Colorado Office of New Americans

C.R.S. tit. 8, art. 3.7
in effect

C.R.S. § 8-3.7-101 Legislative declaration - intent

8-3.7-101. Legislative declaration - intent. (1) The general assembly hereby finds and declares that: (a) Colorado is home to more than half a million immigrants, including refugees, who make up ten percent of the state's population and play a vital role in our state's cultural fabric and shared prosperity; (b) Over six hundred thousand individuals, who make up eleven percent of Colorado's population, are native-born Americans with at least one immigrant parent; (c) Immigrants and refugees are an integral part of Colorado's diverse economy and are a vital part of the state's tax base; (d) Immigrant-led households in the state paid one and one-half billion dollars in state and local taxes and had a combined spending power, after-tax income, of just over fourteen billion dollars in 2018; (e) More than thirty-five thousand immigrant and refugee entrepreneurs employ over one hundred thousand individuals; (f) Immigrants and refugees make up a little over thirteen percent of Colorado's science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) workforce, twenty-one percent of the construction workforce, seventeen percent of the manufacturing workforce, and nineteen percent of the administrative and support, waste management, and remediation services workforces; and (g) Between 2017 and 2019, naturalization rates increased by seventy-seven percent in Colorado and an additional one hundred thirteen thousand eight hundred seventy-three Coloradans are eligible to naturalize. (2) The general assembly further finds and declares that: (a) Supporting the integration and inclusion of immigrants and refugees in our communities helps the whole state thrive; (b) Creating and establishing an office of new Americans will help to organize a structure for state agencies and immigrant communities to partner in order to enhance integration across the state and will provide immigrant communities the means to address any concerns and obstacles they encounter when accessing services; and (c) The office of new Americans is intended to serve as a centralized location where state programs, initiatives, and policies focused on facilitating economic stability and promoting successful integration for immigrants are housed. (3) It is the general assembly's intent that the office of new Americans: (a) Will grow over time so that in the future it could provide grants to local immigrant-focused, community-based organizations, depending on available funds; and (b) Be funded through gifts, grants, and donations through the 2022-23 state fiscal year and that in the second regular session of the seventy-fourth general assembly an appropriation be included in the annual general appropriation act for the office's state funding and associated FTE, subject to available appropriations; but nothing precludes the general assembly from making an appropriation to the office of new Americans prior to the second regular session of the seventy-fourth general assembly.

C.R.S. § 8-3.7-102 Definitions

8-3.7-102. Definitions. As used in this article 3.7, unless the context otherwise requires: (1) "Career-aligned ESL classes" or "career-aligned English as a second language program" means a curriculum or classes that support specific careers or occupations through the alignment of education, employment, and skills programs that accelerate an individual's ability to communicate on the job or in the pursuit of a job. (2) "Classes" includes virtual classes with a live teacher, recorded classes, and additional curriculum and other supports associated with learning. (2.5) "Colorado refugee services program" or "CRSP" means the Colorado refugee services program described in section 8-3.7-108. (3) "Department" means the department of labor and employment created in section 24-1-121. (4) "English language learner" or "ELL" means an individual who is linguistically diverse and who has a level of English language proficiency that requires language support. (4.5) "Federal act" means Title IV of the federal "Immigration and Nationality Act", 8 U.S.C. sec. 1521 et seq., as amended, including any federal rules adopted pursuant to the federal act. (5) "Immigrant" or "new American" means a Coloradan who has arrived, or an individual who will arrive, to Colorado as an immigrant or refugee and includes the individual's children. "Immigrant" or "new American" includes: Refugees, asylees, special immigrant visa holders, victims of trafficking, recipients of the federal deferred action for childhood arrivals program, individuals granted humanitarian parole, and all other immigrants and aspiring citizens seeking opportunity, safety, or reunification of family. (6) "Integration" means a dynamic, two-way process in which immigrants and new Americans and the receiving community work together to build secure, vibrant, and cohesive communities without having to forego their own cultural identity. (7) "ONA" means the Colorado office of new Americans created in section 8-3.7-103. (7.5) "State plan" means Colorado's refugee services plan described in section 8-3.7-108. (8) "Task force" means the global talent task force created by ONA in section 8-3.7-107. (9) "Work-based learning" has the same meaning as set forth in section 8-83-601 (15). (10) "Workforce partners" includes entities that provide work-based learning opportunities, job training, and other supports that enable individuals to connect with in-demand jobs, industries, and occupations.

