Colorado 2025 Regular Session

Colorado House Bill HB1279 Compare Versions

Version 1 (Old)

Version 2 (New)

Old	New		Differences
1	1		First Regular Session
2	2		Seventy-fifth General Assembly
3	3		STATE OF COLORADO
4		-	~~REENGROSSED~~
5		-	This Version Includes All Amendments
6		-	~~Adopted~~ in the House of Introduction
	4	+	ENGROSSED
	5	+	This Version Includes All Amendments Adopted
	6	+	on Second Reading in the House of Introduction
7	7		LLS NO. 25-0736.01 Shelby Ross x4510
8	8		HOUSE BILL 25-1279
9	9		House Committees Senate Committees
10	10		Health & Human Services
11	11		Appropriations
12	12		A BILL FOR AN ACT
13	13		C
14	14		ONCERNING COLLECTING STATE -LEVEL DATA FOR THE COLORADO101
15	15		WORKS
16	16		PROGRAM, AND, IN CONNECTION THEREWITH, MAKING102
17	17		AN APPROPRIATION.103
18	18		Bill Summary
19	19		(Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced and does
20	20		not reflect any amendments that may be subsequently adopted. If this bill
21	21		passes third reading in the house of introduction, a bill summary that
22	22		applies to the reengrossed version of this bill will be available at
23	23		http://leg.colorado.gov
24	24		.)
25	25		No later than January 1, 2026, the bill requires the department of
26	26		human services (state department), in consultation with the works
27	27		allocation committee, to:
28	28		! Develop a standardized process for each county to collect
29	29		and report to the state department on a monthly basis
30	30		HOUSE
31		-	3rd Reading Unamended
32		-	March 19, 2025
33		-	HOUSE
34	31		Amended 2nd Reading
35	32		March 18, 2025
36	33		HOUSE SPONSORSHIP
37		-	Stewart R., Duran~~, Bird, Clifford, Gilchrist, Lieder, McCluskie, Sirota, Willford, Zokaie~~
	34	+	Stewart R., Duran
38	35		SENATE SPONSORSHIP
39	36		Jodeh,
40	37		Shading denotes HOUSE amendment. Double underlining denotes SENATE amendment.
41	38		Capital letters or bold & italic numbers indicate new material to be added to existing law.
42	39		Dashes through the words or numbers indicate deletions from existing law. certain information about the Colorado works program;
43	40		! Develop recommendations that include standardized
44	41		outcome measures for third-party contracted services and
45	42		required levels of evidence for third-party contracted
46	43		services funded with Colorado's temporary assistance for
47	44		needy families (TANF) allocation; and
48	45		! Submit a report to the joint budget committee (JBC) that
49	46		includes a description of the standardized process and
50	47		recommendations.
51	48		Beginning July 1, 2026, and each July thereafter, the bill requires
52	49		the state department to submit a report to the JBC that includes the
53	50		information collected and reported through the standardized process and
54	51		the total dollar amount of Colorado's TANF allocation that is
55	52		redistributed through the state budget or other programs and services and
56	53		publish the information on a monthly basis on the state department's
57	54		website in a publicly accessible format.
58	55		No later than July 1, 2026, the bill requires the state department to
59	56		submit a report to the JBC that includes certain information related to the
60	57		standard of need for eligibility for basic cash assistance.
