
9999 HB25-1186
100100 -3- courses; and1
101101 (i) Colorado does not currently collect statewide data allowing the2
102102 state to examine the effect postsecondary work-based learning3
103103 experiences have on postsecondary post-graduate outcomes.4
104104 (2) The general assembly finds, therefore, that to meet the current5
105105 and future economic demands in Colorado, it is essential to eliminate6
106106 barriers and create more work-based learning opportunities so students7
107107 and employers can participate in and benefit from the postsecondary8
108108 work-based learning experiences.9
109109 SECTION 2. In Colorado Revised Statutes, add article 82 to title10
110110 23 as follows:11
111111 ARTICLE 8212
112112 Work-based Learning Consortium13
113113 Pilot Program14
114114 23-82-101. Definitions. A
115115 S USED IN THIS ARTICLE 82, UNLESS THE15
116116 CONTEXT OTHERWISE REQUIRES :16
117117 (1) "C
118118 OMMUNITY OF PRACTICE" MEANS A GROUP OF PEOPLE WHO17
119119 SHARE A COMMON CONCERN , SET OF PROBLEMS, OR AN INTEREST IN A18
120120 TOPIC AND WHO COME TOGETHER TO FULFILL BOTH INDIVIDUAL AND19
121121 GROUP GOALS.20
122122 (2) "C
123123 ONSORTIUM" MEANS THE WORK -BASED LEARNING21
124124 CONSORTIUM CONVENED PURSUANT TO SECTION 23-82-102 (2)(a).22
125125 (3) "D
126126 EPARTMENT" MEANS THE DEPARTMENT OF HIGHER23
127127 EDUCATION CREATED AND EXISTING PURSUANT TO SECTION 24-1-114.24
128128 (4) "I
129129 NSTITUTION OF HIGHER EDUCATION " MEANS:25
130130 (a) A
131131 STATE INSTITUTION OF HIGHER EDUCATION , AS DEFINED IN26
132132 SECTION 23-18-102, OR AN ACCREDITED CAMPUS OF A STATE INSTITUTION27
133133 HB25-1186
134134 -4- OF HIGHER EDUCATION;1
135135 (b) A
136136 PARTICIPATING PRIVATE INSTITUTION OF HIGHER EDUCATION,2
137137 AS DEFINED IN SECTION 23-18-102;3
138138 (c) A
139139 LOCAL DISTRICT COLLEGE , AS DEFINED IN SECTION4
140140 23-71-102;
141141 AND5
142142 (d) A
143143 N AREA TECHNICAL COLLEGE , AS DEFINED IN SECTION6
144144 23-60-103.7
145145 (5) "I
146146 NTERNSHIP" MEANS A FORM OF EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING8
147147 THAT INTEGRATES KNOWLEDGE AND THEORY LEARNED IN THE CLASSROOM9
148148 WITH PRACTICAL APPLICATION AND SKILLS DEVELOPMENT IN A10
149149 PROFESSIONAL WORKPLACE SETTING .11
150150 (6) "P
151151 ILOT PROGRAM" MEANS THE WORK -BASED LEARNING12
152152 CONSORTIUM PILOT PROGRAM CREATED IN SECTION 23-82-102 (1).13
153153 (7) "W
154154 ORK-BASED LEARNING"MEANS A CONTINUUM OF ACTIVITIES14
155155 THAT OCCUR, IN PART OR IN WHOLE, IN THE WORKPLACE, PROVIDING THE15
156156 LEARNER WITH HANDS-ON, REAL-WORLD WORK EXPERIENCE . WITHIN THE16
157157 WORK-BASED LEARNING CONTINUUM , PROJECT-BASED LEARNING17
158158 PROVIDES EXPERIENCES THAT MAY BE EMBEDDED WITHIN THE18
159159 EDUCATIONAL CURRICULUM THAT HELP STUDENTS LEARN ABOUT WORK19