C.R.S. § 8-3.7-103 Colorado office of new Americans - creation - duties - report

8-3.7-103. Colorado office of new Americans - creation - duties - report. (1) (a) There is hereby created, initially in the department of labor and employment, the Colorado office of new Americans, the head of which shall be the director of the Colorado office of new Americans, who shall be appointed by the executive director of the department. The Colorado office of new Americans and the director of the office are type 1 entities, as defined in section 24-1-105, and exercise their powers and perform their duties and functions under the department of labor and employment. The director of the ONA has regular access to the office of the governor and has the power to convene other state agencies. (b) The director shall staff the ONA in order to effectively meet the goals and intentions set forth in this article 3.7 and to meet future needs of Colorado's new American community. In order to successfully carry out the ONA's purpose, it is the general assembly's intent that an individual's lived experience or work within the immigrant community be considered when hiring decisions are made for ONA staff. The ONA serves as the point of contact for immigrant-serving state agencies, private sector organizations, and the public about immigrant issues in Colorado. (c) The department shall report on the efficacy of the ONA and the ONA's progress toward meeting the goals set forth in this article 3.7 as part of the department's annual presentation to its legislative committee of reference pursuant to section 2-7-203. (2) The Colorado office of new Americans shall: (a) Implement a statewide strategy to facilitate economic stability and promote successful economic, social, linguistic, and cultural integration by investing in the success of immigrants in Colorado; (b) Identify and address issues related to integration; (c) Foster enhanced inclusion for immigrants; (d) Ensure equitable opportunities and access to services for immigrants; (e) Establish and work with a community advisory committee that can provide input to the state from Colorado's immigrant communities; (f) Work directly with immigrant populations to hear and address their concerns and obstacles in accessing services; (g) On and after October 1, 2024, administer the Colorado refugee services program in accordance with the goals of the ONA and manage or direct any other relevant programs that might exist or be created on or after September 7, 2021, including immigrant-focused state programs, initiatives, and policies that might exist or be created in the future, so that the state's services for immigrants and the state's approach to immigrant integration are cohesive, integrated, and elegant; (h) Coordinate with and make recommendations to the governor, the general assembly, and state agencies on ways to improve policies and programs to support immigrant integration across the state, such as: (I) Recommending changes in the organization, management, programs, and budget of state agencies in order to promote the integration of immigrants; (II) Coordinating with state agencies and public-private partnerships; (III) Serving as a resource for community-based organizations serving immigrants in Colorado; (IV) Creating a public-private program to build up immigrant-serving nonprofits statewide; (V) Responding to inquiries and serving as the point of contact for immigrant-serving agencies, state agencies, and the public about immigrant issues in Colorado; and (VI) Recommending and participating in cultural competency and diversity, equity, and inclusion training for state departments; (i) Ensure the ONA is utilizing data only as authorized under state and federal law to inform the state's efforts to advance economic stability and integration for immigrants. The ONA shall never use or share data solely for the use of civil immigration enforcement. and (VI) Recommending