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Colorado Senate Bill SB150

Colorado 2025 Regular Session

Colorado Senate Bill SB150 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. 25-0055.01 Alana Rosen x2606
88 SENATE BILL 25-150
99 Senate Committees House Committees
1010 Health & Human Services
1111 A BILL FOR AN ACT
1212 C
1313 ONCERNING CREATING A PILOT PR OGRAM TO ENCOURAGE YOUTH IN101
1414 FOSTER CARE TO GRADUATE FROM HIGH SCHOOL .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 fostering success pilot program (pilot program)
2323 in the department of human services (department). The pilot program is
2424 a 2-part program, which includes:
2525 ! The supplemental support for foster students program
2626 (supplemental support program), which awards $2,000
2727 scholarships annually to a foster care provider, kinship
2828 SENATE SPONSORSHIP
2929 Michaelson Jenet,
3030 HOUSE SPONSORSHIP
3131 Gilchrist,
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. foster care provider, or a non-certified kinship care
3535 provider (provider) who cares for a youth in the legal
3636 custody of a county department of human or social services
3737 until the youth graduates from high school; and
3838 ! The milestone incentives program (milestone program),
3939 which awards $1,000 to a youth for successfully graduating
4040 from high school.
4141 On or before September 30, 2025, subject to available
4242 appropriations, the department shall contract with a third-party
4343 administrator (administrator) to develop, implement, and administer the
4444 pilot program. The department shall contract with an administrator that
4545 is:
4646 ! A nonprofit organization;
4747 ! Experienced working with students and families; and
4848 ! Experienced administering student scholarship and grant
4949 programs.
5050 On or before December 31, 2025, subject to available
5151 appropriations, the department shall establish a timeline for:
5252 ! Announcing the pilot program;
5353 ! Accepting applications from youth and their providers; and
5454 ! Selecting youth and their providers to participate in the
5555 pilot program.
5656 The department shall select youth and provider participants in the
5757 order of applications received. A youth and their provider selected to
5858 participate in the pilot program must participate in the supplemental
5959 support program and the milestone program.
6060 The administrator may contract with one or more private entities
6161 to develop and implement a system to establish scholarship accounts that
6262 allows payment to qualifying vendors by electronic means from an online
6363 portal.
6464 The administrator shall:
6565 ! Ensure that the scholarship account is accessible through an
6666 online portal for the provider to facilitate payments to a
6767 qualifying vendor for the supplemental support program;
6868 ! Ensure the transfer of scholarship funds from the online
6969 portal directly to a qualifying vendor without direct access
7070 to scholarship funds by a provider; and
7171 ! Distribute money to each scholarship account.
7272 The administrator shall ensure that a youth has sole access to the
7373 milestone program award funds. There are no restrictions on how the
7474 youth may use the milestone program award funds.
7575 On or before July 1, 2028, the administrator shall administer a
7676 survey to youth and their providers to receive feedback on the pilot
7777 program.
7878 On or before October 31, 2028, the administrator shall report to the
7979 SB25-150
8080 -2- department the following information:
8181 ! The number of participants selected for the pilot program;
8282 ! The amount of money awarded through the pilot program;
8383 ! The survey results from youth and their providers; and
8484 ! How the pilot program affected the youth's performance in
8585 school.
8686 On or before December 31, 2028, the department shall submit a
8787 report summarizing the information collected from the survey to the
8888 education committees of the house of representatives and senate, the
8989 health and human services committees of the house of representatives and
9090 senate, or their successor committees.
