First Regular Session
Seventy-fifth General Assembly
STATE OF COLORADO
INTRODUCED
LLS NO. 25-0055.01 Alana Rosen x2606
SENATE BILL 25-150
Senate Committees House Committees
Health & Human Services
A BILL FOR AN ACT
C
ONCERNING CREATING A PILOT PR OGRAM TO ENCOURAGE YOUTH IN101
FOSTER CARE TO GRADUATE FROM HIGH SCHOOL .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 fostering success pilot program (pilot program)
in the department of human services (department). The pilot program is
a 2-part program, which includes:
! The supplemental support for foster students program
(supplemental support program), which awards $2,000
scholarships annually to a foster care provider, kinship
SENATE SPONSORSHIP
Michaelson Jenet,
HOUSE SPONSORSHIP
Gilchrist,
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. foster care provider, or a non-certified kinship care
provider (provider) who cares for a youth in the legal
custody of a county department of human or social services
until the youth graduates from high school; and
! The milestone incentives program (milestone program),
which awards $1,000 to a youth for successfully graduating
from high school.
On or before September 30, 2025, subject to available
appropriations, the department shall contract with a third-party
administrator (administrator) to develop, implement, and administer the
pilot program. The department shall contract with an administrator that
is:
! A nonprofit organization;
! Experienced working with students and families; and
! Experienced administering student scholarship and grant
programs.
On or before December 31, 2025, subject to available
appropriations, the department shall establish a timeline for:
! Announcing the pilot program;
! Accepting applications from youth and their providers; and
! Selecting youth and their providers to participate in the
pilot program.
The department shall select youth and provider participants in the
order of applications received. A youth and their provider selected to
participate in the pilot program must participate in the supplemental
support program and the milestone program.
The administrator may contract with one or more private entities
to develop and implement a system to establish scholarship accounts that
allows payment to qualifying vendors by electronic means from an online
portal.
The administrator shall:
! Ensure that the scholarship account is accessible through an
online portal for the provider to facilitate payments to a
qualifying vendor for the supplemental support program;
! Ensure the transfer of scholarship funds from the online
portal directly to a qualifying vendor without direct access
to scholarship funds by a provider; and
! Distribute money to each scholarship account.
The administrator shall ensure that a youth has sole access to the
milestone program award funds. There are no restrictions on how the
youth may use the milestone program award funds.
On or before July 1, 2028, the administrator shall administer a
survey to youth and their providers to receive feedback on the pilot
program.