and participating in cultural competency and diversity, equity, and inclusion training for state departments; (i) Ensure the ONA is utilizing data only as authorized under state and federal law to inform the state's efforts to advance economic stability and integration for immigrants. The ONA shall never use or share data solely for the use of civil immigration enforcement. (j) As funding allows, undertake studies, symposia, research, and factual reports to gather insight and to formulate and present recommendations to the governor, state agencies, and the general assembly related to issues of concern and importance to immigrants in Colorado. The ONA shall also analyze economic and demographic trends in order to make policy and programmatic recommendations to the governor, state agencies, and the general assembly. (k) To the extent possible, ensure that all ONA services, systems, vital documents, and other communications and resources, including websites, are accessible to all Coloradans, regardless of English proficiency and disabilities. Where applicable and possible, the ONA shall ensure compliance exceeds the compliance requirements of the federal "Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990", 42 U.S.C. sec. 12101 et seq., as amended, any available English proficiency plans, and the Colorado anti-discrimination act in part 6 of article 34 of title 24. (l) Contribute education and workforce data beginning in the 2025-26 state fiscal year, as necessary, to the Colorado statewide longitudinal data system consistent with the governance practices established by the Colorado statewide longitudinal data system governing board pursuant to section 24-37.5-125 (4). (3) As funding allows, the ONA shall promote integration activities among immigrants by using a model similar to the family resource center program set forth in part 1 of article 3 of title 26.5 with the goal of implementing immigrant support through community-based initiatives and nonprofit organizations where immigrants and immigrant families can access formal and informal support to promote their health, economic well-being, and integration. The activities must include, but need not be limited to: (a) Economic opportunities such as: (I) Workforce development, skills recognition, and barrier reduction; (II) Initiatives that increase economic stability; (III) Entrepreneurship and higher education attainment; and (IV) Naturalization among eligible individuals; (b) Increased access, such as: (I) Connecting immigrants to local, state, and federal resources, and to other resources as they are available or relevant to meet the immigrants' needs; (II) Connecting immigrants and immigrant families with English language learning programs; and (III) Providing immigrants and immigrant families with referrals to community-based organizations; and (c) State education and outreach by: (I) Promoting and celebrating the success and contributions of Colorado's immigrant community; and (II) Engaging with the receiving community in order to foster inclusivity and integration by building awareness, promoting mutual understanding, and increasing social bridging opportunities. (4) The ONA shall advise and provide guidance to the governor, state agencies, and the general assembly on any immigrant issue. (5) (a) On or before November 1, 2022, and, notwithstanding section 24-1-136 (11), on or before November 1 each year thereafter, the director of the office of new Americans, or the director's designee, shall submit a report to the general assembly. The report shall include a review and summary of the activity, information, and data on all the programs that the office administered during the prior fiscal year. (b) In order to minimize the costs associated with preparing the report required by subsection (5)(a) of this section, the ONA is authorized to incorporate or append to such report any other reports it is required by law to develop.