160160 AND INFORM CAREER DECISIONS.20
161161 23-82-102. Work-based learning consortium pilot program -21
162162 created - duties. (1) T
163163 HE WORK-BASED LEARNING CONSORTIUM PILOT22
164164 PROGRAM IS CREATED IN THE DEPARTMENT . THE DEPARTMENT SHALL23
165165 ESTABLISH, IMPLEMENT, MANAGE, AND MAINTAIN THE WORK -BASED24
166166 LEARNING CONSORTIUM PILOT PROGRAM . THE PURPOSE OF THE PILOT25
167167 PROGRAM IS TO DEVELOP AND EXP AND THE INTEGRATION OF WORK -BASED26
168168 LEARNING EXPERIENCES FOR STUDENTS ENROLLED IN HIGHER EDUCATION .27
169169 HB25-1186
170170 -5- (2) (a) ON OR BEFORE JULY 1, 2026, OR WITHIN NINETY DAYS1
171171 AFTER THE DEPARTMENT RECEIVES SUFFICIENT FUNDING FROM GIFTS ,2
172172 GRANTS, OR DONATIONS , THE DEPARTMENT SHALL CONVENE A3
173173 CONSORTIUM OF REPRESENTATIVES FROM EACH OF THE HIGHER4
174174 EDUCATION GOVERNING BOARDS , EACH FOUR-YEAR INSTITUTION OF5
175175 HIGHER EDUCATION , AND A REPRESENTATIVE SAMPLE OF THE6
176176 PARTICIPATING TWO-YEAR INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION ,7
177177 PARTICIPATING AREA TECHNICAL COLLEGES , PARTICIPATING LOCAL8
178178 DISTRICT COLLEGES, AND PARTICIPATING PRIVATE INSTITUTIONS OF9
179179 HIGHER EDUCATION . IF SUFFICIENT FUNDING IS SECURED , THE10
180180 CONSORTIUM MUST MEET FOR THREE YEARS .11
181181 (b) T
182182 HE DEPARTMENT SHALL SELECT THE PARTICIPATING12
183183 INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION DESCRIBED IN SUBSECTION (2)(a) OF13
184184 THIS SECTION BASED ON AVAILABLE FUNDING AND OTHER CRITERIA AS14
185185 ESTABLISHED BY THE DEPARTMENT .15
186186 (c) T
187187 HE MEMBERS OF THE CONSORTIUM SERVE WITHOUT16
188188 COMPENSATION AND WITHOUT REIMBURSEMENT FOR EXPENSES .17
189189 (3) (a) T
190190 HE CONSORTIUM SHALL:18
191191 (I) S
192192 HARE BEST PRACTICES ON IMPROVING ACCESS TO QUALITY19
193193 WORK-BASED LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENTS ;20
194194 (II) H
195195 ELP PARTICIPATING INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION21
196196 MEET WORKFORCE NEEDS IN COLORADO AND CONNECT ACADEMIC22
197197 LEARNING WITH REAL -WORLD EXPERIENCES THROUGH CAREER23
198198 PREPARATION AND SKILL DEVELOPMENT FOR STUDENTS ; AND24
199199 (III) M
200200 AKE RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY AND25
201201 INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION BASED ON THE BEST PRACTICES26
202202 DESCRIBED IN SUBSECTION (3)(a)(I) OF THIS SECTION.27
203203 HB25-1186
204204 -6- (b) USING A THIRD-PARTY PLATFORM, THE CONSORTIUM SHALL1
205205 CONNECT FACULTY WITH BUSINESSES TO EMBED WORK -BASED LEARNING2
206206 OPPORTUNITIES INTO HIGHER EDUCATION CURRICULUM .3
207207 (c) T
208208 HE CONSORTIUM SHALL SERVE AS A COMMUNITY OF PRACTICE4
209209 AND SUPPORT FACULTY ON HOW TO BEST EMBED WORK -BASED LEARNING5