9191 Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Colorado:1
9292 SECTION 1. In Colorado Revised Statutes, add 19-7-105 as2
9393 follows:3
9494 19-7-105. Fostering success pilot program - financial support4
9595 for youth in foster care, kinship foster care, or non-certified kinship5
9696 care - report - rules - definitions - repeal. (1) A
9797 S USED IN THIS SECTION,6
9898 UNLESS THE CONTEXT OTHERWISE REQUIRES :7
9999 (a) "F
100100 OSTERING SUCCESS PILOT PROGRAM " OR "PILOT PROGRAM"8
101101 MEANS THE FOSTERING SUCCESS PILOT PROGRAM CREATED IN SUBSECTION9
102102 (2)
103103 OF THIS SECTION, WHICH CONSISTS OF TWO PROGRAMS : THE10
104104 SUPPLEMENTAL SUPPORT FOR FOSTER STUDENTS PROGRAM CREATED IN11
105105 SUBSECTION (2)(a)(I) OF THIS SECTION AND THE MILESTONE INCENTIVES12
106106 PROGRAM CREATED IN SUBSECTION (2)(a)(II) OF THIS SECTION.13
107107 (b) "M
108108 ILESTONE INCENTIVES PROGRAM " MEANS THE MILESTONE14
109109 INCENTIVES PROGRAM CREATED IN SUBSECTION (2)(a)(II) OF THIS15
110110 SECTION.16
111111 (c) "P
112112 ROVIDER" MEANS A FOSTER CARE PARENT OR A RELATIVE OR17
113113 KIN WHO PROVIDES KINSHIP FOSTER CARE AND WHO IS CERTIFIED TO18
114114 OPERATE A KINSHIP FOSTER CARE HOME PURSUANT TO SECTION 26-6-910.19
115115 SB25-150-3- "PROVIDER" ALSO INCLUDES A RELATIVE OR KIN WHO PROVIDES1
116116 NON-CERTIFIED KINSHIP CARE, AS DEFINED IN SECTION 26-6-903, TO A2
117117 CHILD OR YOUTH WHO IS IN THE LEGAL CUSTODY OF THE COUNTY3
118118 DEPARTMENT.4
119119 (d) "Q
120120 UALIFYING VENDOR" MEANS AN ELIGIBLE SERVICE VENDOR5
121121 THAT THE THIRD-PARTY ADMINISTRATOR APPROVES TO PARTICIPATE AND6
122122 PROVIDE SERVICES TO YOUTH AND PROVIDERS PARTICIPATING IN THE7
123123 SUPPLEMENTAL SUPPORT FOR FOSTER STUDENTS PROGRAM .8
124124 (e) "S
125125 UPPLEMENTAL SUPPORT FOR FOSTER STUDENTS PROGRAM "9
126126 MEANS THE SUPPLEMENTAL SUPPORT FOR FOSTER STUDENTS PROGRAM10
127127 CREATED IN SUBSECTION (2)(a)(I) OF THIS SECTION.11
128128 (2) (a) T
129129 HE FOSTERING SUCCESS PILOT PROGRAM IS CREATED IN12
130130 THE DEPARTMENT. THE PILOT PROGRAM IS A TWO-PART PILOT PROGRAM13
131131 THAT INCLUDES:14
132132 (I) T
133133 HE SUPPLEMENTAL SUPPORT FOR FOSTER STUDENTS PROGRAM ,15
134134 WHICH AWARDS TWO -THOUSAND-DOLLAR SCHOLARSHIP PAYMENTS16
135135 ANNUALLY TO A SCHOLARSHIP ACC OUNT ESTABLISHED IN SUBSECTION17
136136 (3)(a)
137137 OF THIS SECTION FOR A FOSTER CARE PROVIDER , KINSHIP FOSTER18
138138 CARE PROVIDER, OR A NON-CERTIFIED KINSHIP CARE PROVIDER WHO CARES19
139139 FOR A YOUTH IN THE LEGAL CUSTODY OF A COUNTY DEPARTMENT UNTIL20
140140 THE YOUTH GRADUATES FROM HIGH SCHOOL TO BE USED FOR21
141141 EDUCATION-RELATED EXPENSES FOR THE YOUTH ; AND22
142142 (II) T
