First Regular Session
Seventy-fifth General Assembly
STATE OF COLORADO
INTRODUCED
LLS NO. 25-0734.01 Alana Rosen x2606
HOUSE BILL 25-1186
House Committees Senate Committees
Education
A BILL FOR AN ACT
C
ONCERNING EXPANDING WORK -BASED LEARNING EXPERIENCES IN101
HIGHER EDUCATION.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 creates the work-based learning consortium pilot program
(pilot program) in the department of higher education (department). The
purpose of the pilot program is to develop and expand the integration of
work-based learning experiences for students enrolled in higher
education.
On or before July 1, 2026, or within 90 days after the department
HOUSE SPONSORSHIP
Martinez and Lukens,
SENATE SPONSORSHIP
(None),
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. receives sufficient funding, the department shall convene a consortium
consisting of a group of representatives from institutions of higher
education to:
! Share best practices on improving access to quality
work-based learning opportunities for students;
! Help participating institutions of higher education meet
workforce needs in Colorado and connect academic
learning with real-world experiences through career
preparation and skill development for students; and
! Make recommendations to the general assembly and
institutions of higher education on the best practices.
Subject to available appropriations, at the end of the 3-year pilot
program, the consortium shall complete and submit a report to the
education committees of the house of representatives and the senate, or
their successor committees. The report must include:
! A description of the consortium's findings and
recommendations;
! Details on the consortium's impacts on participating
institutions of higher education and the effects of creating
additional work-based learning activities on students,
faculty, and employers; and
! Recommendations for statutory changes, financial
resources, department policy changes, and institution of
higher education policy changes necessary to improve
successful work-based learning opportunities for students
in institutions of higher education.
Funds appropriated to the commission on higher education
(commission) may be used by the commission to cover the costs of
work-based learning requirements for students who are required to
complete credit-bearing work-based learning requirements to graduate
from an institution of higher education.
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) To ensure the economic vitality of Colorado, every industry4
needs access to a skilled workforce and every Coloradan needs access to5
sustainable employment;6
(b) According to the 2024 Colorado workforce development7
HB25-1186-2- council's talent pipeline report, Colorado ranks fourth among states in1
terms of its proportion of jobs that will require postsecondary education2
beyond high school in 2031. Of all jobs in Colorado, 73% of jobs will3
require some postsecondary education training beyond high school in4
2031.5
(c) Research has shown that work-based learning leads students6
to develop essential skills, broadening a student's social capital and7
leading to job offers;8
(d) There is a strong connection between internships and9
college-level employment after graduation. Controlling for factors,10
including gender, race, ethnicity, and institutional characteristics,11
graduates who have had at least one internship are 48.5% less likely to be12
underemployed than graduates who did not have an internship.13
