C.R.S. § 8-14.3-201 Short title
8-14.3-201. Short title. The short title of this part 2 is the "Colorado Veterans' Service-to-career Program".
Veterans Employment Programs
C.R.S. tit. 8, art. 14.3
in effectC.R.S. § 8-14.3-201.5 Legislative declaration
8-14.3-201.5. Legislative declaration. (1) The general assembly finds, determines, and declares that the pilot program enacted in House Bill 16-1267, which created the Colorado veterans' service-to-career pilot program that authorized nonprofit agencies to partner with work force centers selected by the department to provide veterans and other eligible participants with skills training, internships, work placements, mentorship opportunities, career and professional counseling, and support services, has been successful in increasing the employment rates for veterans, veterans' spouses, and eligible participants.
(2) The general assembly further finds, determines, and declares that the Colorado veterans' service-to-career pilot program should continue as a program whose goal is to assist veterans, spouses, and eligible participants in seeking, obtaining, and retaining employment.
C.R.S. § 8-14.3-202 Definitions
8-14.3-202. Definitions. As used in this part 2, unless the context otherwise requires:
(1) "Act" means the federal "Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act", Pub.L. 113-128.
(2) "Apprenticeship" means an apprenticeship training program registered with the United States department of labor's office of apprenticeship or a state apprenticeship agency recognized by the United States department of labor.
(3) "Department" means the department of labor and employment.
(4) "Eligible participant" means a:
(a) Veteran;
(b) Veteran's spouse;
(c) Veteran's dependent child who is twenty-six years of age or younger and lives in the home of the veteran;
(d) Veteran's caregiver who is eighteen years of age or older and has significant responsibility for managing the well-being of an injured veteran; and
(e) Person who is actively serving in the United States armed forces and who is within six months of being discharged under conditions other than dishonorable or a member of the National Guard or military reserves who has completed initial entry training.
(5) "Integrated service and support center" means a nonprofit center that is affiliated with a work force center and veterans service offices in a centralized location where government agencies, nonprofit organizations, and other entities collaborate to provide services to eligible participants. Services offered may include assistance for eligible participants in securing federal benefits, counseling services, employment support, education, life skills, and wellness support.
(5.5) "Internship" means a training program with a business or nonprofit organization during which the eligible participant receives skills training that could result in future employment in that sector or industry.
(6) "Program" means the Colorado veterans' service-to-career program created in this part 2.
(7) "Spouse" means a veteran's current spouse or former spouse who is currently eligible for veterans' benefits.
(8) "Veteran" means a person who actively served in the United States armed forces and who was discharged or released under conditions other than dishonorable, in accordance with U.S.C. title 38, as amended. "Veteran" includes a person serving or who served in the National Guard or as a reservist.
(8.5) "Work-based learning" means a continuum of activities that occur, in part or in whole, in the workplace, providing the learner with hands-on, real-world work experience.
(9) (a) "Work force center" means a work force center created by a work force development board pursuant to the "Colorado Career Advancement Act", part 2 of article 83 of this title 8.
(b) For purposes of a grant application under section 8-14.3-203, "work force center" also includes a nonprofit entity that:
(I) Has a primary focus of serving veterans; and
(II) Joins with the work force center to submit a joint application.
C.R.S. § 8-14.3-203 Colorado veterans' service-to-career program - report
8-14.3-203. Colorado veterans' service-to-career program - report. (1) One or more work force centers selected by the department pursuant to the grant program developed by the department in subsection (4) of this section may contract with a nonprofit agency to administer the program. Work force centers selected by the department and the nonprofit agency shall develop and expand programs to provide work force development-related services specifically tailored to the unique needs and talents of eligible participants. The services may include:
(a) Skills training;
(b) Opportunities for apprenticeship or internship placements, including an internship that allows for direct entry of eligible participants;
(c) Opportunities for internship placements for a specified and limited time period as long as the tasks performed by the intern do not replace the tasks currently performed by a paid contractor or employee;
(d) Opportunities for work placements with businesses or other organizations; and
(e) Support services, as needed.