C.R.S. § 8-3.7-104 Colorado office of new Americans - funding

8-3.7-104. Colorado office of new Americans - funding. The general assembly may appropriate money from the general fund or from any other available source for the purposes of the ONA specified in this article 3.7. The ONA may seek, accept, and expend gifts, grants, or donations from private or public sources for the purposes of this article 3.7.

C.R.S. § 8-3.7-105 Wage replacement program - executive director - director of the ONA - feasibility study - recommendations

8-3.7-105. Wage replacement program - executive director - director of the ONA - feasibility study - recommendations. (1) The executive director of the department, in partnership with the director of the division of unemployment insurance, the director of the ONA, and the office of the governor, shall study the feasibility of establishing a contract with a nonprofit, third-party entity to administer a wage replacement program for individuals who are unemployed through no fault of their own and who are ineligible for regular unemployment benefits due to their immigration status. The feasibility study must include potential sources of money to fund a wage replacement program, legal compliance with the United States department of labor's regular unemployment insurance programs, data sharing and data privacy, and input from relevant stakeholders. (2) On or before December 1, 2021, the executive director of the department and the director of the ONA shall submit recommendations to the governor and to the senate business, labor, and technology committee and the house of representatives business affairs and labor committee, or their successor committees.

C.R.S. § 8-3.7-106 Virtual, career-aligned English as a second language program - created - report - appropriation

8-3.7-106. Virtual, career-aligned English as a second language program - created - report - appropriation. (1) On or before January 1, 2023, the ONA shall establish a virtual, career-aligned English as a second language program to: (a) Ensure ELLs have access to work-based learning, job-training, and employment opportunities and the supports they need for success in the career-aligned English as a second language program and employment with workforce partners and employers; (b) Facilitate work-based learning by providing additional support to help employers and other workforce partners recruit, serve, hire, and promote ELLs; (c) Provide efficient and effective access to established, career-aligned ESL classes for youth and adults, work-based learning participants, and other job training participants and their employers, program administrators, and teachers; (d) Streamline access to career-aligned ESL classes through the purchase of licenses to virtual platforms that are then made available to interested workforce partners and employers; and (e) Accelerate the adoption of career-aligned ESL classes into employer and work-based learning programs and training programs for reskilling, upskilling, and next-skilling, as those terms are defined in section 8-83-601. (2) The virtual, career-aligned English as a second language program shall address: (a) The intersection of English language learning with other work-based learning and skill-based hiring efforts; (b) The challenge of incorporating ELLs into our workforce and workforce programs, including work-based learning opportunities; and (c) Opportunities for employers to integrate new Americans and ELLs into workforce and talent pipelines, in recognition of the need for equitable opportunities and the importance of harnessing the talents of skilled new Americans and ELLs in this state. (3) (a) The ONA shall: (I) Through a process that complies with the "Procurement Code", articles 101 to 112 of title 24, select at least one qualified vendor with an established and existing virtual platform that offers career-aligned ESL classes in in-demand industries and occupations; (II) Allocate funding to the vendor selected in subsection (3)(a)(I) of this section: (A) For the purchase of individual licenses that can be distributed to interested and selected employers and work-based learning and workforce partners for individuals to access virtual classes and platforms; and (B) To create new career-aligned ESL classes, as needed, for Colorado's in-demand occupations; (III) Determine the most efficient method for distributing licenses for career-aligned ESL classes through a streamlined process to reduce barriers to participation, with a focus on small- to medium-sized employers and work-based learning and workforce partners with existing relationships with the department and on other state agencies and partners, including local workforce centers, schools, institutions of higher education, and nonprofit organizations; (IV) Communicate the opportunities created through this section holistically and statewide, with a focus on areas of the state with higher proportions of ELLs and new Americans and in areas without existing career-aligned ESL classes or with additional barriers, such as transportation barriers, that currently prevent Coloradans from participating in ESL classes, including in rural areas; (V) Work collaboratively with other offices and divisions in the department, the department of higher education, the department of human services, and the office of economic development to identify diverse partners and employers and additional supports for participants to ensure their success; (VI) Share outcomes of the virtual, career-aligned English as a second language program with the employer community; and (VII) Collect data concerning the program that includes: t, the department of higher education, the department of human services, and the office of economic development to identify diverse partners and employers and additional supports for participants to ensure their success; (VI) Share outcomes of the virtual, career-aligned English as a second language program with the employer community; and (VII) Collect data concerning the program that includes: (A) The types of entities supported, such as an employer or apprenticeship program, and their location in Colorado; (B) The number of participating entities; (C) The number of individuals served at each entity and their demographics; (D) The careers or occupations supported by the virtual, career-aligned English as a second language program; and (E) Any outcomes and data to measure the success of the virtual, career-aligned English as a second language program. (b) In conjunction with the department, the ONA shall include the information in this subsection (3) in the presentations required by section 8-83-602 at the hearings held under the "State Measurement for Accountable, Responsive, and Transparent (SMART) Government Act", part 2 of article 7 of title 2. (4) For the 2022-23 state fiscal year the general assembly shall appropriate one million one hundred thousand dollars from the general fund to the department, for use by ONA for the purposes of this section. Any unexpended money remaining at the end of the 2022-23 state fiscal year: (a) Does not revert to the general fund or any other fund; (b) May be used by the department in the 2023-24 state fiscal year without further appropriation; and (c) Shall not be used for any purpose other than the purposes set forth in this section.