(e) Inequities in who can participate in work-based learning14
persist. Students who identify as women, Black, Hispanic, and15
first-generation are underrepresented in paid internships and16
overrepresented in unpaid internships.17
(f) The 2 largest barriers for students participating in an internship18
are the competing demands of college and existing work commitments;19
(g) Incorporating project-based and work-based learning20
opportunities into curriculum is one way to address competing demands21
and to reduce inequities in a student's ability to participate in a22
work-based learning experience;23
(h) Currently, faculty must work independently to integrate24
work-based learning into their curriculum and to develop partnerships25
with employers, which creates a heavy burden for faculty and results in26
an uneven inclusion of work-based learning across multiple subjects or27
HB25-1186
-3- courses; and1
(i) Colorado does not currently collect statewide data allowing the2
state to examine the effect postsecondary work-based learning3
experiences have on postsecondary post-graduate outcomes.4
(2) The general assembly finds, therefore, that to meet the current5
and future economic demands in Colorado, it is essential to eliminate6
barriers and create more work-based learning opportunities so students7
and employers can participate in and benefit from the postsecondary8
work-based learning experiences.9
SECTION 2. In Colorado Revised Statutes, add article 82 to title10
23 as follows:11
ARTICLE 8212
Work-based Learning Consortium13
Pilot Program14
23-82-101. Definitions. A
S USED IN THIS ARTICLE 82, UNLESS THE15
CONTEXT OTHERWISE REQUIRES :16
(1) "C
OMMUNITY OF PRACTICE" MEANS A GROUP OF PEOPLE WHO17
SHARE A COMMON CONCERN , SET OF PROBLEMS, OR AN INTEREST IN A18
TOPIC AND WHO COME TOGETHER TO FULFILL BOTH INDIVIDUAL AND19
GROUP GOALS.20
(2) "C
ONSORTIUM" MEANS THE WORK -BASED LEARNING21
CONSORTIUM CONVENED PURSUANT TO SECTION 23-82-102 (2)(a).22
(3) "D
EPARTMENT" MEANS THE DEPARTMENT OF HIGHER23
EDUCATION CREATED AND EXISTING PURSUANT TO SECTION 24-1-114.24
(4) "I
NSTITUTION OF HIGHER EDUCATION " MEANS:25
(a) A
STATE INSTITUTION OF HIGHER EDUCATION , AS DEFINED IN26
SECTION 23-18-102, OR AN ACCREDITED CAMPUS OF A STATE INSTITUTION27
HB25-1186
-4- OF HIGHER EDUCATION;1
(b) A
PARTICIPATING PRIVATE INSTITUTION OF HIGHER EDUCATION,2
AS DEFINED IN SECTION 23-18-102;3
(c) A
LOCAL DISTRICT COLLEGE , AS DEFINED IN SECTION4
23-71-102;
AND5
(d) A
N AREA TECHNICAL COLLEGE , AS DEFINED IN SECTION6
23-60-103.7
(5) "I
NTERNSHIP" MEANS A FORM OF EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING8
THAT INTEGRATES KNOWLEDGE AND THEORY LEARNED IN THE CLASSROOM9
WITH PRACTICAL APPLICATION AND SKILLS DEVELOPMENT IN A10
PROFESSIONAL WORKPLACE SETTING .11
(6) "P
ILOT PROGRAM" MEANS THE WORK -BASED LEARNING12
CONSORTIUM PILOT PROGRAM CREATED IN SECTION 23-82-102 (1).13
(7) "W
ORK-BASED LEARNING"MEANS A CONTINUUM OF ACTIVITIES14
THAT OCCUR, IN PART OR IN WHOLE, IN THE WORKPLACE, PROVIDING THE15
LEARNER WITH HANDS-ON, REAL-WORLD WORK EXPERIENCE . WITHIN THE16
WORK-BASED LEARNING CONTINUUM , PROJECT-BASED LEARNING17
PROVIDES EXPERIENCES THAT MAY BE EMBEDDED WITHIN THE18
EDUCATIONAL CURRICULUM THAT HELP STUDENTS LEARN ABOUT WORK19
AND INFORM CAREER DECISIONS.20
23-82-102. Work-based learning consortium pilot program -21
created - duties. (1) T
HE WORK-BASED LEARNING CONSORTIUM PILOT22
PROGRAM IS CREATED IN THE DEPARTMENT . THE DEPARTMENT SHALL23
ESTABLISH, IMPLEMENT, MANAGE, AND MAINTAIN THE WORK -BASED24