143143 HE MILESTONE INCENTIVES PROGRAM , WHICH AWARDS A23
144144 YOUTH WHO IS IN THE LEGAL CUST ODY OF A COUNTY DEPARTMENT AND24
145145 LIVING IN A FOSTER CARE HOME , KINSHIP FOSTER CARE HOME , OR25
146146 NON-CERTIFIED KINSHIP CARE HOME ONE THOUSAND DOLLARS FOR26
147147 SUCCESSFULLY GRADUATING FROM HIGH SCHOOL .27
148148 SB25-150
149149 -4- (b) ON OR BEFORE SEPTEMBER 30, 2025, SUBJECT TO AVAILABLE1
150150 APPROPRIATIONS, THE DEPARTMENT SHALL CONTRACT WITH A2
151151 THIRD-PARTY ADMINISTRATOR TO DEVELOP , IMPLEMENT, AND ADMINISTER3
152152 THE PILOT PROGRAM. THE DEPARTMENT SHALL CONTRACT WITH A4
153153 THIRD-PARTY ADMINISTRATOR THAT IS:5
154154 (I) A
155155 NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION , AS DEFINED IN SECTION6
156156 26.5-5-303;7
157157 (II) E
158158 XPERIENCED WORKING WITH STUDENTS AND FAMILIES ; AND8
159159 (III) E
160160 XPERIENCED ADMINISTERING STUDENT SCHOLARSHIP AND9
161161 GRANT PROGRAMS.10
162162 (c) (I) T
163163 HE DEPARTMENT SHALL EXAMINE URBAN , RURAL, AND11
164164 SUBURBAN AREAS WITH HIGH RATES OF YOUTH IN FOSTER CARE TO12
165165 IDENTIFY THE REGIONS TO IMPLEMENT THE PILOT PROGRAM .13
166166 (II) T
167167 HE THIRD-PARTY ADMINISTRATOR SHALL IMPLEMENT THE14
168168 PILOT PROGRAM IN THE REGIONS THAT THE DEPARTMENT IDENTIFIES15
169169 PURSUANT TO SUBSECTION (2)(c)(I) OF THIS SECTION.16
170170 (d) O
171171 N OR BEFORE DECEMBER 31, 2025, SUBJECT TO AVAILABLE17
172172 APPROPRIATIONS, THE DEPARTMENT SHALL ESTABLISH A TIMELINE FOR :18
173173 (I) A
174174 NNOUNCING THE PILOT PROGRAM ;19
175175 (II) A
176176 CCEPTING APPLICATIONS FROM YOUTH AND THEIR20
177177 PROVIDERS; AND21
178178 (III) S
179179 ELECTING YOUTH AND THEIR PROVIDERS TO PARTICIPATE IN22
180180 THE PILOT PROGRAM.23
181181 (e) T
182182 HE DEPARTMENT SHALL SELECT YOUTH AND PROVIDER24
183183 PARTICIPANTS IN THE ORDER OF APPLICATIONS RECEIVED . A YOUTH AND25
184184 THEIR PROVIDER SELECTED TO PARTICIPATE IN THE PILOT PROGRAM MUST26
185185 PARTICIPATE IN THE SUPPLEMENTAL SUPPORT FOR FOSTER STUDENTS27
186186 SB25-150
187187 -5- PROGRAM AND THE MILESTONE INCENTIVES PROGRAM .1
188188 (f) A
189189 S PART OF THE APPLICATION PROCESS, A YOUTH AND THEIR2
190190 PROVIDER MUST AGREE THAT THE YOUTH 'S ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE MAY3
191191 BE SHARED BY THE YOUTH 'S EDUCATION PROVIDER , AS DEFINED IN4
192192 SECTION 22-32-138 (1), WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AS5
193193 DESCRIBED IN SECTION 22-32-138 (9.5)(b).6
194194 (3) (a) T
195195 HE THIRD-PARTY ADMINISTRATOR SHALL ESTABLISH A7
196196 SCHOLARSHIP ACCOUNT ON BEHALF OF A YOUTH . THE THIRD-PARTY8
197197 ADMINISTRATOR MAY CONTRACT WITH ONE OR MORE PRIVATE ENTITIES TO9