61	58		Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Colorado:1
62	59		SECTION 1. In Colorado Revised Statutes, add 26-2-727 as2
63	60		follows:3
64	61		26-2-727. Improving state-level data for the works program4
65	62		- annual report. (1) (a) N
66	63		O LATER THAN
67	64		OCTOBER 1, 2025, THE STATE5
68	65		DEPARTMENT, IN CONSULTATION WITH THE WORKS ALLOCATION6
69	66		COMMITTEE, SHALL DEVELOP A STANDARDIZED PROCESS FOR EACH7
70	67		COUNTY TO COLLECT AND REPORT TO THE STATE DEPARTMENT ON A8
71	68		MONTHLY BASIS THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION :9
72	69		(I) T
73	70		HE TOTAL DOLLAR AMOUNT OF COLORADO'S TANF10
74	71		ALLOCATION THAT IS SPENT BY THE COUNTY ON :11
75	72		(A) B
76	73		ASIC CASH ASSISTANCE;12
77	74		(B) D
78	75		IVERSION PAYMENTS;13
79	76		(C) SUPPORTIVE SERVICE PAYMENTS ;14
80	77		1279-2- 1
81	78		(D) ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS FOR PARTICIPANT-FACING COLORADO2
82	79		WORKS PROGRAM STAFF , INCLUDING ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS INCURRED3
83	80		THROUGH THIRD-PARTY CONTRACTS;4
84	81		(E) ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS FOR COLORADO WORKS PROGRAM5
85	82		STAFF WHO ARE NOT PARTICIPANT FACING , INCLUDING ADMINISTRATIVE6
86	83		COSTS INCURRED THROUGH THIRD -PARTY CONTRACTS;7
87	84		(F) ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS FOR PROGRAMS OR SERVICES THAT8
88	85		ARE NOT PART OF THE COLORADO WORKS PROGRAM OR ANY PORTION OF9
89	86		WHICH IS FOR PROGRAMS OR SERVICES THAT ARE NOT PART OF THE10
90	87		C
91	88		OLORADO WORKS PROGRAM , INCLUDING ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS11
92	89		INCURRED THROUGH THIRD -PARTY CONTRACTS; AND12(G) TRANSFERS OR ANY OTHER FORM OF SPENDING ON PROGRAMS13
93	90		AND SERVICES OTHER THAN THE COLORADO WORKS PROGRAM, INCLUDING14
94	91		THE COLORADO CHILD CARE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM, PART 1 OF ARTICLE 415
95	92		OF TITLE 26.5, AND THE SOCIAL SERVICES BLOCK GRANT AUTHORIZED16
96	93		PURSUANT TO THE FEDERAL "SOCIAL SECURITY ACT", 42 U.S.C. SEC.17
97	94		1397;18
98	95		(II) THE TOTAL DOLLAR AMOUNT OF COLORADO'S TANF19
99	96		ALLOCATION THAT IS SPENT BY THE COUNTY ON :20
100	97		(A) THIRD-PARTY CONTRACTED SERVICES FOR PARTICIPANTS WHO21
101	98		RECEIVE BASIC CASH ASSISTANCE; AND22
102	99		(B) THIRD-PARTY CONTRACTED SERVICES FOR PARTICIPANTS WHO23
103	100		DO NOT RECEIVE BASIC CASH ASSISTANCE .24
104	101		(III) AN ANNUAL REPORT OF THE IMPACT THE FOLLOWING POLICY25
105	102		CHANGES HAVE ON THE TANF CASELOAD, CHURNING, AND A26
106	103		PARTICIPANT'S AVERAGE DURATION IN THE PROGRAM :27
107	104		1279
108	105		-3- 1
109	106		(A) CHANGES TO SANCTION AND RE-ENGAGEMENT POLICIES AND2
110	107		PROCESSES ADOPTED THROUGH STATE DEPARTMENT RULES ;3
111	108		(B) EXTENDING THE ENROLLMENT PERIOD BEYOND THE4
112	109		SIXTY-MONTH LIFETIME LIMIT UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES , AS5
113	110		ENACTED IN HOUSE BILL 22-1259;6
114	111		(C) EXEMPTIONS FROM WORK REQUIREMENTS UNDER CERTAIN7
115	112		CIRCUMSTANCES, AS ENACTED IN HOUSE BILL 22-1259; AND8
116	113		(D) CHANGES TO INCOME DISREGARDS , AS ENACTED IN HOUSE9
117	114		B
118	115		ILL 22-1259; AND10 (IV) THE NUMBER OF APPLICATIONS FOR THE COLORADO WORKS11
119	116		PROGRAM DENIED DUE TO INELIGIBILITY AND THE PERCENTAGE OF TOTAL12
120	117		APPLICATIONS REPRESENTED BY THIS NUMBER .13
121	118		(b) T
122	119		HE STATE DEPARTMENT SHALL SEEK INPUT FROM INTERESTED14