210210 OPPORTUNITIES INTO CURRENT DEGREE PATHWAYS .6
211211 (4) T
212212 HE DEPARTMENT MAY SEEK , ACCEPT, AND EXPEND GIFTS,7
213213 GRANTS, OR DONATIONS FROM PRIVATE OR PUBLIC SOURCES FOR THE8
214214 PURPOSES OF THIS ARTICLE 82.9
215215 23-82-103. Reporting - repeal. (1) O
216216 N OR BEFORE DECEMBER10
217217 2026,
218218 AND ANNUALLY THEREAFTER, INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION11
219219 SHALL PROVIDE TO THE DEPARTMENT WORK -BASED LEARNING DATA ON12
220220 STUDENTS AND DEGREE PROGRAMS USING EXISTING DATA COLLECTION13
221221 MECHANISMS. THE INFORMATION MUST INCLUDE , AT A MINIMUM:14
222222 (a) W
223223 HETHER A COURSE INCLUDED WORK -BASED LEARNING FOR15
224224 EACH ENROLLED STUDENT ; AND16
225225 (b) W
226226 HETHER A DEGREE-GRANTING PROGRAM INCLUDES A17
227227 WORK-BASED LEARNING COMPONENT .18
228228 (2) T
229229 HE DEPARTMENT SHALL COLLECT DATA FROM EACH19
230230 INSTITUTION OF HIGHER EDUCATION, SUBJECT TO DATA AVAILABILITY, TO20
231231 REPORT THE FOLLOWING:21
232232 (a) T
233233 HE NUMBER AND PERCENTAGE OF DEGREE PROGRAMS THAT22
234234 REQUIRE A WORK-BASED LEARNING OR INTERNSHIP REQUIREMENT FOR23
235235 DEGREE COMPLETION BY INSTITUTION OF HIGHER EDUCATION AND DEGREE24
236236 LEVEL;25
237237 (b) T
238238 HE NUMBER AND PERCENTAGE OF STUDENTS WHO COMPLETE26
239239 A CREDIT-BEARING WORK-BASED LEARNING EXPERIENCE DURING THEIR27
240240 HB25-1186
241241 -7- POSTSECONDARY PROGRAM , DISAGGREGATED BY FIRST -GENERATION1
242242 STATUS, FULL- AND PART-TIME ENROLLMENT STATUS, TRANSFER STUDENT2
243243 STATUS, FEDERAL PELL GRANT ELIGIBILITY, RACE, ETHNICITY, AND SEX OR3
244244 GENDER;4
245245 (c) T
246246 HE AVERAGE NUMBER OF CREDITS EARNED THAT ARE5
247247 ASSOCIATED WITH WORK -BASED LEARNING EXPERIENCES ,6
248248 DISAGGREGATED BY FIRST-GENERATION STATUS, FULL- AND PART-TIME7
249249 ENROLLMENT STATUS, TRANSFER STUDENT STATUS, FEDERAL PELL GRANT8
250250 ELIGIBILITY, RACE, ETHNICITY, AND SEX OR GENDER;9
251251 (d) G
252252 RADUATION RATES, AS AVAILABLE, FOR STUDENTS WHO HAVE10
253253 A RANGE OF CREDITS EARNED THAT ARE ASSOCIATED WITH WORK -BASED11
254254 LEARNING EXPERIENCES, DISAGGREGATED BY FIRST-GENERATION STATUS,12
255255 FULL- AND PART-TIME ENROLLMENT STATUS, TRANSFER STUDENT STATUS,13
256256 FEDERAL PELL GRANT ELIGIBILITY, RACE, ETHNICITY, AND SEX OR GENDER;14
257257 AND15
258258 (e) P
259259 OSTGRADUATE OUTCOMES , IF AVAILABLE, FOR STUDENTS WHO16
260260 HAVE A RANGE OF CREDIT HOURS EARNED THAT ARE ASSOCIATED WITH17
261261 WORK-BASED LEARNING EXPERIENCES , DISAGGREGATED BY18
262262 FIRST-GENERATION STATUS, FULL- AND PART-TIME ENROLLMENT STATUS,19
263263 TRANSFER STUDENT STATUS , FEDERAL PELL GRANT ELIGIBILITY, RACE,20
264264 ETHNICITY, AND SEX OR GENDER.21
265265 (3) B
266266 EGINNING JANUARY 2027, AND EACH JANUARY THROUGH22
