Workforce Development

C.R.S. tit. 8, art. 83
in effect

C.R.S. § 8-83-101 Definitions

8-83-101. Definitions. As used in this article, unless the context otherwise requires: (1) "Department" means the department of labor and employment created in section 24-1-121, C.R.S. (2) "Director" means the director of the division. (3) "Division" means the division of employment and training in the department.

C.R.S. § 8-83-102 Division of employment and training created - director

8-83-102. Division of employment and training created - director. There is hereby created a division of employment and training within the department of labor and employment, the head of which is the director of the division of employment and training.

C.R.S. § 8-83-103 Powers, duties, and functions - acceptance of money

8-83-103. Powers, duties, and functions - acceptance of money. (1) The functions of the division comprise all administrative functions of the state in relation to the administration of this article 83. The division and the director of the division are type 2 entities, as defined in section 24-1-105, and exercise their powers and perform their duties and functions as prescribed under this article 83 under the direction and supervision of the executive director of the department. Any vacancy in the office of director is filled in the manner provided by law. (2) The division may accept and expend moneys from intergovernmental partnerships, gifts, grants, donations, and other contributions for the purposes for which the division is authorized. (3) Repealed. (4) The division shall 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).

C.R.S. § 8-83-104 State employment service

8-83-104. State employment service. (1) The Colorado state employment service is established as a section in the division. The division, through the section, shall establish and maintain free public employment offices in the number and locations as may be necessary for the proper administration of this article and for the purposes of performing the duties that are within the purview of the act of congress entitled "An Act To provide for the establishment of a national employment system and for cooperation with the States in the promotion of such system, and for other purposes.", approved June 6, 1933 (48 Stat. 113; 29 U.S.C. sec. 49 (c)), as amended, and referred to in this section as the "federal act". (2) The division shall: (a) Cooperate with any official or agency of the United States having powers or duties under the provisions of the federal act, as amended, or under such other federal acts as may be created for similar purposes; (b) Cooperate with or enter into agreements with the railroad retirement board with respect to the establishment, maintenance, and use of free employment service facilities; and (c) Perform all acts necessary to secure to this state the benefits of the federal act, as amended, in the promotion and maintenance of a system of public employment offices. (3) The state accepts the provisions of the federal act, as amended, in conformity with section 4 of the federal act, and this state will observe and comply with the requirements of the federal act. The division is designated as the agency of this state for the purposes of the federal act. The division shall appoint such officers and employees of the Colorado state employment service as necessary for the proper administration of this article.

C.R.S. § 8-83-105 Personnel

8-83-105. Personnel. Subject to other provisions of this article and the state personnel system regulations, the division is authorized to appoint, fix the compensation, and prescribe the duties and powers of such officers, accountants, attorneys, experts, and other persons as may be necessary in the performance of its duties. The division may delegate to any person so appointed such power as it deems reasonable and proper for the effective administration of this article. In its discretion, the division may bond any person handling moneys or signing checks under this article.

C.R.S. § 8-83-106 Division - offer waiver of confidentiality for employment purposes

8-83-106. Division - offer waiver of confidentiality for employment purposes. Notwithstanding the confidentiality requirements in section 8-72-107 (1), the division may offer veterans and other persons seeking employment the opportunity to waive the confidentiality of certain information including the person's name, address, telephone number, and e-mail address so that the division may make available the waived information to bona fide employers seeking employees.

C.R.S. § 8-83-107 Workforce development enterprise - creation - powers and duties - enterprise fund - fee - legislative declaration - definitions

8-83-107. Workforce development enterprise - creation - powers and duties - enterprise fund - fee - legislative declaration - definitions. (1) The general assembly finds and declares that: (a) Employers in Colorado pay unemployment insurance premiums pursuant to state law; (b) Unemployment insurance premiums fund unemployment insurance benefits paid to Colorado workers who have become unemployed through no fault of their own and are able and available to work; (c) Paying unemployment benefits depletes Colorado's unemployment compensation fund, which is funded exclusively by employer premiums; (d) Providing workforce development services benefits employers throughout Colorado by: (I) Helping Colorado workers more quickly regain employment, thereby reducing their need for unemployment benefits and keeping employers' unemployment premiums lower; (II) Developing a more qualified workforce that can better meet the needs of Colorado's businesses; (III) Connecting Colorado employers with potential employees; and (IV) Maintaining employers' customer bases by keeping the greatest number of people steadily employed and able to purchase goods and services; (e) The workforce development enterprise created in this section provides valuable business services to employers by ensuring Colorado workers have access to workforce development services and access to Colorado's workforce development centers' services; (f) By providing these services, the enterprise engages in an activity conducted in the pursuit of a benefit, gain, or livelihood; (g) Consistent with the determination of the Colorado supreme court in Nicholl v. E-470 Public Highway Authority, 896 P.2d 859 (Colo. 1995), the power to impose taxes is inconsistent with enterprise status under section 20 of article X of the state constitution, and, therefore, it is the conclusion of the general assembly that the revenue collected by the workforce development enterprise is generated by fees, not taxes, because the money credited to the enterprise is: (I) For the specific purpose of allowing the enterprise to defray the costs of providing the services specified in this section; and (II) Collected at rates that are reasonably calculated based on the costs of the services provided by the enterprise; and (h) So long as the enterprise qualifies as an enterprise for purposes of section 20 of article X of the state constitution, the enterprise's revenue is not state fiscal year spending, as defined in section 24-77-102 (17), or state revenues, as defined in section 24-77-103.6 (6)(c), and does not count against either the state fiscal year spending limit imposed by section 20 of article X of the state constitution or the excess state revenues cap, as defined in section 24-77-103.6 (6)(b). (2) As used in this section: (a) "Enterprise" means the workforce development enterprise created in subsection (3) of this section. state revenues, as defined in section 24-77-103.6 (6)(c), and does not count against either the state fiscal year spending limit imposed by section 20 of article X of the state constitution or the excess state revenues cap, as defined in section 24-77-103.6 (6)(b). (2) As used in this section: (a) "Enterprise" means the workforce development enterprise created in subsection (3) of this section. (b) "Fund" means the workforce development fund created in subsection (4) of this section. (3) The workforce development enterprise is created in the division. The business purpose of the enterprise is to ensure Colorado workers have access to workforce development services and access to Colorado's workforce development centers. The workforce development enterprise constitutes an enterprise for purposes of section 20 of article X of the state constitution, so long as it retains the authority to issue revenue bonds and receives less than ten percent of its total annual revenue in grants from all Colorado state and local governments combined. So long as it constitutes an enterprise pursuant to this subsection (3), the enterprise is not subject to section 20 of article X of the state constitution. (4) The workforce development fund is created in the state treasury. Money in the fund shall be used by the workforce development enterprise to engage in and support employment and training workforce initiatives throughout Colorado. The workforce development enterprise may deposit or permit others to deposit other money into the workforce development fund. The workforce development fund consists of the following: (a) Fourteen percent of the support surcharge collected pursuant to section 8-76-102.5 (3)(a)(IV); (b) Any money appropriated to the fund by the general assembly; (c) Any money granted to the enterprise from a federal agency for workforce development purposes; (d) Any money from bonds issued pursuant to subsection (6) of this section; and (e) Any gifts, grant, donations, or other money received by the enterprise. (5) The enterprise may engage the services of contractors and consultants, including the department of labor and employment and the attorney general's office, for professional and technical assistance and advice and to supply other services related to conducting the affairs of the enterprise. (6) (a) The enterprise is authorized to issue revenue bonds for the expenses of the enterprise, which bonds may be secured by any revenues of the enterprise. Revenue from the bonds issued pursuant to this subsection (6)(a) shall be deposited into the fund. (b) The board of directors for the enterprise is as follows: (I) The executive director of the department or the executive director's designee; (II) The director of the Colorado workforce development council or the director's designee; and (III) Ten members, one representing each local workforce council, appointed by the executive director of the department. ) shall be deposited into the fund. (b) The board of directors for the enterprise is as follows: (I) The executive director of the department or the executive director's designee; (II) The director of the Colorado workforce development council or the director's designee; and (III) Ten members, one representing each local workforce council, appointed by the executive director of the department. (c) The board has the following powers and duties: (I) To supervise the enterprise; (II) To issue revenue bonds; (III) To acquire, hold title to, and dispose of real and personal property as necessary in the exercise of the board's powers and performance of the board's duties; (IV) To enter into agreements with the department; (V) To request the state treasurer to act as advisor to the fund to issue such bonds and notes as are necessary to maintain adequate balances in the fund; and (VI) To have and exercise all rights and powers necessary or incidental to or implied from the specific powers and duties granted by this section. (7) Except as provided in subsection (9) of this section, the state treasurer shall credit all interest and income derived from the deposit and investment of money in the workforce development fund to the fund. Money in the fund shall not be credited or transferred to the general fund or any other fund at the end of the fiscal year. (8) The general assembly shall appropriate the money in the workforce development fund annually to the enterprise. (9) (a) At the end of the 2024-25 state fiscal year, if the amount in the fund exceeds six million eight hundred thousand dollars, the state treasurer shall transfer the money in the fund in excess of six million eight hundred thousand dollars to the unemployment compensation fund created in section 8-77-101 (1). (b) At the end of the 2025-26 state fiscal year, and each state fiscal year thereafter, if the amount in the fund exceeds six million eight hundred thousand dollars, as adjusted for the United States department of labor's bureau of labor statistics consumer price index for Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, or its successor index, the state treasurer shall credit any money collected pursuant to this section that would cause the balance in the fund to exceed the adjusted amount to the unemployment compensation fund created in section 8-77-101 (1).