LEARNING CONSORTIUM PILOT PROGRAM . THE PURPOSE OF THE PILOT25
PROGRAM IS TO DEVELOP AND EXP AND THE INTEGRATION OF WORK -BASED26
LEARNING EXPERIENCES FOR STUDENTS ENROLLED IN HIGHER EDUCATION .27
HB25-1186
-5- (2) (a) ON OR BEFORE JULY 1, 2026, OR WITHIN NINETY DAYS1
AFTER THE DEPARTMENT RECEIVES SUFFICIENT FUNDING FROM GIFTS ,2
GRANTS, OR DONATIONS , THE DEPARTMENT SHALL CONVENE A3
CONSORTIUM OF REPRESENTATIVES FROM EACH OF THE HIGHER4
EDUCATION GOVERNING BOARDS , EACH FOUR-YEAR INSTITUTION OF5
HIGHER EDUCATION , AND A REPRESENTATIVE SAMPLE OF THE6
PARTICIPATING TWO-YEAR INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION ,7
PARTICIPATING AREA TECHNICAL COLLEGES , PARTICIPATING LOCAL8
DISTRICT COLLEGES, AND PARTICIPATING PRIVATE INSTITUTIONS OF9
HIGHER EDUCATION . IF SUFFICIENT FUNDING IS SECURED , THE10
CONSORTIUM MUST MEET FOR THREE YEARS .11
(b) T
HE DEPARTMENT SHALL SELECT THE PARTICIPATING12
INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION DESCRIBED IN SUBSECTION (2)(a) OF13
THIS SECTION BASED ON AVAILABLE FUNDING AND OTHER CRITERIA AS14
ESTABLISHED BY THE DEPARTMENT .15
(c) T
HE MEMBERS OF THE CONSORTIUM SERVE WITHOUT16
COMPENSATION AND WITHOUT REIMBURSEMENT FOR EXPENSES .17
(3) (a) T
HE CONSORTIUM SHALL:18
(I) S
HARE BEST PRACTICES ON IMPROVING ACCESS TO QUALITY19
WORK-BASED LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENTS ;20
(II) H
ELP PARTICIPATING INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION21
MEET WORKFORCE NEEDS IN COLORADO AND CONNECT ACADEMIC22
LEARNING WITH REAL -WORLD EXPERIENCES THROUGH CAREER23
PREPARATION AND SKILL DEVELOPMENT FOR STUDENTS ; AND24
(III) M
AKE RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY AND25
INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION BASED ON THE BEST PRACTICES26
DESCRIBED IN SUBSECTION (3)(a)(I) OF THIS SECTION.27
HB25-1186
-6- (b) USING A THIRD-PARTY PLATFORM, THE CONSORTIUM SHALL1
CONNECT FACULTY WITH BUSINESSES TO EMBED WORK -BASED LEARNING2
OPPORTUNITIES INTO HIGHER EDUCATION CURRICULUM .3
(c) T
HE CONSORTIUM SHALL SERVE AS A COMMUNITY OF PRACTICE4
AND SUPPORT FACULTY ON HOW TO BEST EMBED WORK -BASED LEARNING5
OPPORTUNITIES INTO CURRENT DEGREE PATHWAYS .6
(4) T
HE DEPARTMENT MAY SEEK , ACCEPT, AND EXPEND GIFTS,7
GRANTS, OR DONATIONS FROM PRIVATE OR PUBLIC SOURCES FOR THE8
PURPOSES OF THIS ARTICLE 82.9
23-82-103. Reporting - repeal. (1) O
N OR BEFORE DECEMBER10
2026,
AND ANNUALLY THEREAFTER, INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION11
SHALL PROVIDE TO THE DEPARTMENT WORK -BASED LEARNING DATA ON12
STUDENTS AND DEGREE PROGRAMS USING EXISTING DATA COLLECTION13
MECHANISMS. THE INFORMATION MUST INCLUDE , AT A MINIMUM:14
(a) W
HETHER A COURSE INCLUDED WORK -BASED LEARNING FOR15
EACH ENROLLED STUDENT ; AND16
(b) W
HETHER A DEGREE-GRANTING PROGRAM INCLUDES A17
WORK-BASED LEARNING COMPONENT .18
(2) T
HE DEPARTMENT SHALL COLLECT DATA FROM EACH19
INSTITUTION OF HIGHER EDUCATION, SUBJECT TO DATA AVAILABILITY, TO20
REPORT THE FOLLOWING:21
(a) T
HE NUMBER AND PERCENTAGE OF DEGREE PROGRAMS THAT22
REQUIRE A WORK-BASED LEARNING OR INTERNSHIP REQUIREMENT FOR23
DEGREE COMPLETION BY INSTITUTION OF HIGHER EDUCATION AND DEGREE24
LEVEL;25
(b) T
HE NUMBER AND PERCENTAGE OF STUDENTS WHO COMPLETE26
A CREDIT-BEARING WORK-BASED LEARNING EXPERIENCE DURING THEIR27
HB25-1186
-7- POSTSECONDARY PROGRAM , DISAGGREGATED BY FIRST -GENERATION1
STATUS, FULL- AND PART-TIME ENROLLMENT STATUS, TRANSFER STUDENT2
STATUS, FEDERAL PELL GRANT ELIGIBILITY, RACE, ETHNICITY, AND SEX OR3