C.R.S. § 8-3.7-107 Global talent task force - created - repeal

8-3.7-107. Global talent task force - created - repeal. (1) On or before September 1, 2022, the ONA shall establish a global talent task force that includes diverse representation reflective of the state. The task force shall: (a) Study the pathways for obtaining certain in-demand occupational licenses and international credentials to take advantage of the global pool of skilled workers in Colorado. The task force shall choose at least five occupations that are responsive to workforce needs, as determined by the annual Colorado talent report prepared pursuant to section 24-46.3-103 (3), and that are occupations in which the state has the need for and an ability to provide oversight, including occupations in early childhood education and care, education, and health care, with a priority given to the practice of nursing. (b) Accelerate and expand work that the department and other state agencies have done to integrate new Americans and internationally trained professionals into the workforce; and (c) Provide policy and programmatic recommendations to the governor and the general assembly to increase the ability of the state to harness the skills of new Americans, including through work-based learning opportunities. (2) The ONA shall provide administrative staff to support the task force. (3) (a) On or before September 1, 2022: (I) The director of the ONA shall appoint twelve members of the task force as follows: (A) Three internationally trained professionals; (B) Three representatives of community-based organizations or coalitions serving new Americans and internationally trained professionals; (C) One representative of work-based learning programs or providers of experiential learning opportunities; (D) One representative of employers participating in a work-based learning program; (E) Two representatives of in-demand industries, such as education or health care; (F) One representative of local district colleges; and (G) One representative of the state work force development council created in section 24-46.3-101; (II) The president of the senate shall appoint two members of the senate to the task force, one of whom represents rural communities; (III) The speaker of the house of representatives shall appoint two members of the house of representatives to the task force, one of whom represents rural communities; (IV) The minority leader of the senate shall appoint one member of the senate to the task force; (V) The minority leader of the house of representatives shall appoint one member of the house of representatives to the task force; and (VI) The governor shall appoint one representative of the office of the governor. (b) The task force also consists of: (I) The executive director of the department or the executive director's designee; (II) The executive director of the department of regulatory agencies or the executive director's designee; (III) The executive director of the department of higher education or the executive director's designee; (IV) The commissioner of education or the commissioner's designee; and (V) The executive director of the department of early childhood education or the executive director's designee. (c) The ONA may, as appropriate, provide a fifty-dollar stipend to each task force member per task force meeting that the member attends to recognize the task force members who are not otherwise compensated for the time served on the task force. (4) On or before December 31, 2023, the task force shall report its findings and recommendations made pursuant to this section to the office of the governor and to the general assembly and shall make the report available to the public. (5) This section is repealed, effective December 31, 2024.

C.R.S. § 8-3.7-108 Refugee services program - transfer to ONA - state plan - rules