198198 DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT A COMMERCIALLY VIABLE , COST-EFFECTIVE,10
199199 AND PROVIDER-FRIENDLY SYSTEM TO:11
200200 (I) E
201201 STABLISH SCHOLARSHIP ACCOUNTS ; AND12
202202 (II) M
203203 AXIMIZE PAYMENT FLEXIBILITY BY ALLOWING FOR PAYMENT13
204204 OF SERVICES TO QUALIFYING VENDORS BY TRANSFERRING SCHOLARSHIP14
205205 FUNDS BY ELECTRONIC OR ONLINE MEANS FROM AN ONLINE PORTAL .15
206206 (b) T
207207 HE THIRD-PARTY ADMINISTRATOR SHALL :16
208208 (I) E
209209 NSURE THAT THE SCHOLARSHIP ACCOUNT IS ACCESSIBLE17
210210 THROUGH AN ONLINE PORTAL FOR THE PROVIDER TO FACILITATE18
211211 PAYMENTS TO A QUALIFYING VENDOR WHO PROVIDES SERVICES TO YOUTH19
212212 AND THEIR PROVIDERS PARTICIPATING IN THE SUPPLEMENTAL SUPPORT FOR20
213213 FOSTER STUDENTS PROGRAM ;21
214214 (II) E
215215 NSURE THE DIRECT TRANSFER OF SCHOLARSHIP FUNDS FROM22
216216 THE ONLINE PORTAL TO A QUALIFYING VENDOR TO PAY FOR EXPENSES ;23
217217 (III) E
218218 NSURE YOUTH AND THEIR PROVIDERS CANNOT WITHDRAW24
219219 OR HAVE DIRECT ACCESS TO THE SCHOLARSHIP FUNDS ; AND25
220220 (IV) D
221221 ISTRIBUTE MONEY TO EACH SCHOLARSHIP ACCOUNT .26
222222 (c) S
223223 TARTING IN THE 2026-27 FISCAL YEAR, THE DEPARTMENT27
224224 SB25-150
225225 -6- SHALL DISTRIBUTE TWO THOUSAND DOLLARS TO YOUTH AND PROVIDERS1
226226 FOR THE SUPPLEMENTAL SUPPORT FOR FOSTER STUDENTS PROGRAM . THE2
227227 PROVIDERS MAY USE THE SCHOLARSHIP FUNDS ON EDUCATION -RELATED3
228228 SERVICES FOR YOUTH THAT ARE PROVIDED BY A QUALIFIED VENDOR THAT4
229229 INCLUDE, BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO:5
230230 (I) A
231231 FTER-SCHOOL TUTORING SERVICES;6
232232 (II) C
233233 OMPUTERS OR TECHNOLOGICAL DEVICES INTENDED FOR A7
234234 YOUTH'S EDUCATIONAL NEEDS;8
235235 (III) T
236236 RANSPORTATION FEES;9
237237 (IV) E
238238 XPENSES OR FEES RELATED TO EXTRACURRICULAR10
239239 ACTIVITIES, FIELD TRIPS, OR OTHER EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCES ; AND11
240240 (V) P
241241 ERSONAL GROWTH EXPERIENCES , WHICH MAY INCLUDE12
242242 PARTICIPATING IN SPORTS AND OUTDOOR NATURE EXPERIENCES .13
243243 (d) T
244244 HE PROVIDER MAY NOT USE THE SCHOLARSHIP FUNDS ON14
245245 TUITION AND FEES FOR PRIVATE SCHOOL.15
246246 (e) S
247247 CHOLARSHIP FUNDS MUST BE SPENT WITHIN NINE MONTHS16
248248 AFTER THE THIRD-PARTY ADMINISTRATOR DISTRIBUTES THE SCHOLARSHIP17
249249 FUNDS IN THE YOUTH'S SCHOLARSHIP ACCOUNT. AT THE END OF THE NINE18
250250 MONTHS, UNSPENT SCHOLARSHIP FUNDS ARE REVERTED BACK TO THE19
251251 DEPARTMENT.20
252252 (4) (a) U
253253 PON A YOUTH'S GRADUATION, THE THIRD-PARTY21
254254 ADMINISTRATOR SHALL DISTRIBUTE THE AWARD FUNDS DESCRIBED IN22
255255 SUBSECTION (2)(a)(II) OF THIS SECTION INTO THE YOUTH'S ACCOUNT.23