C.R.S. § 8-83-201 Short title

8-83-201. Short title. The short title of this part 2 is the "Colorado Career Advancement Act".

C.R.S. § 8-83-202 Legislative declaration

8-83-202. Legislative declaration. (1) The general assembly hereby finds and declares that: (a) Passage of the federal "Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act", 29 U.S.C. sec. 3101 et seq., gives the state a unique opportunity to develop a work force program and employment system designed to meet the needs of employers, job seekers, and those who want to further their careers; (b) The federal act requires that training and employment programs be designed and managed at the local government level, where the needs of businesses and individuals are best understood; (c) The federal act requires the involvement of business, both to provide information and leadership and to play an active role in ensuring that the system prepares people for current and future jobs; (d) Passage of the federal act provided local governments with the control and flexibility to carry out the federal act's purposes, subject to the final authority and approval of the governor; and (e) Therefore, it is in the state's best interest to adopt the Colorado work force development program set forth in this part 2. (2) The general assembly recommends that: (a) To the extent possible, counties or multicounty areas integrate their work force development program sources of funding to maximize the resources available at the local level to provide the services authorized under this part 2; and (b) As the responsibility for implementing work force programs continues to be devolved to local governments, Title I moneys identified for state administration of programs implemented at the local level be as specified in Title I of the federal "Workforce Investment Act of 1998".

C.R.S. § 8-83-203 Definitions

8-83-203. Definitions. As used in this part 2, unless the context otherwise requires: (1) "Colorado work force development program" or "work force development program" means the program of work force development created in this part 2. (2) "Department" means the department of labor and employment created in section 24-1-121, C.R.S., or any other state agency specified by the governor through executive order or otherwise. (3) "Federal act" means the federal "Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act", 29 U.S.C. sec. 3101 et seq. (4) "Local elected officials" means the boards of county commissioners of the county or counties operating work force development programs; except that, in the case of a city and county, "local elected officials" means the mayor. (5) "Local plan" means a plan, developed and executed by a work force development board and subarea board, that outlines the functions and responsibilities for delivery of services within a work force development area. (6) "National program grant" means a grant under subtitle D of Title I. (7) "One-stop operator" means the entity selected by a work force board, with concurrence by the local elected officials, to operate the one-stop career center in a local area. (8) "One-stop partner" means a person or organization described in section 8-83-216. (9) "Planning region" means a single local area or multiple local areas that have been designated by the state as a planning region for the purposes of developing a regional plan. (10) "Rural consortium local elected officials board" means the local elected officials appointed by each subarea board in the rural consortium work force development area to serve as the local elected official for the rural consortium work force development area. (11) "Rural consortium work force development area" or "rural consortium area" means an area designated by the governor as a federal work force development area for which the department is the grant recipient. A rural consortium work force development area may contain one or more subareas. (12) "Rural consortium work force development board" or "rural consortium board" means the work force board appointed by the rural consortium local elected officials board. The rural consortium work force development board serves, on behalf of the subarea boards in the rural consortium area, as the work force development board for specific functions under the federal act. (13) "State council" means the state work force development council created in section 24-46.3-101, C.R.S. (14) "State plan" means a plan, developed by the governor with the assistance of the state council and based upon local plans, for the delivery of services statewide under the federal act. (15) "Student" means an individual who is eighteen years of age or older and is enrolled in an adult education program or postsecondary education program through an institution of higher education, a technical college, a private occupational school, or an employer-sponsored training program. (16) "Subarea board" means the optional work force advisory board of a subarea within the rural consortium work force development area. (17) "Title I" means Title I of the federal act. (18) "Title I money" means money distributed pursuant to Title I. (19) "Wagner-Peyser Act" means the federal "Wagner-Peyser Act", 29 U.S.C. sec. 49a et seq. (20) "Wagner-Peyser funds" means federal moneys received by the department pursuant to the "Wagner-Peyser Act". (21) "Work force board" means either a local work force development board or a subarea board. (22) "Work force development area" means a county, municipality, city and county, or group of counties, municipalities, or cities and counties that have banded together through an intergovernmental agreement to provide a work force development program and is designated by the governor as a federal work force development area. The rural consortium is a work force development area. a subarea board. (22) "Work force development area" means a county, municipality, city and county, or group of counties, municipalities, or cities and counties that have banded together through an intergovernmental agreement to provide a work force development program and is designated by the governor as a federal work force development area. The rural consortium is a work force development area. (23) "Work force development board" means the work force development board for a federally designated work force development area. (24) "Work force development subarea" or "subarea" means a county or group of counties within the rural consortium that work together for the purpose of implementing programs authorized under the federal act and has a subarea board.

C.R.S. § 8-83-204 Work force development program - legislative declaration - purposes

8-83-204. Work force development program - legislative declaration - purposes. (1) The general assembly finds, determines, and declares that this part 2 is adopted pursuant to the requirements of the federal act and is intended to comply with the federal act's express requirements for participants in the operation of work force development programs. (2) The purposes of this part 2 are to: (a) Establish a central, coordinated delivery system at the local or regional level through which any citizen may look for a job, explore work preparation and career development services, and access a range of employment, training, and occupational education programs offering their services through local or regional work force development programs; (b) Develop strategies and policies that encourage job training, education and literacy, and vocational programs; (c) Consolidate and coordinate programs and services to ensure a more streamlined and flexible work force development system at the local or regional level; (d) Establish single contact points for employers; and (e) Allow counties increased responsibility for the administration of the work force development program, including determination of any expenditures of TANF funds for the purpose of cash contributions to infrastructure of the one-stop delivery system or delivery contracts. Counties are encouraged to include all the partners outlined in the federal act.

C.R.S. § 8-83-205 Work force development program - creation - administration - merit system - Wagner-Peyser funded employment services

8-83-205. Work force development program - creation - administration - merit system - Wagner-Peyser funded employment services. (1) Under authority of the governor, the department shall cooperate with the state council to help establish and operate a network of work force development areas as set forth in this part 2. (2) Work force development areas may be established at a local government level or at a multi-government level through intergovernmental agreements reached by the applicable local elected officials of the work force development area and subject to approval by the governor. (3) Local elected officials shall govern the operation of local work force development areas with policy guidance from work force boards appointed by the local elected officials. At the option of the local elected officials and the work force board, work force development programs may be operated by a county, the department, other governmental agencies, nonprofit or not-for-profit organizations, or private entities; except that Wagner-Peyser funds shall not be used to award contracts to nonprofit or not-for-profit organizations or private entities. Beginning July 1, 2017, the one-stop operator must be selected in accordance with the federal act and local policy in the work force development area. An entity that applies to become a one-stop operator and is not selected may appeal the decision through any available appeal process of the applicable local governmental entity. (3.5) If no qualified one-stop operator responds to the procurement process in a local work force development area, the local elected officials for that area may designate the one-stop operator. (4) If federal or state financial support for the provision of employment and training services is eliminated or is reduced by an amount that is considered substantial by the local elected officials, the local elected officials are not required to continue funding or operating work force development programs. (5) The state council shall ensure that a local work force development area may function as a federally designated work force development area in applying for available national program grants under the federal act. Each work force board may apply for a grant for its own area in the manner it deems most appropriate. A work force board may apply for a grant for its own area and receive any corresponding money awarded exclusively or may apply through other means and with other work force areas. Any grant money awarded to a work force development area is a direct pass-through from the federal government to the applicable work force development area. (6) A local work force development area created pursuant to this part 2 is authorized to operate with the same authority and functions as if the area were a federally designated work force development area. (7) A data system that is used to administer a program pursuant to this article 83 must not link or collect data systems maintained by education entities serving children under eighteen years of age. (8) (a) (I) A county that is seeking to use county employees to deliver employment services funded by Wagner-Peyser funds shall: (A) Create a merit system for the selection, retention, and promotion of county employees who provide those services; or (B) If the county already has a system in place, update the county's current system to comply with this subsection (8). (II) The merit system must comply with federal laws, regulations, and standards for a merit system of personnel administration for employees authorized under the federal "Intergovernmental Personnel Act of 1970", 42 U.S.C. sec. 4701 et seq. Each county shall certify to the department that the merit system of personnel administration used by the county is in compliance with federal standards and that the employees paid by Wagner-Peyser funds act as an extension of the state in delivering employment services. administration for employees authorized under the federal "Intergovernmental Personnel Act of 1970", 42 U.S.C. sec. 4701 et seq. Each county shall certify to the department that the merit system of personnel administration used by the county is in compliance with federal standards and that the employees paid by Wagner-Peyser funds act as an extension of the state in delivering employment services. (b) Each county shall ensure that its merit system: (I) Requires the county to recruit, select, and advance employees on the basis of the applicant's or employee's relative abilities, knowledge, and skills, including during the recruitment and selection of qualified applicants for initial appointments to positions with the county; (II) Compensates each employee equitably and adequately; (III) Requires the county to train employees as needed to assure high quality performance; (IV) Requires the county to: (A) Retain an employee on the basis of the adequacy of the employee's performance; (B) Correct an employee's inadequate performance; and (C) Separate an employee from employment when an employee's inadequate performance cannot be corrected; (V) Requires the fair treatment of applicants and employees, including compliance with all federal and state equal opportunity and nondiscrimination laws, in all aspects of personnel administration without regard to political affiliation, race, color, national origin, sex, religious creed, age, or disability and with proper regard for the privacy and constitutional rights of the applicants and employees as citizens; and (VI) Protects each employee against coercion for partisan political purposes and prohibits each employee from using the employee's official authority for the purpose of interfering with or affecting the results of an election or a nomination for office.