On or before October 31, 2028, the administrator shall report to the
SB25-150
-2- department the following information:
! The number of participants selected for the pilot program;
! The amount of money awarded through the pilot program;
! The survey results from youth and their providers; and
! How the pilot program affected the youth's performance in
school.
On or before December 31, 2028, the department shall submit a
report summarizing the information collected from the survey to the
education committees of the house of representatives and senate, the
health and human services committees of the house of representatives and
senate, or their successor committees.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Colorado:1
SECTION 1. In Colorado Revised Statutes, add 19-7-105 as2
follows:3
19-7-105. Fostering success pilot program - financial support4
for youth in foster care, kinship foster care, or non-certified kinship5
care - report - rules - definitions - repeal. (1) A
S USED IN THIS SECTION,6
UNLESS THE CONTEXT OTHERWISE REQUIRES :7
(a) "F
OSTERING SUCCESS PILOT PROGRAM " OR "PILOT PROGRAM"8
MEANS THE FOSTERING SUCCESS PILOT PROGRAM CREATED IN SUBSECTION9
(2)
OF THIS SECTION, WHICH CONSISTS OF TWO PROGRAMS : THE10
SUPPLEMENTAL SUPPORT FOR FOSTER STUDENTS PROGRAM CREATED IN11
SUBSECTION (2)(a)(I) OF THIS SECTION AND THE MILESTONE INCENTIVES12
PROGRAM CREATED IN SUBSECTION (2)(a)(II) OF THIS SECTION.13
(b) "M
ILESTONE INCENTIVES PROGRAM " MEANS THE MILESTONE14
INCENTIVES PROGRAM CREATED IN SUBSECTION (2)(a)(II) OF THIS15
SECTION.16
(c) "P
ROVIDER" MEANS A FOSTER CARE PARENT OR A RELATIVE OR17
KIN WHO PROVIDES KINSHIP FOSTER CARE AND WHO IS CERTIFIED TO18
OPERATE A KINSHIP FOSTER CARE HOME PURSUANT TO SECTION 26-6-910.19
SB25-150-3- "PROVIDER" ALSO INCLUDES A RELATIVE OR KIN WHO PROVIDES1
NON-CERTIFIED KINSHIP CARE, AS DEFINED IN SECTION 26-6-903, TO A2
CHILD OR YOUTH WHO IS IN THE LEGAL CUSTODY OF THE COUNTY3
DEPARTMENT.4
(d) "Q
UALIFYING VENDOR" MEANS AN ELIGIBLE SERVICE VENDOR5
THAT THE THIRD-PARTY ADMINISTRATOR APPROVES TO PARTICIPATE AND6
PROVIDE SERVICES TO YOUTH AND PROVIDERS PARTICIPATING IN THE7
SUPPLEMENTAL SUPPORT FOR FOSTER STUDENTS PROGRAM .8
(e) "S
UPPLEMENTAL SUPPORT FOR FOSTER STUDENTS PROGRAM "9
MEANS THE SUPPLEMENTAL SUPPORT FOR FOSTER STUDENTS PROGRAM10
CREATED IN SUBSECTION (2)(a)(I) OF THIS SECTION.11
(2) (a) T
HE FOSTERING SUCCESS PILOT PROGRAM IS CREATED IN12
THE DEPARTMENT. THE PILOT PROGRAM IS A TWO-PART PILOT PROGRAM13
THAT INCLUDES:14
(I) T
HE SUPPLEMENTAL SUPPORT FOR FOSTER STUDENTS PROGRAM ,15
WHICH AWARDS TWO -THOUSAND-DOLLAR SCHOLARSHIP PAYMENTS16
ANNUALLY TO A SCHOLARSHIP ACC OUNT ESTABLISHED IN SUBSECTION17
(3)(a)
OF THIS SECTION FOR A FOSTER CARE PROVIDER , KINSHIP FOSTER18
CARE PROVIDER, OR A NON-CERTIFIED KINSHIP CARE PROVIDER WHO CARES19
FOR A YOUTH IN THE LEGAL CUSTODY OF A COUNTY DEPARTMENT UNTIL20
THE YOUTH GRADUATES FROM HIGH SCHOOL TO BE USED FOR21
EDUCATION-RELATED EXPENSES FOR THE YOUTH ; AND22
(II) T
HE MILESTONE INCENTIVES PROGRAM , WHICH AWARDS A23