256256 (b) T
257257 HE THIRD-PARTY ADMINISTRATOR SHALL ENSURE THAT A24
258258 YOUTH HAS SOLE ACCESS TO THE MILESTONE INCENTIVES PROGRAM25
259259 AWARD FUNDS. THERE ARE NO RESTRICTIONS ON HOW THE YOUTH MAY26
260260 USE THE MILESTONE INCENTIVES PROGRAM AWARD FUNDS .27
261261 SB25-150
262262 -7- (5) ON OR BEFORE JULY 1, 2028, THE THIRD-PARTY1
263263 ADMINISTRATOR SHALL ADMINISTER A SURVEY TO YOUTH AND PROVIDERS2
264264 TO RECEIVE THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION :3
265265 (a) F
266266 EEDBACK FROM PROVIDERS REGARDING THEIR EXPERIENCE4
267267 PARTICIPATING IN THE PILOT PROGRAM;5
268268 (b) F
269269 EEDBACK FROM YOUTH REGARDING THEIR EXPERIENCE6
270270 PARTICIPATING IN THE PILOT PROGRAM; AND7
271271 (c) H
272272 OW YOUTH WHO RECEIVED AWARD FUNDS THROUGH THE8
273273 MILESTONE INCENTIVES PROGRAM USED THE AWARD FUNDS .9
274274 (6) (a) O
275275 N OR BEFORE OCTOBER 31, 2028, THE THIRD-PARTY10
276276 ADMINISTRATOR SHALL PROVIDE THE DEPARTMENT WITH THE FOLLOWING11
277277 INFORMATION:12
278278 (I) T
279279 HE NUMBER OF APPLICANTS SELECTED FOR THE PILOT13
280280 PROGRAM;14
281281 (II) T
282282 HE AMOUNT OF MONEY AWARDED THR OUGH THE PILOT15
283283 PROGRAM;16
284284 (III) T
285285 HE RESULTS OF THE SURVEY CONDUCTED PURSUANT TO17
286286 SUBSECTION (5) OF THIS SECTION; AND18
287287 (IV) H
288288 OW THE PILOT PROGRAM AFFECTED THE YOUTH 'S19
289289 PERFORMANCE IN SCHOOL, INCLUDING, AT A MINIMUM:20
290290 (A) T
291291 HE GRADUATION AND COMPLETION RATES OF YOUTH21
292292 PARTICIPATING IN THE PILOT PROGRAM; AND22
293293 (B) T
294294 HE AGGREGATED ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE OF YOUTH23
295295 PARTICIPATING IN THE PILOT PROGRAM.24
296296 (b) O
297297 N OR BEFORE SEPTEMBER 1, 2028, THE DEPARTMENT OF25
298298 EDUCATION SHALL PROVIDE THE DEPARTMENT THE INFORMATION26
299299 REGARDING THE EFFECTS OF THE PILOT PROGRAM ON YOUTH IN SCHOOL AS27
300300 SB25-150
301301 -8- DESCRIBED IN SUBSECTION (6)(a)(IV) OF THIS SECTION.1
302302 (c) O
303303 N OR BEFORE DECEMBER 31, 2028, THE DEPARTMENT SHALL2
304304 SUBMIT A REPORT SUMMARIZING THE INFORMATION DESCRIBED IN3
305305 SUBSECTION (6)(a) OF THIS SECTION TO THE EDUCATION COMMITTEES OF4
306306 THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AND SENATE , THE HEALTH AND HUMAN5
307307 SERVICES COMMITTEES OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AND SENATE ,6
308308 OR THEIR SUCCESSOR COMMITTEES .7
309309 (7) T
310310 HE DEPARTMENT MAY ADOPT RULES FOR THE PURPOSES OF8
311311 THIS SECTION.9
312312 (8) T
313313 HE DEPARTMENT MAY SEEK , ACCEPT, AND EXPEND GIFTS,10
314314 GRANTS, OR DONATIONS FROM PRIVATE OR PUBLIC SOURCES FOR THE11
315315 PURPOSES OF THIS SECTION.12