C.R.S. § 8-83-206 Local elected officials - function - authority

8-83-206. Local elected officials - function - authority. The local elected officials shall maintain a strong role in all phases and levels of implementation of the federal act. The local elected officials of a work force development area, upon favorable recommendation of the work force board, are authorized to award contracts for the administration, implementation, or operation of any aspect of the work force development program to any appropriate public, private, or nonprofit entity in accordance with applicable county regulations and federal law; except that Wagner-Peyser funds shall not be used to award contracts to private or nonprofit entities.

C.R.S. § 8-83-207 Local work force development boards - authority - functions

8-83-207. Local work force development boards - authority - functions. Local work force development boards are subject to this part 2 and the federal act. Local work force development boards operate for a federally designated work force development area.

C.R.S. § 8-83-208 Implementation - local plans

8-83-208. Implementation - local plans. (1) (a) The Colorado work force development program shall be administered according to the state four-year plan prepared in accordance with the local plans created pursuant to this section. Each local work force development area shall submit a plan that meets the requirements of this section to the governor for approval. (b) The rural consortium work force development board shall develop a local plan that consists of a compilation of local plans submitted by each subarea board. The rural consortium work force development board shall ensure that the local plan for the consortium area, in total, meets the requirements specified in this section and shall submit such plan to the governor for approval. Subarea boards within the rural consortium work force development area shall submit local plans to the rural consortium work force development board for approval. (c) The details of the local plans must be in accordance with federal law. (d) Beginning January 1, 2026, any modified or new local plan must incorporate the tactical plans created pursuant to section 24-48.5-704 (2)(a)(V). (2) to (4) Repealed.

C.R.S. § 8-83-209 State work force development plan

8-83-209. State work force development plan. (1) In accordance with the federal act, the governor shall submit to the federal government a state plan that outlines a four-year strategy for the Colorado work force development program that meets the requirements of the federal act. In addition to the plan requirements specified in the federal act, the state plan must be based upon and consistent with the local plans submitted to the governor pursuant to section 8-83-208. The details of the state plan must be in accordance with federal law. (2) and (3) Repealed.

C.R.S. § 8-83-210 Work force boards - membership

8-83-210. Work force boards - membership. (1) There shall be established, in each local work force development area of the state, a work force board, which the local elected officials of the local work force development area shall appoint to oversee the one-stop operator, one-stop career center, or local work force development programs in that county or area. Work force boards operate in partnership with and subject to the approval of the local elected officials for the work force development area. Such boards are authorized to operate only with the approval of the local elected officials. Subject to requirements under the federal act, the local elected officials shall determine the membership and functions of the boards. (2) Membership of each such board must include, at a minimum: (a) Repealed. (b) Representatives of local educational entities, which may include public schools, boards of cooperative educational services, private occupational schools, and private or charter schools; (c) Repealed. (d) Representatives of community-based organizations, at least one of whom may represent the needs of persons with disabilities; and (e) Representatives of economic development agencies, including private sector economic development entities. (f) Repealed. (3) Members of the work force board who represent organizations, agencies, or other entities must be individuals with optimum policy-making authority within such organizations, agencies, or entities. (4) A majority of the members of each work force board must be business representatives specified in paragraph (a) of subsection (2) of this section. (5) Each work force board shall elect a chairperson for the board from among the business representatives specified in paragraph (a) of subsection (2) of this section.

C.R.S. § 8-83-211 Functions of work force boards

8-83-211. Functions of work force boards. (1) Each work force board shall, in partnership with and subject to the approval of the local elected officials for the work force development area, conduct the following functions: (a) Develop the local plan; (b) Designate and certify one-stop operators and certify and oversee work force development programs; (c) Select one-stop operators to operate the one-stop career center in a local area; (d) Authorize grants for youth services; (e) Identify eligible providers of intensive services, if one-stop operators do not provide such services, and training services; (f) Develop and enter into memorandums of understanding with work force partners specified in section 8-83-216 (1); (g) Develop a budget for the purpose of carrying out the duties of the work force board; (h) Negotiate local performance measures; (i) Oversee and assist in statewide employment statistics systems; (j) Coordinate and develop employer linkages with work force development activities carried out in the local area, including coordination of economic development strategies; (k) Promote participation of private employers with the work force development program while ensuring the effective provision, through the work force system, of connecting, brokering, and coaching activities through intermediaries such as the one-stop operator in the local area or through other organizations to assist such employers in meeting their hiring needs; and (l) Fulfill other functions outlined in the federal act. (2) The work force board shall not provide training services; except that the governor may waive this prohibition annually if the work force board is a qualified provider of training that is in demand and in short supply for that county or area. (3) Work force boards are authorized to operate only with the approval of the local elected officials and governor.

C.R.S. § 8-83-212.5 Work force development board standing committees

8-83-212.5. Work force development board standing committees. (1) A work force development board may designate standing committees that include work force development board members and members of the public with appropriate experience, as follows: (a) A standing committee that includes representatives of one-stop partners to provide information and assist with operational and other issues relating to the one-stop delivery system as established in section 121 of the federal act; (b) A standing committee that includes representatives of community-based organizations with a demonstrated record of success in serving youth to provide information and assist with planning, operational, and other issues relating to the provision of services to youth; (c) A standing committee to provide information and to assist with operational and other issues relating to the provision of services to individuals with disabilities, including issues relating to compliance with 29 U.S.C. sec. 3248, and applicable sections of the "Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990", 42 U.S.C. sec. 12101 et seq., regarding programmatic and physical access to the services, programs, and activities of the one-stop delivery system and appropriate training for staff concerning the provision of support or accommodation to, and finding employment opportunities for, individuals with disabilities; and (d) Any additional standing committees that the work force development board deems necessary. (2) This section does not prohibit another entity from addressing the issues specified in subsection (1) of this section.

C.R.S. § 8-83-213 Rural consortium work force development board

8-83-213. Rural consortium work force development board. (1) The rural consortium local elected officials board in the rural consortium work force development area shall establish and appoint a rural consortium work force development board. At a minimum, the membership of the rural consortium board must consist of representatives who are members of subarea boards. The rural consortium board shall meet the membership requirements under the federal act for a work force board for each subarea of the rural consortium area; except that members, as appropriate, may represent more than one entity specified by the federal act for the purpose of meeting subarea board membership requirements. The rural consortium board shall develop its own operational procedures. (2) Functions of rural consortium board - delegation to subarea boards. Unless otherwise specified in this section and subject to federal law, the rural consortium board may delegate to the subarea boards, where they have been established, in the rural consortium area such subarea board authority and functions specified under this part 2 and the federal act. Authority and functions of the rural consortium board are limited to the following: (a) Meeting the federal membership requirements for a local work force development board for the local work force subareas; (b) Negotiating with, and approving local plans submitted by, subarea boards; (c) Compiling and consolidating each approved local plan of the consortium area into one local plan for the consortium area and ensuring that the plan meets the requirements under the federal act for a local plan; (d) Submitting the local plan to the governor for approval; (e) Negotiating with the governor for performance standards for the consortium area; (f) Making recommendations to the governor concerning procedures to temporarily replace or correct a development area that is out of compliance with its local plan, as appropriate; (g) Facilitating and coordinating work force subarea grant applications, as appropriate; (h) Ensuring that any grant money awarded to a work force development area is a direct pass-through from the federal government to the eligible work force development area; (i) Establishing standing committees pursuant to section 8-83-212.5; (j) Subject to federal law, delegating to the subarea boards in the rural consortium area duties and functions specified in the federal act and in section 8-83-216 outlining requirements for one-stop partners. (3) Work force development subarea boards. (a) To the extent possible and as outlined in the applicable local plan, each work force development subarea board shall function as set forth in the federal act. In carrying out its duties, the work force development subarea board shall operate in partnership with, and be subject to the approval of, the local elected officials for the local work force development area. (b) Membership. Notwithstanding section 8-83-210 (3), the local elected officials shall appoint members of each work force development subarea board. Membership, to the extent possible, must meet the requirements of the federal act. development subarea board shall operate in partnership with, and be subject to the approval of, the local elected officials for the local work force development area. (b) Membership. Notwithstanding section 8-83-210 (3), the local elected officials shall appoint members of each work force development subarea board. Membership, to the extent possible, must meet the requirements of the federal act. (c) Functions. Notwithstanding section 8-83-211, at a minimum, functions of the work force development subarea board must be as set forth in this part 2 and the federal act. In addition, each subarea board shall: (I) Upon the approval of and in partnership with the local elected officials, develop a comprehensive four-year local plan for its work force development subarea and submit the local plan for approval to the rural consortium work force development board. The plan must include a description of those requirements under the federal act that the work force development subarea board determines cannot be reasonably met while still fulfilling the intent and purposes of the federal act. (II) Apply for federal grants. Each work force development subarea board may apply for national program grants on behalf of the subarea or in partnership with any other work force development area. Any national program grant money awarded to a work force development subarea is a direct pass-through from the federal government to the applicable work force development subarea. (III) To the extent possible and as outlined in the local plan, with the agreement of the local elected officials and notwithstanding section 8-83-216, designate or certify the one-stop partners; and (IV) (Deleted by amendment, L. 2016.) (V) Oversee the one-stop system in the work force development area.