YOUTH WHO IS IN THE LEGAL CUST ODY OF A COUNTY DEPARTMENT AND24
LIVING IN A FOSTER CARE HOME , KINSHIP FOSTER CARE HOME , OR25
NON-CERTIFIED KINSHIP CARE HOME ONE THOUSAND DOLLARS FOR26
SUCCESSFULLY GRADUATING FROM HIGH SCHOOL .27
SB25-150
-4- (b) ON OR BEFORE SEPTEMBER 30, 2025, SUBJECT TO AVAILABLE1
APPROPRIATIONS, THE DEPARTMENT SHALL CONTRACT WITH A2
THIRD-PARTY ADMINISTRATOR TO DEVELOP , IMPLEMENT, AND ADMINISTER3
THE PILOT PROGRAM. THE DEPARTMENT SHALL CONTRACT WITH A4
THIRD-PARTY ADMINISTRATOR THAT IS:5
(I) A
NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION , AS DEFINED IN SECTION6
26.5-5-303;7
(II) E
XPERIENCED WORKING WITH STUDENTS AND FAMILIES ; AND8
(III) E
XPERIENCED ADMINISTERING STUDENT SCHOLARSHIP AND9
GRANT PROGRAMS.10
(c) (I) T
HE DEPARTMENT SHALL EXAMINE URBAN , RURAL, AND11
SUBURBAN AREAS WITH HIGH RATES OF YOUTH IN FOSTER CARE TO12
IDENTIFY THE REGIONS TO IMPLEMENT THE PILOT PROGRAM .13
(II) T
HE THIRD-PARTY ADMINISTRATOR SHALL IMPLEMENT THE14
PILOT PROGRAM IN THE REGIONS THAT THE DEPARTMENT IDENTIFIES15
PURSUANT TO SUBSECTION (2)(c)(I) OF THIS SECTION.16
(d) O
N OR BEFORE DECEMBER 31, 2025, SUBJECT TO AVAILABLE17
APPROPRIATIONS, THE DEPARTMENT SHALL ESTABLISH A TIMELINE FOR :18
(I) A
NNOUNCING THE PILOT PROGRAM ;19
(II) A
CCEPTING APPLICATIONS FROM YOUTH AND THEIR20
PROVIDERS; AND21
(III) S
ELECTING YOUTH AND THEIR PROVIDERS TO PARTICIPATE IN22
THE PILOT PROGRAM.23
(e) T
HE DEPARTMENT SHALL SELECT YOUTH AND PROVIDER24
PARTICIPANTS IN THE ORDER OF APPLICATIONS RECEIVED . A YOUTH AND25
THEIR PROVIDER SELECTED TO PARTICIPATE IN THE PILOT PROGRAM MUST26
PARTICIPATE IN THE SUPPLEMENTAL SUPPORT FOR FOSTER STUDENTS27
SB25-150
-5- PROGRAM AND THE MILESTONE INCENTIVES PROGRAM .1
(f) A
S PART OF THE APPLICATION PROCESS, A YOUTH AND THEIR2
PROVIDER MUST AGREE THAT THE YOUTH 'S ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE MAY3
BE SHARED BY THE YOUTH 'S EDUCATION PROVIDER , AS DEFINED IN4
SECTION 22-32-138 (1), WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AS5
DESCRIBED IN SECTION 22-32-138 (9.5)(b).6
(3) (a) T
HE THIRD-PARTY ADMINISTRATOR SHALL ESTABLISH A7
SCHOLARSHIP ACCOUNT ON BEHALF OF A YOUTH . THE THIRD-PARTY8
ADMINISTRATOR MAY CONTRACT WITH ONE OR MORE PRIVATE ENTITIES TO9
DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT A COMMERCIALLY VIABLE , COST-EFFECTIVE,10
AND PROVIDER-FRIENDLY SYSTEM TO:11
(I) E
STABLISH SCHOLARSHIP ACCOUNTS ; AND12
(II) M
AXIMIZE PAYMENT FLEXIBILITY BY ALLOWING FOR PAYMENT13
OF SERVICES TO QUALIFYING VENDORS BY TRANSFERRING SCHOLARSHIP14
FUNDS BY ELECTRONIC OR ONLINE MEANS FROM AN ONLINE PORTAL .15
(b) T
HE THIRD-PARTY ADMINISTRATOR SHALL :16
(I) E
NSURE THAT THE SCHOLARSHIP ACCOUNT IS ACCESSIBLE17
THROUGH AN ONLINE PORTAL FOR THE PROVIDER TO FACILITATE18
PAYMENTS TO A QUALIFYING VENDOR WHO PROVIDES SERVICES TO YOUTH19
AND THEIR PROVIDERS PARTICIPATING IN THE SUPPLEMENTAL SUPPORT FOR20
FOSTER STUDENTS PROGRAM ;21
(II) E
NSURE THE DIRECT TRANSFER OF SCHOLARSHIP FUNDS FROM22
THE ONLINE PORTAL TO A QUALIFYING VENDOR TO PAY FOR EXPENSES ;23
(III) E