267267 2030,
268268 THE DEPARTMENT SHALL INCLUDE THE DATA COLLECTED PURSUANT23
269269 TO SUBSECTIONS (1) AND (2) OF THIS SECTION AS PART OF THE24
270270 DEPARTMENT'S "SMART ACT" HEARING REQUIRED BY SECTION 2-7-203.25
271271 (4) (a) S
272272 UBJECT TO AVAILABLE APPROPRIATIONS , AT THE END OF26
273273 THE THREE-YEAR PILOT PROGRAM, THE CONSORTIUM SHALL COMPLETE27
274274 HB25-1186
275275 -8- AND SUBMIT A REPORT TO THE EDUCATION COMMITTEES OF THE HOUSE OF1
276276 REPRESENTATIVES AND THE SENATE , OR THEIR SUCCESSOR COMMITTEES.2
277277 T
278278 HE REPORT MUST INCLUDE:3
279279 (I) A
280280 DESCRIPTION OF THE CONSORTIUM 'S FINDINGS AND4
281281 RECOMMENDATIONS PURSUANT TO SECTION 23-82-102 (3)(a)(III);5
282282 (II) D
283283 ETAILS ON THE CONSORTIUM'S IMPACTS ON PARTICIPATING6
284284 INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION AND THE EFFECTS OF CREATING7
285285 ADDITIONAL WORK-BASED LEARNING ACTIVITIES ON STUDENTS, FACULTY,8
286286 AND EMPLOYERS; AND9
287287 (III) R
288288 ECOMMENDATIONS FOR STATUTORY CHANGES , FINANCIAL10
289289 RESOURCES, DEPARTMENT POLICY CHANGES, AND INSTITUTION OF HIGHER11
290290 EDUCATION POLICY CHANGES NECESSARY TO IMPROVE SUCCESSFUL12
291291 WORK-BASED LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENTS IN INSTITUTIONS13
292292 OF HIGHER EDUCATION.14
293293 (b) T
294294 HIS SUBSECTION (4) IS REPEALED, EFFECTIVE JUNE 30, 2028.15
295295 SECTION 3. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 23-3.3-401, add (4)16
296296 as follows:17
297297 23-3.3-401. Work-study program established - requirements.18
298298 (4) F
299299 UNDS APPROPRIATED TO THE COMMISSION MAY BE USED BY THE19
300300 COMMISSION TO COVER THE COSTS OF WORK -BASED LEARNING20
301301 REQUIREMENTS FOR STUDENTS WHO ARE REQUIRED TO COMPLETE21
302302 CREDIT-BEARING WORK-BASED LEARNING REQUIREMENTS TO GRADUATE22
303303 FROM AN INSTITUTION OF HIGHER EDUCATION . FUNDING USED FOR THE23
304304 PURPOSES OF THIS SUBSECTION (4) IS EXEMPT FROM THE REQUIREMENTS24
305305 TO USE A STUDENT EMPLOYMENT CONTRACT .25
306306 SECTION 4. Act subject to petition - effective date. This act26
307307 takes effect at 12:01 a.m. on the day following the expiration of the27
308308 HB25-1186
309309 -9- ninety-day period after final adjournment of the general assembly; except1
310310 that, if a referendum petition is filed pursuant to section 1 (3) of article V2
311311 of the state constitution against this act or an item, section, or part of this3
312312 act within such period, then the act, item, section, or part will not take4
313313 effect unless approved by the people at the general election to be held in5
314314 November 2026 and, in such case, will take effect on the date of the6
315315 official declaration of the vote thereon by the governor.7
316316 HB25-1186
317317 -10-