8-3.7-108. Refugee services program - transfer to ONA - state plan - rules. (1) (a) (I) On and after October 1, 2024, the rights, powers, duties, and functions regarding the Colorado refugee services program vested in the department of human services prior to said date are transferred from the department of human services to the ONA, and the ONA shall execute, administer, perform, and enforce the rights, powers, duties, and functions regarding the CRSP on and after said date. By April 1, 2024, the department of labor and employment and the department of human services shall enter into an interagency agreement to facilitate the logistics of contracting and the transfer of the CRSP to the ONA. (II) (A) As of October 1, 2024, employees of the department of human services prior to said date whose powers, duties, and functions concerned the powers, duties, and functions regarding the Colorado refugee services program that are assumed by the ONA pursuant to subsection (1)(a)(I) of this section and whose employment in the ONA is deemed necessary by the director of the ONA to carry out the purposes of the CRSP are transferred to the ONA and become employees of the ONA. (B) Any employees transferred to the ONA pursuant to this subsection (1)(a)(II) who are classified employees in the state personnel system retain all rights to the personnel system and retirement benefits pursuant to the laws of this state, and their service is deemed to have been continuous. Any transfers and any abolishment of positions in the state personnel system shall be made and processed in accordance with state personnel system laws and rules. (III) As of October 1, 2024, all items of real and personal property of the department of human services, including office furniture and fixtures, books, documents, and records, pertaining to the duties and functions of the CRSP transferred pursuant to this section are transferred to the ONA and become the property of the ONA. (IV) As of October 1, 2024, whenever the department of human services or department is referred to or designated by any contract or other document in connection with the duties and functions transferred to the ONA, such reference or designation is deemed to apply to the ONA. All contracts entered into by the department of human services prior to October 1, 2024, in connection with the duties and functions transferred to the ONA are hereby validated, with the ONA succeeding to all rights and obligations under such contracts. As of October 1, 2024, any cash funds, custodial funds, trusts, grants, and appropriations of funds from prior state fiscal years open to satisfy obligations incurred under such contracts are transferred and appropriated to the department for allocation to the ONA for the payment of such obligations. In the event the federal department of health and human services will not transfer contracts that are open as of October 1, 2024, the department of human services shall continue to administer those contracts through an interagency agreement with the ONA until the contract period is concluded or funds are liquidated, whichever occurs first. (V) On and after October 1, 2024, unless otherwise specified, whenever any provision of law refers to the department of human services in connection with the duties and functions transferred to the ONA, such law must be construed as referring to the ONA. (VI) As of October 1, 2024, all rules and orders of the department of human services adopted in connection with the powers, duties, and functions transferred to the ONA continue to be effective until revised, amended, repealed, or nullified pursuant to law. ent of human services in connection with the duties and functions transferred to the ONA, such law must be construed as referring to the ONA. (VI) As of October 1, 2024, all rules and orders of the department of human services adopted in connection with the powers, duties, and functions transferred to the ONA continue to be effective until revised, amended, repealed, or nullified pursuant to law. (b) The ONA shall administer the Colorado refugee services program in accordance with the state plan approved by the federal office of refugee resettlement within the federal department of health and human services pursuant to the federal act. (2) The ONA is the single state agency responsible for the development, review, and administration of the state plan. (3) The CRSP must provide the following, in accordance with the federal act and the state plan: (a) Refugee cash assistance; (b) Refugee medical assistance; (c) Refugee social services, which may include employment services, employability assessments, English language instruction, vocational training, skills recertification, and case management services related to employment; and (d) Any other services or assistance consistent with the federal act. (4) The CRSP may provide other services or assistance to support refugee resettlement and integration. (5) The ONA shall adopt rules, in accordance with article 4 of title 24, to implement this section. (6) The general assembly may appropriate funds to the ONA for the administration of the CRSP.

C.R.S. § 8-3.7-201 Definitions

8-3.7-201. Definitions. (1) As used in this part 2, unless the context otherwise requires: (a) "Administering entity" means the statewide entity selected by the department to administer the statewide welcome, reception, and integration grant program pursuant to section 8-3.7-202. (b) "Department" means the department of labor and employment created in section 24-1-121. (c) "Fund" means the statewide welcome, reception, and integration cash fund created in section 8-3.7-205. (d) "Grant program" means the statewide welcome, reception, and integration grant program created in section 8-3.7-202. (e) "Grant recipient" means a community-based organization that is selected to receive a grant pursuant to section 8-3.7-202. (f) "Migrant" means an individual who has arrived in the United States within the past year and does not qualify for federal support services or refugee resettlement assistance benefits.