123	120		STAKEHOLDERS IN DEVELOPING THE STANDARDIZED PROCESS REQUIRED15
124	121		PURSUANT TO SUBSECTION (1)(a) OF THIS
125	122		SECTION, INCLUDING THE16
126	123		FAMILY VOICE COUNCIL WITHIN THE STATE DEPARTMENT .17
127	124		(c) NOTWITHSTANDING THE REQUIREMENT TO REPORT THE18
128	125		INFORMATION DESCRIBED IN SUBSECTION (1)(a) OF THIS SECTION ON A19
129	126		MONTHLY BASIS, ANY CATEGORY OF INFORMATION THAT IS IN ADDITION20
130	127		TO WHAT IS CURRENTLY REPORTED TO THE STATE DEPARTMENT BY EACH21
131	128		COUNTY THAT CANNOT BE REPORTED THROUGH EXISTING STRUCTURES22
132	129		AND PROCESSES MAY BE REPORTED ON A QUARTERLY BASIS UNTIL A23
133	130		REPORTING STRUCTURE AND PROCESS IS ESTABLISHED FOR THAT SPECIFIC24
134	131		CATEGORY OF INFORMATION .25
135	132		(2) (a) NO LATER THAN OCTOBER 1, 2025, THE STATE26
136	133		DEPARTMENT, IN CONSULTATION WITH THE WORKS ALLOCATION27
137	134		1279
138	135		-4- COMMITTEE, SHALL DEVELOP RECOMMENDATIONS THAT INCLUDE :1
139	136		(I) A MENU OF STANDARDIZED OUTCOME MEASURES FOR2
140	137		THIRD-PARTY CONTRACTED SERVICES FUNDED WITH COLORADO'S TANF3
141	138		ALLOCATION; AND4
142	139		(II) R
143	140		EQUIRED LEVELS OF EVIDENCE FOR THIRD -PARTY5
144	141		CONTRACTED SERVICES FUNDED WITH COLORADO'S TANF ALLOCATION.6
145	142		(b) T
146	143		HE STATE DEPARTMENT SHALL SEEK INPUT FROM INTERESTED7
147	144		STAKEHOLDERS AND THE WORKS ALLOCATION COMMITTEE IN DEVELOPING8
148	145		THE RECOMMENDATIONS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO SUBSECTION (2)(a) OF9
149	146		THIS
150	147		SECTION, INCLUDING THE FAMILY VOICE COUNCIL WITHIN THE STATE10
151	148		DEPARTMENT.11
152	149		(3) THE REQUIREMENT TO REPORT OR DEVELOP12
153	150		RECOMMENDATIONS RELATED TO THIRD -PARTY CONTRACTED SERVICES13
154	151		PURSUANT TO SUBSECTIONS (1) AND (2) OF THIS SECTION APPLIES ONLY TO14
155	152		THIRD-PARTY CONTRACTED SERVICES THAT ARE NEW OR RENEWED AND15
156	153		DOES NOT APPLY TO EXISTING THIRD-PARTY CONTRACTED SERVICES .16
157	154		(4) NO LATER THAN OCTOBER 1, 2025, THE STATE DEPARTMENT17
158	155		SHALL SUBMIT A REPORT TO THE JOINT BUDGET COMMITTEE THAT18
159	156		INCLUDES A DESCRIPTION OF THE STANDARDIZED PROCESS AND19
160	157		RECOMMENDATIONS DEVELOPED PURSUANT TO SUBSECTIONS (1)(a) AND20
161	158		(2)(a)
162	159		OF THIS SECTION, INCLUDING AN OVERVIEW OF THE INPUT AND21
163	160		FEEDBACK RECEIVED FROM INTERESTED STAKEHOLDERS .22(5) BEGINNING JANUARY 1, 2026, AND EACH JANUARY23
164	161		THEREAFTER, THE STATE DEPARTMENT SHALL SUBMIT A REPORT TO THE24
165	162		JOINT BUDGET COMMITTEE THAT INCLUDES THE INFORMATION COLLECTED25
166	163		AND REPORTED PURSUANT TO SUBSECTION (1)(a) OF THIS SECTION AND26
167	164		THE TOTAL DOLLAR AMOUNT OF COLORADO'S TANF ALLOCATION THAT27
168	165		1279
169	166		-5- IS REDISTRIBUTED THROUGH THE STATE BUDGET OR OTHER PROGRAMS1
170	167		AND SERVICES.2
171	168		(6) BEGINNING JANUARY 1, 2026, AND EACH MONTH THEREAFTER ,3
172	169		THE STATE DEPARTMENT SHALL PUBLISH ON THE STATE DEPARTMENT 'S4
173	170		WEBSITE IN A PUBLICLY ACCESSIBLE FORMAT THE INFORMATION5
174	171		ACCURATELY COLLECTED AND REPORTED PURSUANT TO SUBSECTION (1)(a)6
175	172		OF THIS SECTION AND THE TOTAL DOLLAR AM OUNT OF COLORADO'S TANF7
176	173		ALLOCATION THAT IS REDISTRIBUTED THROUGH THE STATE BUDGET OR8
177	174		OTHER PROGRAMS AND SERVICES .9
178	175		(7) BEGINNING JANUARY 1, 2026, AND EACH JANUARY10
179	176		THEREAFTER, THE STATE DEPARTMENT SHALL SUBMIT THE INFORMATION11
180	177		COLLECTED AND REPORTED PURSUANT TO SUBSECTION (1)(a) OF THIS12