316316 (9) T
317317 HIS SECTION IS REPEALED, EFFECTIVE SEPTEMBER 1, 2031.13
318318 B
319319 EFORE THE REPEAL, THIS SECTION IS SCHEDULED FOR REVIEW PURSUANT14
320320 TO SECTION 24-34-104.15
321321 SECTION 2. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 22-32-138, add (9.5)16
322322 as follows:17
323323 22-32-138. Out-of-home placement students - school stability,18
324324 transfer, and enrollment procedures - absences - exemptions -19
325325 provision of academic supports - report - definitions. (9.5) (a) O
326326 N OR20
327327 BEFORE JULY 1, 2028, AN EDUCATION PROVIDER WITH STUDENTS21
328328 PARTICIPATING IN THE FOSTERING SUCCESS PILOT PROGRAM CREATED IN22
329329 SECTION 19-7-105 (2) SHALL REPORT TO THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION ,23
330330 AT A MINIMUM, THE FOLLOWING:24
331331 (I) T
332332 HE GRADUATION AND COMPLETION RATES OF STUDENTS25
333333 PARTICIPATING IN THE FOSTERING SUCCESS PILOT PROGRAM ; AND26
334334 (II) T
335335 HE AGGREGATED ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE OF STUDENTS27
336336 SB25-150
337337 -9- PARTICIPATING IN THE FOSTERING SUCCESS PILOT PROGRAM .1
338338 (b) O
339339 N OR BEFORE SEPTEMBER 1, 2028, THE DEPARTMENT OF2
340340 EDUCATION SHALL REPORT TO THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES THE3
341341 INFORMATION DESCRIBED IN SUBSECTION (9.5)(a) OF THIS SECTION FOR4
342342 PURPOSES OF SECTION 19-7-105 (6)(b).5
343343 SECTION 3. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 24-34-104, add6
344344 (32)(a)(XVI) as follows:7
345345 24-34-104. General assembly review of regulatory agencies8
346346 and functions for repeal, continuation, or reestablishment - legislative9
347347 declaration - repeal. (32) (a) The following agencies, functions, or both,10
348348 are scheduled for repeal on September 1, 2031:11
349349 (XVI) T
350350 HE FOSTERING SUCCESS PILOT PROGRAM CREATED IN12
351351 SECTION 19-7-105.13
352352 SECTION 4. Act subject to petition - effective date. This act14
353353 takes effect at 12:01 a.m. on the day following the expiration of the15
354354 ninety-day period after final adjournment of the general assembly; except16
355355 that, if a referendum petition is filed pursuant to section 1 (3) of article V17
356356 of the state constitution against this act or an item, section, or part of this18
357357 act within such period, then the act, item, section, or part will not take19
358358 effect unless approved by the people at the general election to be held in20
359359 November 2026 and, in such case, will take effect on the date of the21
360360 official declaration of the vote thereon by the governor.22
361361 SB25-150
362362 -10-