(1.5) The department shall collaborate with stakeholders and, if feasible, develop a grant application form by March 1, 2019, so that a nonprofit agency may submit one application for multiple service centers effective with the fiscal year 2019-20 grant cycle.
(2) (a) If an internship, as allowable, is not fully funded by the employer, the employer and the work force center may share the cost of the hourly wage or stipend for the eligible participant, as determined by the work force center and as permitted under state and federal law.
(b) Repealed.
(3) The work force centers selected by the department and the nonprofit agency are encouraged to additionally provide services that include:
(a) Job fairs;
(b) Mentorship opportunities with professionals;
(c) Professional and industry-specific seminars;
(d) Career and professional counseling; and
(e) Counseling on educational and skills training opportunities available to eligible participants.
(3.5) Work force center staff shall vet potential program participants and leverage additional funding sources, including the act, to deliver comprehensive services.
(4) The department shall develop a grant process so that work force centers may apply for money to administer the program. Each work force center that wishes to administer the program must submit a grant application that:
(a) Describes the current services that the work force center offers and demonstrates that those services:
(I) Do not duplicate services currently provided under the act; and
(II) Will complement other services offered under the program;
(b) States how the grant money would enable the work force center to expand its services for the purposes of the program;
(c) Describes businesses or other organizations it is partnering with to provide the necessary services;
(d) Explains how the services will be tailored or specifically marketed to any subgroup of eligible participants, including:
(I) Eligible participants with significant barriers to employment, including those specified in 38 U.S.C. sec. 4100 et seq., such as veterans with bad conduct discharges;
(II) Veterans experiencing homelessness;
(III) Vietnam-era veterans who served for more than one hundred days between 1965 and 1975;
(IV) Eligible participants experiencing addiction;
(V) National Guard and military reserve veterans; and
(VI) Veterans who are not able to enroll under the act or who are enrolled under the act but could benefit from greater support; and
(e) Addresses any other requirements the department deems necessary.
(5) In selecting work force centers to administer the program, the department shall give preference to a work force center that:
(a) Partners with an agency that is an integrated service and support center for veterans and their families;
(b) Is located in the state of Colorado, in order to serve the highest number of eligible participants;
any other requirements the department deems necessary.
(5) In selecting work force centers to administer the program, the department shall give preference to a work force center that:
(a) Partners with an agency that is an integrated service and support center for veterans and their families;
(b) Is located in the state of Colorado, in order to serve the highest number of eligible participants;
(c) Has existing programs or partnerships with businesses or organizations in the community to provide services appropriate to the program; and
(d) Has the capacity to provide a wide range of work force development-related services tailored to the unique needs of eligible participants.
(6) (a) Each work force center chosen to receive a grant shall use the money for direct services to eligible participants. Each work force center chosen to receive a grant shall report on the services offered; participation by each subgroup of eligible participants; the program's success measured through gainful employment and participation in skills training or educational programs of eligible participants; and any other requirements that the department deems necessary. Notwithstanding section 24-1-136 (11)(a)(I), the work force center shall submit the report to the department, which shall relay all information from the reports annually to the state, veterans, and military affairs committees of the house of representatives and the senate or to their successor committees.
(b) Repealed.
(c) Unspent money available at the end of each fiscal year rolls over to the next fiscal year to be spent in that year.
(d) Repealed.
C.R.S. § 8-14.3-204 Appropriation
8-14.3-204. Appropriation. The general assembly may annually appropriate money from the general fund created in section 24-75-201 to the department to be used for the program. The department may use up to five percent of any money appropriated by the general assembly for development and administrative costs incurred by the department pursuant to this section; except that this five-percent limitation does not apply to any contract the department enters into in connection with an evaluation of the program pursuant to section 8-14.3-203 (6). Up to eight percent of the money may also be used by the work force center for administrative costs incurred by the work force center and the nonprofit agency to implement and operate the program.
C.R.S. § 8-14.3-205 Repeal of part
8-14.3-205. Repeal of part. This part 2 is repealed, effective September 1, 2027.
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