C.R.S. § 8-83-214 Rural consortium local elected officials board

8-83-214. Rural consortium local elected officials board. (1) In order to satisfy requirements under the federal act for the role of local elected officials in a work force area, there shall be a rural consortium local elected officials board for the rural consortium work force development board. The rural consortium local elected officials board consists of one local elected official appointed by each work force development area in the consortium. Membership is for a term of two years, which term may be renewable. (2) Functions of the rural consortium local elected officials board are to appoint members to the rural consortium work force development board and ensure that the rural consortium work force development board meets federal requirements for membership and delegate fiscal responsibility and contractual responsibility to the local elected officials of work force development areas. The rural consortium local elected officials board shall develop its own operational procedures.

C.R.S. § 8-83-215 Designation of local work force development areas

8-83-215. Designation of local work force development areas. (1) Subject to section 106 of chapter 2 of the federal act concerning designation of work force development areas, on an annual basis, any county, municipality, city and county, or combination may petition the governor to form a new work force development area. (2) (Deleted by amendment, L. 2016.) (3) Subject to the governor's approval, counties, municipalities, or a city and county may choose, through intergovernmental agreements, to band together to form a work force development area for an area consisting of more than one county, municipality, or city and county or may choose to operate a work force development area as a single unit. If the proposed work force development area meets the minimum federal requirements for an area as set forth in the federal act, the governor should not unreasonably withhold approval of the work force development area. (4) (a) The governor may authorize and approve as a federally designated work force development area any area that applies and qualifies as specified in subsection (1) of this section. (b) and (c) (Deleted by amendment, L. 2016.) (5) (a) The governor shall designate an additional federally designated work force development area for the state, specified as the "rural consortium work force subarea", which consists of all approved work force development subareas. Such decision shall be allowed on an annual basis, with notice to be given by February 1, for any designation to go into effect for the subsequent program year by July 1 of the same year. (b) Any approved work force development area in the rural consortium work force development area shall operate with the same authority as, and function as if it were, a local work force development area.

C.R.S. § 8-83-215.5 Designation of planning regions

8-83-215.5. Designation of planning regions. (1) In accordance with 29 U.S.C. sec. 3121, every two years the state council, in consultation with local elected officials, shall conduct a process to identify planning regions. A local area must not be placed in a planning region without the support and agreement of the work force development board and the chief elected official. (2) Local chief elected officials may review the regional planning area designation every two years before an updated state plan is submitted.

C.R.S. § 8-83-216 Required and optional partners of work force boards

8-83-216. Required and optional partners of work force boards. (1) Required partners. Each work force board, with the agreement of the local elected officials, is authorized to designate or certify partners outlined in the federal act for purposes of participating in the delivery of services for the one-stop system or work force development program in the local work force development area: (a) Repealed. (b) Adult education and literacy programs; (c) Welfare-to-work programs; (d) Programs under the federal "Carl D. Perkins Vocational and Applied Technology Education Act", 20 U.S.C. sec. 2301 et seq.; (e) Community service block grants; (f) Unemployment insurance; (g) "Wagner-Peyser Act" services; (h) Vocational rehabilitation programs; (i) Programs under the federal "Older Americans Act of 1965"; (j) Programs under the federal "Trade Adjustment Assistance Reform and Extension Act of 1986"; (k) Programs under 38 U.S.C. sec. 4100 et seq., concerning local veterans' employment representatives and disabled veterans' outreach programs; and (l) Employment and training programs administered by the federal department of housing and urban development. (2) Repealed. (3) Functions of required partners. All required one-stop partners shall perform the following functions: (a) Make available to participants through the one-stop system the core services that are required of and applicable to the partner's programs; (b) Serve as representatives on the work force board; (c) Use a portion of moneys, personnel, and other available resources to create and maintain a one-stop system; except that, to the extent such use would violate federal law or lead to a loss of federal moneys, this paragraph (c) does not apply; and (d) Enter into a memorandum of understanding with the work force board relating to the operation of the one-stop career center, including a description of services, how the cost of the identified services and operating costs of the system will be funded, and methods for referrals of individuals. (4) Functions of optional partners. (a) Optional one-stop partners shall perform the following functions: (I) Make available to participants through the one-stop system the core services that are required of and applicable to the partner's programs; (II) Participate in the operation of such one-stop system, consistent with the terms of the memorandum of understanding approved by the work force board and with the requirements of the federal act in which the program is authorized, if the work force board and local elected official approve such participation. (b) If an optional partner is designated or certified pursuant to subsection (1) of this section, its functions and responsibilities are the same as those of a required partner as set forth in subsection (3) of this section.

C.R.S. § 8-83-217 Memorandum of understanding - one-stop partners

8-83-217. Memorandum of understanding - one-stop partners. (1) (a) The work force board, with the agreement of the local elected officials, shall develop and enter into a memorandum of understanding between the work force board and the one-stop partners concerning the provision of services in the one-stop system in the local area. (b) Each memorandum of understanding must contain provisions describing: (I) The services to be provided through the one-stop system; (II) How the costs of such services and the operating costs of the system will be funded; (III) Methods for referral of individuals between the one-stop operator and one-stop partners for the appropriate services and activities; (IV) The duration of the memorandum of understanding and the procedures for amending the memorandum of understanding during the term of the memorandum of understanding; and (V) Such other provisions, consistent with the federal act, as the parties to the agreement determine to be appropriate. (2) Repealed.

C.R.S. § 8-83-218 Core services

8-83-218. Core services. (1) The work force investment program, as implemented through one-stop career centers, shall provide a core set of services, as defined by the federal act, to individuals who are adults or dislocated workers, including, at a minimum, access for job seekers to a comprehensive array of services and information, which may include: (a) Registration into the centralized computer system; (b) Career center operations; (c) Education and training program information; (d) A multimedia resource library providing access to internet-based services; (e) Labor market information; (f) Skill assessment services that are designed to determine each participant's employability, aptitudes, abilities, and interests, by means of individual interviews whenever possible; (g) Job referral and placement; (h) Self-help resume preparation resources; (i) Referral services for community and social services, including welfare-to-work programs, employment programs for persons with disabilities, employment programs for older workers, community-based organizations, vocational rehabilitation, adult literacy, supportive services, and youth programs and services; (j) Veterans' benefits and services information, subject to the availability of Wagner-Peyser funds and to the following: (I) Any one-stop career center receiving Wagner-Peyser funds or housing Wagner-Peyser Act staff shall provide veterans with priority employment and training services in accordance with chapter 41 of title 38, U.S.C.; (II) In one-stop career centers that have been assigned disabled veteran outreach program and local veteran employment representative positions, such positions must be held by state employees and are in addition to, and do not supplant, Wagner-Peyser staff in providing priority employment and training services; and (III) All one-stop career centers shall make the full array of core services available to veterans in the following order of priority: Disabled veterans, Vietnam-era veterans, veterans, and other eligible persons. (2) Work force boards are encouraged to consider and determine, at a minimum, the feasibility of providing access for employers to a comprehensive array of services and information, which may include: (a) Professional account representatives and management; (b) Assistance in individual and mass recruiting; (c) Referrals of skilled applicants; (d) Labor market information; (e) Education and training program information; (f) Access to internet-based services; (g) Information and referral for community and social services; (h) Layoff assistance; and (i) Other employment-related services and information. (3) At the option of the local elected officials, other services for job seekers and employers may be offered to meet the needs of a work force development area.