C.R.S. § 8-3.7-202 Statewide welcome, reception, and integration grant program - created - rules

8-3.7-202. Statewide welcome, reception, and integration grant program - created - rules. (1) The statewide welcome, reception, and integration grant program is created in the department to provide grants to community-based organizations that provide culturally and linguistically appropriate navigation of services and programs to migrants. (2) Grant recipients shall use the grant award for one or more of the following services and programs, including, but not limited to: (a) Conducting an intake and assessment of needs; (b) Providing cultural orientation; (c) Providing case management; (d) Distributing emergency and transitional supplies, including food and clothing; (e) Providing employment services or referrals to employment services, including career coaching, counseling, navigating, training, including training on workers' rights and identifying how to address and avoid exploitation, certification and licensure, and job placement; (f) Providing housing, housing-related services, or referrals to housing, including advising about the obligations under a lease, paying security deposits, conducting background checks and home visits for sponsors, and orienting migrants to rent and online payment systems; (g) Providing English as a second language classes or a referral to English as a second language classes; (h) Providing financial orientation, including understanding credit, loans, and unbanked issues for undocumented individuals; (i) Providing or providing referrals to mental health services; (j) Providing referrals to physical health services; (k) Providing services or referrals to disability services; (l) Assisting migrant parents to enroll their children in public school or summer programs, including early childhood programs, to enable the parents to find employment and to help the parents navigate school and summer program systems; (m) Providing interpretation and translation services; (n) Providing transportation, bus passes, and orientation to the bus and transportation system; (o) Providing immigration legal assistance or referrals to immigration legal services; and (p) Other eligible expenses, as determined by the department and the administering entity in consultation with community-based organizations. (3) (a) The department shall issue a request for proposals for a nonprofit organization that is exempt from taxation under section 501 (c)(3) of the federal "Internal Revenue Code of 1986" to administer the grant program. The department shall select and contract with a nonprofit organization that has a statewide reach of organizations serving migrants and demonstrated expertise in: (I) Administering grant money; (II) Training, monitoring, and evaluating grant recipients to ensure the grant recipients comply with grant requirements; (III) Providing metrics and submitting required reporting in a timely fashion; (IV) Working collaboratively with other migrant-serving organizations; and (V) Working with multilingual migrant communities. (b) (I) No later than December 31, 2024, the department shall select and enter into a contract with the administering entity, which contract is subject to annual review and renewal. (II) Notwithstanding subsection (3)(b)(I) of this section, if the department issues a request for proposal but does not identify a nonprofit organization that meets the requirements for selection as the administering entity, the Colorado office of new Americans created in section 8-3.7-103 shall act as the administering entity of the program. hich contract is subject to annual review and renewal. (II) Notwithstanding subsection (3)(b)(I) of this section, if the department issues a request for proposal but does not identify a nonprofit organization that meets the requirements for selection as the administering entity, the Colorado office of new Americans created in section 8-3.7-103 shall act as the administering entity of the program. (c) The administering entity shall collaborate with the department to develop the grant application, the application process, and the selection process for grant recipients that are culturally competent and linguistically accessible and comply with the state "Procurement Code", articles 101 to 112 of title 24. (4) The department and administering entity shall implement the grant program pursuant to this part 2. Grants must be awarded pursuant to this part 2. (5) Upon receiving notice from the administering entity that a community-based organization is selected to receive a grant, the department shall, as soon as practicable, transfer the amount of the grant award to the administering entity, which must then transmit the grant award to the grant recipient. (6) The administering entity or selected grant recipients must not be a political organization, as defined in section 1-45-103, and grant awards must not be distributed to a political organization or used for political purposes.