NSURE YOUTH AND THEIR PROVIDERS CANNOT WITHDRAW24
OR HAVE DIRECT ACCESS TO THE SCHOLARSHIP FUNDS ; AND25
(IV) D
ISTRIBUTE MONEY TO EACH SCHOLARSHIP ACCOUNT .26
(c) S
TARTING IN THE 2026-27 FISCAL YEAR, THE DEPARTMENT27
SB25-150
-6- SHALL DISTRIBUTE TWO THOUSAND DOLLARS TO YOUTH AND PROVIDERS1
FOR THE SUPPLEMENTAL SUPPORT FOR FOSTER STUDENTS PROGRAM . THE2
PROVIDERS MAY USE THE SCHOLARSHIP FUNDS ON EDUCATION -RELATED3
SERVICES FOR YOUTH THAT ARE PROVIDED BY A QUALIFIED VENDOR THAT4
INCLUDE, BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO:5
(I) A
FTER-SCHOOL TUTORING SERVICES;6
(II) C
OMPUTERS OR TECHNOLOGICAL DEVICES INTENDED FOR A7
YOUTH'S EDUCATIONAL NEEDS;8
(III) T
RANSPORTATION FEES;9
(IV) E
XPENSES OR FEES RELATED TO EXTRACURRICULAR10
ACTIVITIES, FIELD TRIPS, OR OTHER EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCES ; AND11
(V) P
ERSONAL GROWTH EXPERIENCES , WHICH MAY INCLUDE12
PARTICIPATING IN SPORTS AND OUTDOOR NATURE EXPERIENCES .13
(d) T
HE PROVIDER MAY NOT USE THE SCHOLARSHIP FUNDS ON14
TUITION AND FEES FOR PRIVATE SCHOOL.15
(e) S
CHOLARSHIP FUNDS MUST BE SPENT WITHIN NINE MONTHS16
AFTER THE THIRD-PARTY ADMINISTRATOR DISTRIBUTES THE SCHOLARSHIP17
FUNDS IN THE YOUTH'S SCHOLARSHIP ACCOUNT. AT THE END OF THE NINE18
MONTHS, UNSPENT SCHOLARSHIP FUNDS ARE REVERTED BACK TO THE19
DEPARTMENT.20
(4) (a) U
PON A YOUTH'S GRADUATION, THE THIRD-PARTY21
ADMINISTRATOR SHALL DISTRIBUTE THE AWARD FUNDS DESCRIBED IN22
SUBSECTION (2)(a)(II) OF THIS SECTION INTO THE YOUTH'S ACCOUNT.23
(b) T
HE THIRD-PARTY ADMINISTRATOR SHALL ENSURE THAT A24
YOUTH HAS SOLE ACCESS TO THE MILESTONE INCENTIVES PROGRAM25
AWARD FUNDS. THERE ARE NO RESTRICTIONS ON HOW THE YOUTH MAY26
USE THE MILESTONE INCENTIVES PROGRAM AWARD FUNDS .27
SB25-150
-7- (5) ON OR BEFORE JULY 1, 2028, THE THIRD-PARTY1
ADMINISTRATOR SHALL ADMINISTER A SURVEY TO YOUTH AND PROVIDERS2
TO RECEIVE THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION :3
(a) F
EEDBACK FROM PROVIDERS REGARDING THEIR EXPERIENCE4
PARTICIPATING IN THE PILOT PROGRAM;5
(b) F
EEDBACK FROM YOUTH REGARDING THEIR EXPERIENCE6
PARTICIPATING IN THE PILOT PROGRAM; AND7
(c) H
OW YOUTH WHO RECEIVED AWARD FUNDS THROUGH THE8
MILESTONE INCENTIVES PROGRAM USED THE AWARD FUNDS .9
(6) (a) O
N OR BEFORE OCTOBER 31, 2028, THE THIRD-PARTY10
ADMINISTRATOR SHALL PROVIDE THE DEPARTMENT WITH THE FOLLOWING11
INFORMATION:12
(I) T
HE NUMBER OF APPLICANTS SELECTED FOR THE PILOT13
PROGRAM;14
(II) T
HE AMOUNT OF MONEY AWARDED THR OUGH THE PILOT15
PROGRAM;16
(III) T
HE RESULTS OF THE SURVEY CONDUCTED PURSUANT TO17
SUBSECTION (5) OF THIS SECTION; AND18
(IV) H
OW THE PILOT PROGRAM AFFECTED THE YOUTH 'S19
PERFORMANCE IN SCHOOL, INCLUDING, AT A MINIMUM:20
(A) T
HE GRADUATION AND COMPLETION RATES OF YOUTH21
PARTICIPATING IN THE PILOT PROGRAM; AND22
(B) T
HE AGGREGATED ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE OF YOUTH23
PARTICIPATING IN THE PILOT PROGRAM.24
(b) O
N OR BEFORE SEPTEMBER 1, 2028, THE DEPARTMENT OF25
EDUCATION SHALL PROVIDE THE DEPARTMENT THE INFORMATION26