C.R.S. § 8-83-219 Intensive services - training services - individual training accounts

8-83-219. Intensive services - training services - individual training accounts. (1) Access to intensive services, as specified in the federal act, must be available to individuals who are adults or dislocated workers who are unemployed, unable to obtain employment through core services, and have been determined by a one-stop operator to be in need of more intensive services to obtain employment or who are employed but are determined by a one-stop operator to be in need of such services. Such services may include diagnostic testing, individual or group counseling and career planning, case management and follow-up services, and training services specified in subsection (2) of this section. (2) Participants who have met the eligibility requirements for intensive services, are unable to obtain or retain employment through such services, are determined by the one-stop operator to be in need of such services, and are eligible for such services as specified in the federal act must have access to training services, as specified in the federal act. Such training services include occupational skills training, on-the-job training, and training programs operated by the private sector. (3) The one-stop system shall provide training services authorized under this section to eligible individuals through the use of individual training accounts, as specified in the federal act. Exceptions to the use of individual training accounts, as set forth in the federal act, include customized training, training services not provided by a training provider within the work force area, or training services that are offered by community-based organizations or other private organizations that serve such special populations that face multiple barriers to employment.

C.R.S. § 8-83-220 Encouragement of in-demand programs - legislative declaration

8-83-220. Encouragement of in-demand programs - legislative declaration. (1) The state work force development council shall encourage work force development programs and work force development areas to enroll individuals in educational programs related to industries that are in demand in that work force development area. The general assembly finds that Colorado is facing a shortage in several different industries and that having local areas encouraging individuals to follow a career path in a marketable industry in that area further benefits Colorado residents. (2) The general assembly finds, determines, and declares that educating individuals eligible to receive moneys from welfare-to-work or temporary assistance to needy families will benefit such individuals. In addition, the general assembly finds, determines, and declares that Colorado is facing a shortage of licensed practical nurses and that encouraging individuals to follow such a career path further benefits Colorado and its residents.

C.R.S. § 8-83-221 Title I and Title III allocation

8-83-221. Title I and Title III allocation. The local elected officials or their designee shall serve as the local grant recipient for the Title I and Title III money allocated to the work force development area by the governor for the purposes of a work force development area's administration and implementation of the work force investment program pursuant to the allocation formula described in section 8-83-223. The department shall contract directly with each local work force investment area board. In order to assist in the administration of Title I and Title III money, the local elected officials may designate an entity to serve as a local grant sub-recipient for the money or as a local fiscal agent. Except when the designee is the department, a designation does not relieve the local elected officials of the liability for any misuse of grant money.

C.R.S. § 8-83-222 County distribution formula - use of money

8-83-222. County distribution formula - use of money. Subject to available appropriations by the general assembly, the department shall allocate Title I and Title III money to each work force development area for the operation of the work force development program in that work force development area.

C.R.S. § 8-83-223 Allocation process

8-83-223. Allocation process. Subject to federal law and available appropriations, within thirty days after receipt of the federal appropriation from the United States department of labor, the local elected officials from each work force development area in the state shall recommend an allocation formula for Title I and Title III money for each work force development area to be implemented in the following program year. Development of the allocation formula by the local elected officials must be facilitated through a statewide association of county commissioners. The statewide association of county commissioners shall ensure that the local elected officials from each work force development area have an opportunity to participate in the development and final approval of the recommendations for allocation formulas. The department and the state council shall provide technical assistance to the statewide association of county commissioners. The local elected officials shall recommend the allocation formula to be applied to each allocation for adult, youth, and dislocated worker services under Title I and employment services under Title III. The statewide association of county commissioners shall forward the local elected officials' recommendations to the state council pursuant to section 8-83-224 (2)(f) for review and comment. The state council shall then submit such recommendations, together with the state council's comments, to the joint budget committee of the general assembly for review and comment before forwarding such recommendations to the governor for final determination and Untied States department of labor approval. If the local elected officials cannot agree on an allocation, the local elected officials shall prepare, with comment, alternatives and the statewide association of county commissioners shall submit the alternatives to the state council for review and comment and submission to the joint budget committee, which shall select one alternative and forward it to the governor for final determination and United States department of labor approval. The local elected officials and the statewide association of county commissioners shall develop their own operational procedures. Any money received by the state under Title I and Title III of the federal act, together with any associated state full-time equivalent personnel positions, is subject to appropriation by the general assembly.

C.R.S. § 8-83-224 State council - duties

8-83-224. State council - duties. (1) The state council shall function as, and is intended to meet the requirements for, the state work force development board referred to in the federal act. In addition to performing the functions set forth in subsection (2) of this section and the federal act, the state council shall serve in an advisory role to the governor for those areas specified by the federal act and shall serve as a conduit for information to local work force development areas, including facilitation of grant applications and assistance to work force development areas to enable work force development areas to successfully implement programs under the federal act. (2) The state council shall assist the governor in the following: (a) Development of the comprehensive five-year state plan as specified in section 8-83-209; (b) Development and continuous improvement of a statewide system of activities that are funded pursuant to the federal act or carried out through a one-stop system as set forth in this part 2 that receives Title I moneys. Such improvement shall include the development of linkages in order to ensure coordination and prevent duplication among the programs and activities authorized in this part 2. (c) Review of local plans submitted by the work force development boards and the rural consortium work force development board; (d) Designation of local work force development areas; (e) Commenting at least once annually on the measures taken pursuant to the federal "Carl D. Perkins Vocational and Applied Technology Education Act", 20 U.S.C. sec. 2301 et seq.; (f) Review and comment on, and submission to the joint budget committee for review and comment on, allocation formulas for the distribution of Title I moneys for adult employment and training activities and youth activities to work force investment areas in accordance with the process established in section 8-83-223; (g) Preparation of the annual report to the secretary of the United States department of labor; (h) Development of the statewide employment statistics system described in the "Wagner-Peyser Act"; (i) Development of an application for an incentive grant authorized pursuant to the federal act; (j) Any other functions as requested by the governor; and (k) Other duties outlined in the federal act. (3) The state council shall work in partnership with the business community, local work force area representatives, and other state and local partners to convene a state-level work group to address branding, marketing, and outreach to the public about the opportunities available in the work force development areas throughout the state. The work group shall convene not later than July 31, 2016. On or before January 15, 2017, the work group shall make recommendations for adoption into the biannual state plan regarding the updating of existing statutes and policies to ensure consistency and advancement in the work force program throughout the state.

C.R.S. § 8-83-225 Colorado department of labor and employment - functions

8-83-225. Colorado department of labor and employment - functions. (1) The department shall serve as the administrative entity for Title I money received and money received pursuant to Title III of the federal act. The department also is responsible for: (a) Administering the statewide labor market information and fiscal systems to the extent such systems pertain to activities under the federal act; (b) Assisting in the establishment and operation of one-stop career centers as requested by a local work force area; (c) Disseminating lists of eligible training providers; (d) Contracting and administering Title I moneys appropriated by the general assembly in accordance with the federal act; (e) With input from the applicable work force development areas, continuing the centralized computer system that links work force development programs and includes training and technical support. A description of the state centralized system and procedures for developing, maintaining, and training must be included in the state plan required in section 8-83-209. (f) Providing staff development and training services and technical assistance to work force development areas. (2) The department shall provide ongoing consultation and technical assistance to each work force development area for the operation of work force investment programs. (3) The department shall encourage work force investment areas to inform individuals of the career possibilities in the field of nursing and the availability of practical nursing education programs. (4) The department shall 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).

C.R.S. § 8-83-226 Responsibilities of governor

8-83-226. Responsibilities of governor. (1) The governor shall perform the following functions, as specified in the federal act: (a) Appoint members to the state council in accordance with section 24-46.3-101 (2), C.R.S.; (b) Establish criteria for local elected officials to use in appointing members of local work force investment boards; (c) Designate federal work force development areas in consultation with the local elected officials, including local work force investment areas requesting to be a part of the federal work force investment area comprising a consortium of work force areas; (d) Designate, modify, and terminate work force investment areas in the state, including temporary designation, and establish an appeal process for review of such decisions; (e) Certify designated work force investment boards and the local consortium work force development board; (f) Negotiate with the federal department of labor concerning the contents of the state plan; and (g) Carry out such other duties and functions as may be required under the federal act.

C.R.S. § 8-83-227 Additional funding for workforce development activities - state funding not subject to federal law limitations

8-83-227. Additional funding for workforce development activities - state funding not subject to federal law limitations. (1) The department may receive and expend money from the general fund or any other state source appropriated by the general assembly or passed through another entity for purposes of distributing state funds to workforce development areas to implement workforce development activities, including the functions, activities, and services authorized pursuant to this part 2. (2) Any limitations or requirements imposed on the use of money received pursuant to the federal act or the Wagner-Peyser Act do not apply to state money appropriated or passed through to the department pursuant to this section. (3) For any appropriation made by the general assembly or pass-through of money from another entity pursuant to this section, the division, in partnership with the state council, shall determine the use of, and any limitations on the use of, the money for workforce development activities to address the economic and labor market conditions.