C.R.S. § 8-3.7-203 Administering entity - duties - funding

8-3.7-203. Administering entity - duties - funding. (1) The administering entity shall: (a) Administer the grant program pursuant to this part 2, including establishing and implementing, in collaboration with the department, the process by which a community-based organization may apply to receive a grant; (b) Conduct statewide outreach to ensure that all community-based organizations that serve migrants are aware of the opportunity to apply for a grant; (c) Convene a statewide selection panel with the department that includes representation from impacted communities to select grant recipients based on the following criteria: (I) Demonstrated historical commitment to working with and in the immigrant and migrant populations providing services; (II) Demonstrable ability to respond to emerging needs of the migrant population; (III) Experience in providing any of the services described in section 8-3.7-202 (2); and (IV) Experience in managing private or public contracts or grants; and (d) Submit an annual report to the department pursuant to section 8-3.7-204 (1) regarding the number of migrants served, the types of services provided, the number of referrals for services provided by other grant recipients, the migrants' level of satisfaction for the services received, key barriers to receiving services, including, if possible, the number of migrants who requested and were not able to access and receive services and the reasons why. (2) (a) In selecting grant recipients, priority must be given to grant applicants who provide two or more of the services described in section 8-3.7-202 (2)(c), (2)(e), or (2)(f). (b) In selecting grant recipients, the administering entity shall give consideration to grant applicants that are based in, or serve populations in, rural and nonmetro areas with limited access to resources. (3) Of the money transferred to the fund, the department shall not use more than ten percent to compensate the administering entity to offset the costs that the administering entity incurs in administering the grant program and in providing assistance to grant recipients for capacity building to ensure compliance with the grant program and successful execution of the grant program's goals. The department shall not agree to pay any additional amount of remuneration to the administering entity from the state. The department shall compensate the administering entity with funds from the appropriation for purposes of this section.

C.R.S. § 8-3.7-204 Reporting requirements

8-3.7-204. Reporting requirements. (1) (a) One year after the date of the contract entered into pursuant to section 8-3.7-202 (3)(b), the administering entity shall submit a report to the department. At a minimum, the report must include: (I) A description of expenses made with the grant money; (II) The number of grant applicants; (III) The number of community-based organizations that received a grant; (IV) The geographic location of each grant recipient; and (V) The aggregate number of migrants served by each grant recipient, the services provided, and the migrants' level of satisfaction for each service provided. (b) Any information included in the report required pursuant to this subsection (1) must not include personal identifying information. (2) No later than three months after the report is submitted to the department pursuant to subsection (1) of this section, and each year thereafter, the department shall submit the administering entity's report to the house of representatives health and human services committee and the senate health and human services committee, or their successor committees, regarding the grant program. (3) Notwithstanding section 24-1-136 (11)(a)(I), the reporting requirements set forth in this section continue as long as the grant program is operational.

C.R.S. § 8-3.7-205 Statewide welcome, reception, and integration cash fund - appropriation - repeal

8-3.7-205. Statewide welcome, reception, and integration cash fund - appropriation - repeal. (1) The statewide welcome, reception, and integration cash fund is created in the state treasury. The fund consists of money transferred to the fund pursuant to subsection (6) of this section and any other money that the general assembly may appropriate or transfer to the fund. (2) The state treasurer shall credit all interest and income derived from the deposit and investment of money in the fund to the fund. (3) Any unexpended and unencumbered money remaining in the fund at the end of any fiscal year shall remain in the fund and shall not be transferred to the general fund or any other fund. (4) Subject to annual appropriation by the general assembly, the Colorado office of new Americans may expend money from the fund for the purposes of this part 2. (5) The ONA may seek, accept, and expend gifts, grants, or donations from private or public sources for the purposes of this part 2. The ONA shall transmit all money received through gifts, grants, or donations to the state treasurer, who shall credit the money to the fund. (6) (a) On July 1, 2024, the state treasurer shall make a one-time transfer of two million five hundred thousand dollars from the general fund to the fund for the purpose of the grant program. (b) This subsection (6) is repealed, effective July 1, 2025.
Source: Open US Law by Vaquill AI (CC BY 4.0)URL: https://leg.colorado.gov/sites/default/files/images/olls/crs2024-title-08.docxFetched: 10/6/2026