GENDER;4
(c) T
HE AVERAGE NUMBER OF CREDITS EARNED THAT ARE5
ASSOCIATED WITH WORK -BASED LEARNING EXPERIENCES ,6
DISAGGREGATED BY FIRST-GENERATION STATUS, FULL- AND PART-TIME7
ENROLLMENT STATUS, TRANSFER STUDENT STATUS, FEDERAL PELL GRANT8
ELIGIBILITY, RACE, ETHNICITY, AND SEX OR GENDER;9
(d) G
RADUATION RATES, AS AVAILABLE, FOR STUDENTS WHO HAVE10
A RANGE OF CREDITS EARNED THAT ARE ASSOCIATED WITH WORK -BASED11
LEARNING EXPERIENCES, DISAGGREGATED BY FIRST-GENERATION STATUS,12
FULL- AND PART-TIME ENROLLMENT STATUS, TRANSFER STUDENT STATUS,13
FEDERAL PELL GRANT ELIGIBILITY, RACE, ETHNICITY, AND SEX OR GENDER;14
AND15
(e) P
OSTGRADUATE OUTCOMES , IF AVAILABLE, FOR STUDENTS WHO16
HAVE A RANGE OF CREDIT HOURS EARNED THAT ARE ASSOCIATED WITH17
WORK-BASED LEARNING EXPERIENCES , DISAGGREGATED BY18
FIRST-GENERATION STATUS, FULL- AND PART-TIME ENROLLMENT STATUS,19
TRANSFER STUDENT STATUS , FEDERAL PELL GRANT ELIGIBILITY, RACE,20
ETHNICITY, AND SEX OR GENDER.21
(3) B
EGINNING JANUARY 2027, AND EACH JANUARY THROUGH22
2030,
THE DEPARTMENT SHALL INCLUDE THE DATA COLLECTED PURSUANT23
TO SUBSECTIONS (1) AND (2) OF THIS SECTION AS PART OF THE24
DEPARTMENT'S "SMART ACT" HEARING REQUIRED BY SECTION 2-7-203.25
(4) (a) S
UBJECT TO AVAILABLE APPROPRIATIONS , AT THE END OF26
THE THREE-YEAR PILOT PROGRAM, THE CONSORTIUM SHALL COMPLETE27
HB25-1186
-8- AND SUBMIT A REPORT TO THE EDUCATION COMMITTEES OF THE HOUSE OF1
REPRESENTATIVES AND THE SENATE , OR THEIR SUCCESSOR COMMITTEES.2
T
HE REPORT MUST INCLUDE:3
(I) A
DESCRIPTION OF THE CONSORTIUM 'S FINDINGS AND4
RECOMMENDATIONS PURSUANT TO SECTION 23-82-102 (3)(a)(III);5
(II) D
ETAILS ON THE CONSORTIUM'S IMPACTS ON PARTICIPATING6
INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION AND THE EFFECTS OF CREATING7
ADDITIONAL WORK-BASED LEARNING ACTIVITIES ON STUDENTS, FACULTY,8
AND EMPLOYERS; AND9
(III) R
ECOMMENDATIONS FOR STATUTORY CHANGES , FINANCIAL10
RESOURCES, DEPARTMENT POLICY CHANGES, AND INSTITUTION OF HIGHER11
EDUCATION POLICY CHANGES NECESSARY TO IMPROVE SUCCESSFUL12
WORK-BASED LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENTS IN INSTITUTIONS13
OF HIGHER EDUCATION.14
(b) T
HIS SUBSECTION (4) IS REPEALED, EFFECTIVE JUNE 30, 2028.15
SECTION 3. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 23-3.3-401, add (4)16
as follows:17
23-3.3-401. Work-study program established - requirements.18
(4) F
UNDS APPROPRIATED TO THE COMMISSION MAY BE USED BY THE19
COMMISSION TO COVER THE COSTS OF WORK -BASED LEARNING20
REQUIREMENTS FOR STUDENTS WHO ARE REQUIRED TO COMPLETE21
CREDIT-BEARING WORK-BASED LEARNING REQUIREMENTS TO GRADUATE22
FROM AN INSTITUTION OF HIGHER EDUCATION . FUNDING USED FOR THE23
PURPOSES OF THIS SUBSECTION (4) IS EXEMPT FROM THE REQUIREMENTS24
TO USE A STUDENT EMPLOYMENT CONTRACT .25
SECTION 4. Act subject to petition - effective date. This act26
takes effect at 12:01 a.m. on the day following the expiration of the27
HB25-1186
-9- ninety-day period after final adjournment of the general assembly; except1
that, if a referendum petition is filed pursuant to section 1 (3) of article V2
of the state constitution against this act or an item, section, or part of this3
act within such period, then the act, item, section, or part will not take4
effect unless approved by the people at the general election to be held in5
November 2026 and, in such case, will take effect on the date of the6
official declaration of the vote thereon by the governor.7
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