C.R.S. § 8-83-304 Skilled worker outreach, recruitment, and key training grant program - creation - award criteria

8-83-304. Skilled worker outreach, recruitment, and key training grant program - creation - award criteria. (Repealed)

C.R.S. § 8-83-305 Skilled worker outreach, recruitment, and key training grant review committee - creation - membership - duties - grant award recommendations

8-83-305. Skilled worker outreach, recruitment, and key training grant review committee - creation - membership - duties - grant award recommendations. (Repealed)

C.R.S. § 8-83-307 Skilled worker outreach, recruitment, and key training grant program fund - creation

8-83-307. Skilled worker outreach, recruitment, and key training grant program fund - creation. (Repealed)

C.R.S. § 8-83-308 Colorado state apprenticeship resource directory - collection of apprenticeship program information - promotion of public awareness - definitions

8-83-308. Colorado state apprenticeship resource directory - collection of apprenticeship program information - promotion of public awareness - definitions. (1) The department shall maintain the Colorado state apprenticeship resource directory, referred to in this section as the "directory". The directory must include, for each apprenticeship program listed in the directory, the information collected by the department pursuant to this subsection (1). At least annually, the department shall update the information in the directory. The department shall require apprenticeship programs to provide the following information to the department for inclusion in the directory: (a) Program name and United States department of labor registration number; (b) Program contact information, including primary mailing address, and website address, if any; (c) A brief description of the industry for which the program provides workforce training; (d) A statement describing: (I) The name of the occupation and certificate of completion as issued by the United States department of labor or the state apprenticeship agency; (II) If applicable, additional credits, diplomas, degrees, certifications, industry certificates, interim credentials, or licenses that all participants receive upon the successful completion of the program; and (III) If applicable, other optional credits, diplomas, degrees, certifications, industry certificates, interim credentials, or licenses that participants may be prepared for or earn as part of the program; (e) The total number of months required or allowed to complete the program, the total number of hours an enrollee must complete, and, of the total hours an enrollee must complete, a breakdown of the number of on-the-job hours and other training hours an enrollee must complete; (f) The total number of individuals enrolled in the program in the previous year and the anticipated attendance and enrollee tuition for the current year; (g) The percentage of enrollees who completed the program in the previous year; the percentage of enrollees who completed the program in the previous year and who are currently working in the industry for which the program provides workforce training; and, if known, these percentages for each of the previous five years the program has been offered; (h) The lowest journeyworker wage and highest journeyworker wage; and (i) A brief description of the application process, selection criteria, and required or preferred prerequisites for enrollment. (1.5) (a) On or before January 1, 2021, the department shall include in the directory the name and contact information for at least one designated apprenticeship training program contact for every school district and public high school. The contact information must include, at a minimum, the contact's mailing address, e-mail address, telephone number, and high school or school district that the contact represents. (b) The department shall cooperate with the department of education, created and existing pursuant to section 24-1-115, to receive and annually update the information required pursuant to subsection (1.5)(a) of this section no later than September 1 of each year. nimum, the contact's mailing address, e-mail address, telephone number, and high school or school district that the contact represents. (b) The department shall cooperate with the department of education, created and existing pursuant to section 24-1-115, to receive and annually update the information required pursuant to subsection (1.5)(a) of this section no later than September 1 of each year. (c) As used in this subsection (1.5), unless the context otherwise requires: (I) "Designated apprenticeship training program contact" means a designee of a school district or public high school that is the preferred point of contact for students, parents, or apprenticeship programs to interface with the school districts and high schools on matters related to apprenticeship training opportunities and workforce training. (II) "Public high school" means a public school as defined in section 22-1-101, including a district charter school or an institute charter school that covers any grade from ninth through twelfth. (III) "School district" means a school district authorized by section 15 of article IX of the state constitution and organized pursuant to article 30 of title 22. "School district" also includes a board of cooperative services created pursuant to article 5 of title 22 if it is operating a public high school. (2) The department shall promote public awareness of the directory by, at a minimum: (a) Prominently posting the directory on the department's website; (b) Notifying work force development boards, as defined in section 8-83-203 (23), when the directory is first posted on the department's website and each time an annual revised directory is posted. The department shall provide each board with information on how to access the full directory and shall require each board to include a link to the directory information on the board's website. (c) Identifying and informing the appropriate contact persons at Colorado educational institutions of the availability of the directory. The educational institutions include high school guidance offices, community colleges, state colleges and universities, and private higher education institutions. (d) Informing relevant private industry and business associations of the availability of the directory and requesting that the associations promote the directory to association members; (e) Conducting annual outreach, including providing: (I) Technical assistance on how to update program information and standards for accuracy of information; and (II) Resources to promote apprenticeship openings to the public. (3) As used in this section, unless the context otherwise requires: (a) "Apprenticeship program" means a Colorado-based apprenticeship training program that is registered with the United States department of labor's office of apprenticeship or an apprenticeship program as defined in section 8-15.7-101 (4). (b) "Industry" means either one or more individual employers or an industry association. (c) "Journeyworker" means either: (I) A worker who has attained a level of skill, abilities, and competencies recognized within an industry as having mastered the skills and competencies required for the occupation; or (II) A mentor, technician, specialist, or other skilled worker who has documented sufficient skills and knowledge of an occupation, either through formal apprenticeship or through practical on-the-job experience and formal training. (d) "State apprenticeship agency" means the state apprenticeship agency created in section 8-15.7-102. (4) The directory must include information from the program's registration information and registered apprenticeship program standards.

C.R.S. § 8-83-401 Definitions

8-83-401. Definitions. As used in this part 4, unless the context otherwise requires: (1) "Administering entity" means the nonprofit entity selected pursuant to section 8-83-403 to administer the program. (2) "Eligible individual" means an individual that satisfies the eligibility criteria specified in section 8-83-404 (4). (3) "Federal poverty line" has the same meaning as "poverty line", as defined in 42 U.S.C. sec. 9902 (2). (4) "Program" means the employment support and job retention services program created in section 8-83-402. (5) "Service provider" means a public agency or nonprofit community organization that provides employment, employment preparation, employment training, education, and job retention services to eligible individuals pursuant to a memorandum of understanding with the administering entity. "Service provider" includes faith-based organizations and churches, community centers, neighborhood organizations, food banks, outreach providers, and similar local entities that provide services to members of the community. (6) "Services" means services provided by a service provider to eligible individuals, which services are eligible for reimbursement from the program pursuant to section 8-83-404 (5).

C.R.S. § 8-83-402 Employment support and job retention services program - creation

8-83-402. Employment support and job retention services program - creation. There is hereby created in the division the employment support and job retention services program. Within six months after the date of the first appropriation by the general assembly to the employment support and job retention services program cash fund pursuant to section 8-83-406, the program shall fund employment preparation, job training, employment pursuit, and job retention activities for eligible individuals as they pertain to the individuals' job training and employment goals.

C.R.S. § 8-83-403 Program purpose - duties of the director

8-83-403. Program purpose - duties of the director. (1) The purpose of the program is to provide assistance to eligible individuals who may not be eligible for or have access to other employment resources or who are preparing for, seeking, or attempting to retain employment. (2) The director shall: (a) Enter into a competitive solicitation process pursuant to the "Procurement Code", articles 101 to 112 of title 24, to contract with an administering entity; (b) Establish procedures and guidelines for: (I) The selection of the administering entity to operate the program; (II) The development and implementation of the memorandums of understanding with service providers; (III) Requesting and distributing reimbursements to service providers; and (IV) Any additional parameters for the operation and evaluation of the program, subject to data available to the division. (3) The director shall solicit feedback from stakeholders when establishing procedures and guidelines pursuant to subsection (2) of this section.