REGARDING THE EFFECTS OF THE PILOT PROGRAM ON YOUTH IN SCHOOL AS27
SB25-150
-8- DESCRIBED IN SUBSECTION (6)(a)(IV) OF THIS SECTION.1
(c) O
N OR BEFORE DECEMBER 31, 2028, THE DEPARTMENT SHALL2
SUBMIT A REPORT SUMMARIZING THE INFORMATION DESCRIBED IN3
SUBSECTION (6)(a) OF THIS SECTION TO THE EDUCATION COMMITTEES OF4
THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AND SENATE , THE HEALTH AND HUMAN5
SERVICES COMMITTEES OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AND SENATE ,6
OR THEIR SUCCESSOR COMMITTEES .7
(7) T
HE DEPARTMENT MAY ADOPT RULES FOR THE PURPOSES OF8
THIS SECTION.9
(8) T
HE DEPARTMENT MAY SEEK , ACCEPT, AND EXPEND GIFTS,10
GRANTS, OR DONATIONS FROM PRIVATE OR PUBLIC SOURCES FOR THE11
PURPOSES OF THIS SECTION.12
(9) T
HIS SECTION IS REPEALED, EFFECTIVE SEPTEMBER 1, 2031.13
B
EFORE THE REPEAL, THIS SECTION IS SCHEDULED FOR REVIEW PURSUANT14
TO SECTION 24-34-104.15
SECTION 2. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 22-32-138, add (9.5)16
as follows:17
22-32-138. Out-of-home placement students - school stability,18
transfer, and enrollment procedures - absences - exemptions -19
provision of academic supports - report - definitions. (9.5) (a) O
N OR20
BEFORE JULY 1, 2028, AN EDUCATION PROVIDER WITH STUDENTS21
PARTICIPATING IN THE FOSTERING SUCCESS PILOT PROGRAM CREATED IN22
SECTION 19-7-105 (2) SHALL REPORT TO THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION ,23
AT A MINIMUM, THE FOLLOWING:24
(I) T
HE GRADUATION AND COMPLETION RATES OF STUDENTS25
PARTICIPATING IN THE FOSTERING SUCCESS PILOT PROGRAM ; AND26
(II) T
HE AGGREGATED ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE OF STUDENTS27
SB25-150
-9- PARTICIPATING IN THE FOSTERING SUCCESS PILOT PROGRAM .1
(b) O
N OR BEFORE SEPTEMBER 1, 2028, THE DEPARTMENT OF2
EDUCATION SHALL REPORT TO THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES THE3
INFORMATION DESCRIBED IN SUBSECTION (9.5)(a) OF THIS SECTION FOR4
PURPOSES OF SECTION 19-7-105 (6)(b).5
SECTION 3. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 24-34-104, add6
(32)(a)(XVI) as follows:7
24-34-104. General assembly review of regulatory agencies8
and functions for repeal, continuation, or reestablishment - legislative9
declaration - repeal. (32) (a) The following agencies, functions, or both,10
are scheduled for repeal on September 1, 2031:11
(XVI) T
HE FOSTERING SUCCESS PILOT PROGRAM CREATED IN12
SECTION 19-7-105.13
SECTION 4. Act subject to petition - effective date. This act14
takes effect at 12:01 a.m. on the day following the expiration of the15
ninety-day period after final adjournment of the general assembly; except16
that, if a referendum petition is filed pursuant to section 1 (3) of article V17
of the state constitution against this act or an item, section, or part of this18
act within such period, then the act, item, section, or part will not take19
effect unless approved by the people at the general election to be held in20
November 2026 and, in such case, will take effect on the date of the21
official declaration of the vote thereon by the governor.22
SB25-150
-10-