181	178		SECTION TO THE WORKS ALLOCATION COMMITTEE FOR REVIEW AND13
182	179		IDENTIFICATION OF EXAMPLES AND BEST PRACTICES RELATED TO SERVICES14
183	180		FUNDED WITH COLORADO'S TANF ALLOCATION.15
184	181		(8) EACH COUNTY DEPARTMENT SHALL PROVIDE THE INFORMATION16
185	182		REQUIRED PURSUANT TO SUBSECTIONS (1)(a) AND (2)(a) OF THIS SECTION17
186	183		TO THE STATE DEPARTMENT . THE STATE DEPARTMENT SHALL PROVIDE18
187	184		TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO COUNTIES THAT PROVIDE THE INFORMATION19
188	185		REQUIRED PURSUANT TO SUBSECTIONS (1)(a) AND (2)(a) OF THIS SECTION.20
189	186		SECTION 2. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 26-2-709, add (1)(f)21
190	187		as follows:22
191	188		26-2-709. Benefits - cash assistance - programs - rules - repeal.23
192	189		(1) Standard of need - basic cash assistance grant. (f) N
193	190		O LATER THAN24
194	191		J
195	192		ULY 1, 2026, THE STATE DEPARTMENT SHALL SUBMIT A REPORT TO THE25
196	193		JOINT BUDGET COMMITTEE THAT INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION26
197	194		RELATED TO THE STANDARD OF NEED FOR ELIGIBILITY FOR BASIC CASH27
198	195		1279
199	196		-6- ASSISTANCE:1
200	197		(I) H
201	198		OW COLORADO'S CURRENT ELIGIBILITY FOR BASIC CASH2
202	199		ASSISTANCE COMPARES TO OTHER STATES ;3
203	200		(II) T
204	201		HE AMOUNT OF MONEY OTHER STATES INVEST IN THEIR4
205	202		TANF
206	203		PROGRAM;5
207	204		(III) A
208	205		LIST OF STATES THAT EXEMPLIFY HOW TO DETERMINE6
209	206		WHETHER TO UPDATE ELIGIBILITY FOR BASIC CASH ASSISTANCE AND HOW7
210	207		TO DO SO;8
211	208		(IV) A
212	209		PROPOSED UPDATED STANDARD OF NEED THAT REDUCES9
213	210		EXTREME CHILD POVERTY , PROMOTES ECONOMIC MOBILITY AND10
214	211		SELF-SUFFICIENCY, AND REFLECTS THE STATE 'S CURRENT ECONOMIC11
215	212		CONDITIONS;12
216	213		(V) T
217	214		HE NUMBER OF ADDITIONAL FAMILIES THAT WOULD HAVE13
218	215		ACCESS TO BASIC CASH ASSISTANCE BASED ON THE PROPOSED UPDATED14
219	216		STANDARD OF NEED CREATED IN SUBSECTION (1)(f)(IV) OF THIS SECTION;15
220	217		AND16
221	218		(VI) T
222	219		HE ESTIMATED COST OF THE PROPOSED UPDATED STANDARD17
223	220		OF NEED.18
224	221		SECTION 3. Appropriation. For the 2025-26 state fiscal year,19
225	222		$151,645 is appropriated to the department of human services for use by20
226	223		the office of economic security. This appropriation is from federal21
227	224		temporary assistance for needy families block grant funds and is based on22
228	225		an assumption that the office will require an additional 0.8 FTE. To23
229	226		implement this act, the office may use the appropriation for works24
230	227		program evaluation.25
231	228		SECTION 4. Act subject to petition - effective date. This act26
232	229		takes effect at 12:01 a.m. on the day following the expiration of the27
233	230		1279
234	231		-7- ninety-day period after final adjournment of the general assembly; except1
235	232		that, if a referendum petition is filed pursuant to section 1 (3) of article V2
236	233		of the state constitution against this act or an item, section, or part of this3
237	234		act within such period, then the act, item, section, or part will not take4
238	235		effect unless approved by the people at the general election to be held in5
239	236		November 2026 and, in such case, will take effect on the date of the6
240	237		official declaration of the vote thereon by the governor.7
241	238		1279
242	239		-8-