C.R.S. § 8-83-404 Administration of the program

8-83-404. Administration of the program. (1) The administering entity shall: (a) Develop formal memorandums of understanding with service providers and guidelines for the operation of the program in coordination with the director; (b) Establish procedures and guidelines for reimbursing service providers in accordance with the terms of the memorandums of understanding; (c) Reimburse service providers up to four hundred dollars per year for each eligible individual to whom the service provider delivered services authorized for reimbursement pursuant to subsection (5) of this section; (d) Ensure the fiscal responsibility of the program in conjunction with the director; (e) Participate in evaluation activities as required by the director; and (f) Be responsible for all other requirements outlined by the director. (2) A service provider shall: (a) Submit reports as specified by the administering entity that outline the type of service provided, reason for the service, basic demographics of the eligible individual, and geographic location where the service was provided; and (b) Participate in an analysis process throughout the service provider's participation in the program. (3) The administering entity must not reimburse a service provider for expenses incurred to provide employment preparation, job training, employment pursuit, or job retention activities to an eligible individual if the services are currently provided to the individual by another source. (4) Notwithstanding any other federal or state law, in order to be eligible to receive services for which a service provider may be reimbursed under the program, an individual must: (a) (I) Have a household income at or below the federal poverty line; or (II) If employed: (A) Have been employed for six months or less before the date upon which assistance is requested; and (B) Within ninety days before the employment start date, have had a household income at or below the federal poverty line. (b) Be at least sixteen years of age; (c) Be eligible to work in the United States; and (d) Be underemployed or unemployed and actively pursuing employment, employment preparation, job training, or job retention activities, with the assistance of a service provider. (5) (a) The administering entity may reimburse a service provider for expenses incurred in providing: (I) Employment support services to an eligible individual to assist with an individual's employment, employment preparation, or job training goals; and (II) Services to assist an eligible individual with ongoing job retention for up to six months after the date of employment. (b) Employment support, training, education, and job retention services that are eligible for reimbursement include: (I) Costs related to transportation, vehicle upkeep and operation, and parking; (II) Emergency child care; (III) Emergency housing; (IV) Fees related to employment preparation, job training, employment pursuit, or job retention activities; (V) Work tools and equipment, including computers, digital devices, and costs associated with internet connectivity; (VI) Food and nutrition; (VII) Utility, telephone, and internet bills; (VIII) Prepaid cell phones; (IX) Licenses and certifications; (X) Legal services and fees related to employment; (XI) Language, communication, interpretation, and translation expenses; (XII) Emergency and work-related medical, behavioral, and mental health, dental, and vision services and expenses that impede an individual's ability to prepare for, obtain, or retain employment; and (XIII) Other expenses as they pertain to employment preparation, job training, employment pursuit, education, or job retention services as determined by the director. (6) Notwithstanding any other law to the contrary, the selection of, and payments to, service providers for services pursuant to the program are not subject to the "Procurement Code", articles 101 to 112 of title 24.

C.R.S. § 8-83-405 Reports required

8-83-405. Reports required. (1) On or before July 1 of each year, the administering entity shall report to the division: (a) The information provided by a service provider pursuant to section 8-83-404 (2); (b) A qualitative analysis based on interviews conducted with service providers statewide concerning the efficacy of the program; and (c) An account of the program's expenditures. (2) Beginning in January 2023, the division shall provide to the business, labor, and technology committee of the senate and the business affairs and labor committee of the house of representatives, or their successor committees, an update concerning the efficacy of the program during the department's presentation at hearings held pursuant to the "State Measurement for Accountable, Responsive, and Transparent (SMART) Government Act", part 2 of article 7 of title 2.

C.R.S. § 8-83-406 Employment support and job retention services program cash fund - created

8-83-406. Employment support and job retention services program cash fund - created. (1) (a) The employment support and job retention services program cash fund, referred to in this section as the "fund", is hereby created in the state treasury. For the 2019-20 state fiscal year, the general assembly shall appropriate seven hundred fifty thousand dollars from the general fund to the fund. For the 2022-23 state fiscal year and each fiscal year thereafter, the general assembly shall appropriate two hundred fifty thousand dollars from the general fund to the fund. Any money remaining in the fund at the end of a fiscal year remains in the fund and does not revert to the general fund or any other fund. (b) The state treasurer shall credit all interest and income derived from the deposit and investment of money in the fund to the fund. At the end of any fiscal year, all unexpended and unencumbered money in the fund remains in the fund and shall not be credited or transferred to the general fund or any other fund. (c) Money in the fund is subject to annual appropriation by the general assembly to the department for the purposes of this part 4, to the extent that in each fiscal year the general assembly may only appropriate up to two hundred fifty thousand dollars plus any unexpended money and interest accrued from the previous fiscal year. (2) The department may seek, accept, and expend gifts, grants, and donations from private or public sources for the purposes of this part 4. (3) The division may use the money in the fund for the purposes of this part 4, including administrative costs related to the program. The administering entity may use money in the fund to operate the program. The remainder of the money may be used only for reimbursements made pursuant to section 8-83-404.

C.R.S. § 8-83-407 Repeal of part

8-83-407. Repeal of part. This part 4 is repealed, effective September 1, 2029.

C.R.S. § 8-83-501 Legislative declaration

8-83-501. Legislative declaration. (1) The general assembly hereby: (a) Finds that: (I) Coal provides more than half of Colorado's net power generation. There were approximately one thousand three hundred workers employed in Colorado coal mines at the end of 2018, and half of the domestic consumption of Colorado's mined coal is for power generation within the state. (II) Colorado's power sector, and the nation's, is moving away from coal as a fuel source based on consumer demand for cleaner power and the declining cost of natural gas and renewable resources. Electricity generated from renewable sources has doubled since 2010 to approximately twenty-five percent of Colorado's power generation in 2017. (b) Determines that: (I) In addition to the changing economics of power generation, there is a scientific consensus that greenhouse gas emissions, which are primarily the result of fossil fuel combustion, must be reduced in order to mitigate the worst effects of climate change. These effects are already being experienced by Coloradans in forms that include more extreme weather, snow pack melt, and higher temperatures. (II) The effects of coal plant closures on workers and communities have the potential to be significant if not managed correctly. The closure of coal-fired plants nationwide is also likely to have a serious impact on employment in the state's coal mines and the transportation and logistics supply chains that move coal from mine to market. Many of these jobs provide family-supporting wages and benefits. The communities that host retiring power plants may lose principal contributors to their tax base and revenue for vital local government services. The enactment of this part 5 will help alleviate these impacts. (III) While Colorado companies and policymakers have worked to drive new investment from the clean energy economy into transitioning communities and rural parts of the state, there does not exist at the state or federal level sufficient resources to assist workers and communities impacted by changes in Colorado's coal economy, and there does not exist sufficient coordinated leadership within Colorado's state government to align and deliver assistance to these coal communities and workers; and (c) Declares that: (I) A strong and comprehensive policy is also needed to invest new financial resources in coal communities that are seeking to diversify and grow their local and regional economies in a manner that is both sustainable and equitable; and (II) Colorado must ensure that the clean energy economy fulfills a moral commitment to assist the workers and communities that have powered Colorado for generations, as well as the disproportionately impacted communities who have borne the costs of coal power pollution for decades, and to thereby support a just and inclusive transition.

C.R.S. § 8-83-502 Definitions

8-83-502. Definitions. As used in this part 5, unless the context otherwise requires: (1) "Coal transition community" means a Colorado municipality, county, or region where a coal transition facility or a center for the manufacturing or transportation supply chain of a coal transition facility was or is located. (1.5) "Coal transition facility" means a Colorado coal-fueled electrical power generating plant that was in operation at any time in 2017, or a Colorado coal mine that was actively producing at any time in 2017. (2) "Coal transition worker" means a Colorado resident who works or worked in a coal transition facility or in the manufacturing or transportation supply chain of a coal transition facility. (2.5) "Coal transition workforce assistance program account" or "account" means the coal transition workforce assistance program account created in section 8-83-504.5. (3) "Director" means the director of the office. (4) "Disproportionately impacted community" has the meaning set forth in section 24-4-109 (2)(b)(II). (5) "Eligible entity" means the following entities that serve a coal transition community and that may apply for a grant: (a) An economic development district; (b) A county, municipality, city and county, or other political subdivision of the state; (c) An Indian tribe; (d) An apprenticeship program that is registered with the United States department of labor or a state apprenticeship agency recognized by the United States department of labor; (e) An institution of higher education; and (f) A public or private nonprofit organization or association. (5.5) "Executive director" means the executive director of the department of labor and employment. (6) "Fund" means the just transition cash fund created in section 8-83-504. (7) "Just transition plan" means the plan, in draft or final form, prepared by the just transition advisory committee as outlined in section 8-83-503 (6) and submitted by the director as outlined in section 8-83-503 (4), or any subsequent version of the plan developed through a similar process. (8) "Office" means the just transition office created in section 8-83-503 (1). (9) "Tier one coal transition worker" means a coal transition worker who was laid off on or after January 1, 2017, or who the director determines is reasonably likely to be laid off in the future, from employment in a coal transition facility or the manufacturing or transportation supply chain of a coal transition facility if the proximate cause of the actual or anticipated loss of employment is either the closure or conversion of a coal-fueled electrical power generating plant in Colorado or a contiguous state or what the director determines to be a sustained and likely permanent decline in broader coal markets due to similar closures or conversions nationally and globally. (10) "Tier one transition community" means a coal transition community that the director, with the concurrence of the executive directors of the department and the department of local affairs, determines has already experienced or is at risk of experiencing significant economic disruption, the proximate cause of which is either the closure or conversion of a coal-fueled electrical power generating plant in Colorado or a contiguous state or a sustained and likely permanent decline in broader coal markets due to similar closures or conversions nationally and globally. (11) "Tier two coal transition worker" means a coal transition worker who is not a tier one coal transition worker. (12) "Tier two transition community" means a coal transition community that the director, with the concurrence of the executive directors of the department and the department of local affairs, determines has not yet met the criteria required to be a tier one transition community. . (11) "Tier two coal transition worker" means a coal transition worker who is not a tier one coal transition worker. (12) "Tier two transition community" means a coal transition community that the director, with the concurrence of the executive directors of the department and the department of local affairs, determines has not yet met the criteria required to be a tier one transition community. (13) "Wage differential benefit" means supplemental income covering all or part of the difference between an individual's previous employment in a coal mine, coal-fueled electrical power generating plant, or the manufacturing and transportation supply chains of either and new employment or supplemental income during job retraining.

C.R.S. § 8-83-503 Just transition office - advisory committee - repeal

8-83-503. Just transition office - advisory committee - repeal. (1) The just transition office is created in the office of the executive director. The just transition office is a type 2 entity, as defined in section 24-1-105, and exercises its powers and performs its duties and functions under the department of labor and employment. (2) The executive director shall appoint the director of the office. The director shall manage the operations of the office. (3) It is the purpose of the office to: (a) Identify or estimate, to the extent practicable, the timing and location of facility closures and job layoffs in coal-related industries and their impact on affected workers, businesses, and coal transition communities and make recommendations to the just transition advisory committee, as part of its work outlined in subsection (6) of this section, as to how the office can most effectively respond to these economic dislocations; (b) Provide administrative, logistical, research, and policy support to the just transition advisory committee's work as outlined in subsection (6) of this section; and (c) Participate in the department's presentation to the general assembly during the "State Measurement for Accountable, Responsive, and Transparent (SMART) Government Act" hearings, held pursuant to part 2 of article 7 of title 2, regarding requirements for financing components of the just transition plan, the administration of this part 5, and the expected results. (4) Based on the draft just transition plan recommended by the advisory committee pursuant to subsection (6) of this section, and with the approval of the executive director of the department and the executive director of the department of local affairs, on or before December 31, 2020, the director shall submit to the governor and the general assembly a just transition plan for Colorado. This plan must include, at a minimum: (a) Benefits, grants, and other components that the office, the department, or the department of local affairs shall coordinate and implement under existing authority; (b) Benefits, grants, and other components that require additional legislative authority to implement; (c) Sources of funding that may be accessed from federal, state, local, and other sources without additional legislative authority or approval; and (d) Sources of funding that require legislative or voter approval. (5) To further the purposes of the office created in this part 5, the director shall engage in relevant administrative proceedings, such as matters before the public utilities commission and the air quality control commission. (6) (a) There is hereby created the just transition advisory committee to develop and recommend a just transition plan for the state of Colorado. (b) On or before July 1, 2020, the advisory committee shall present a draft just transition plan to the executive director of the department and the executive director of the department of local affairs. mmission and the air quality control commission. (6) (a) There is hereby created the just transition advisory committee to develop and recommend a just transition plan for the state of Colorado. (b) On or before July 1, 2020, the advisory committee shall present a draft just transition plan to the executive director of the department and the executive director of the department of local affairs. (c) In developing the draft just transition plan, the advisory committee shall consider options to: (I) Align and target local, state, and federal resources and leverage additional resources to invest in communities and workers whose coal-related industries are subject to significant economic transition; (II) Align and target existing local, state, and federal programming and establish additional programming to support communities and workers whose coal-related industries are subject to significant economic transition; (III) Establish benefits for coal transition workers, including consideration of: (A) Benefits similar in type, amount, and duration to federal benefits available pursuant to 20 CFR 617.20 to 617.49; and (B) Wage differential benefits for affected workers, including consideration of eligibility and the duration of the benefits; (IV) Educate dislocated workers, in collaboration with employers of dislocated workers and relevant labor unions, regarding how to apply for just transition benefits; and (V) Establish and structure a grant program and other potential programmatic support for coal transition communities and organizations that support coal transition communities, including eligible entities. (d) In developing the draft just transition plan, the advisory committee shall identify and consider: (I) The projected short-term and long-term costs and benefits to the state of each plan component, including worker benefits, grant programs, and other supports; (II) Potential sources for sustainable short-term and long-term funding for a just transition plan and its components; (III) The potential fiscal, economic, workforce, and other implications of extending components of the just transition plan to other sectors and industries affected by similar economic disruptions; and (IV) Which components of the just transition plan can be implemented by the departments under existing authority and which require additional legislation. (e) The advisory committee consists of the following members: (I) Ex officio members as follows: (A) The executive director of the department of labor and employment or a designee; (B) The director of the office of economic development or a designee; (C) The director of the Colorado energy office or a designee; (D) The executive director of the department of local affairs or a designee; and (E) A representative of the office of the governor; (II) One member of the senate, appointed by the president of the senate, and one member of the house of representatives, appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives; and (III) The following members appointed by the director: (A) Three representatives of coal transition workers; (B) Three representatives from coal transition communities; (C) Two representatives with professional economic development or workforce retraining experience; (D) Two representatives of disproportionately impacted communities; and (E) Two representatives of utilities that, on May 28, 2019, operated a coal-fueled electric generating unit. : (A) Three representatives of coal transition workers; (B) Three representatives from coal transition communities; (C) Two representatives with professional economic development or workforce retraining experience; (D) Two representatives of disproportionately impacted communities; and (E) Two representatives of utilities that, on May 28, 2019, operated a coal-fueled electric generating unit. (f) The term of appointment or designation is four years; except that the initial term of members appointed pursuant to subsection (6)(e)(II) of this section is two years and the initial term of members appointed pursuant to subsection (6)(e)(III) of this section is three years. Each legislative member is entitled to receive payment of a per diem and reimbursement for actual and necessary expenses as authorized in section 2-2-326, appointed members are entitled to the same per diem and expense reimbursement, and ex officio members are entitled to the same expense reimbursement; except that all payments authorized by this subsection (6)(f) are at a rate fifty percent less than that authorized by law. (g) The advisory committee shall elect a chair from among its members to serve for a term not to exceed two years, as determined by the advisory committee. The advisory committee shall meet at least once every quarter. The chair may call such additional meetings as are necessary for the advisory committee to complete its duties. (h) The advisory committee may engage additional nonvoting members or advisors to provide additional expertise as needed. (i) This subsection (6) is repealed, effective September 1, 2025. Before the repeal, this subsection (6) is scheduled for review in accordance with section 2-3-1203. (7) The office, in consultation with the advisory committee, shall develop a proposed long-term budget to adequately finance the just transition plan. The office shall submit the proposed budget to the executive director of the department no later than July 1, 2022. The budget must include financing options from state, federal, and other sources. The department shall consider the proposed budget as part of its budget proposal for state fiscal year 2023-24.

C.R.S. § 8-83-504 Just transition cash fund - transfer from general fund - transfer from account - definition

8-83-504. Just transition cash fund - transfer from general fund - transfer from account - definition. (1) The just transition cash fund is created in the state treasury. The fund consists of money credited to the fund in accordance with section 39-29-108 (2)(d) and any other money that the general assembly may appropriate or transfer to the fund. The state treasurer shall credit all interest and income derived from the deposit and investment of money in the fund to the fund. Subject to annual appropriation by the general assembly, the office may expend money from the fund and the department may expend money from the coal transition workforce assistance program account of the fund created in section 8-83-504.5 (1) for purposes specified in this part 5, including paying for the office's direct and indirect costs in administering this part 5. Any unexpended and unencumbered money in the fund at the end of any fiscal year remains in the fund and shall not be credited or transferred to the general fund. (2) The general assembly may appropriate money from the general fund for the purposes specified in this part 5. The office may seek, accept, and expend gifts, grants, or donations from private or public sources for the purposes of this part 5. (3) Each construction project financed through the fund must comply with sections 24-92-115 and 24-92-201. (4) (a) (I) (A) On June 30, 2021, the state treasurer shall transfer eight million dollars from the general fund to the fund. (B) On March 7, 2022, the state treasurer shall transfer two million dollars from the account to the fund. (C) On July 1, 2022, the state treasurer shall transfer five million dollars from the general fund to the fund. (II) Subject to annual appropriation by the general assembly, the office shall expend the money transferred to the fund pursuant to this subsection (4)(a) to implement the just transition plan for Colorado prepared as required by section 8-83-503 (4), to provide supplemental funding for existing state programs that the office identifies as the most effective vehicles for targeted investment in coal transition communities, and to provide grants and other support directly to coal transition communities and other eligible entities. In expending money from the fund, the office shall place a heavy emphasis on investment in tier one transition communities and shall support programs that: (A) Support targeted economic development, including expansion assistance for existing local businesses, programs expanding private financial investment, and site selector and technical assistance engagements; (B) Assist with regional capacity for coordination of economic development programs and worker assistance programs; (C) Support infrastructure projects and workforce development programs; or (D) Are consistent with the goals and strategies outlined in the just transition plan. (III) Repealed. ograms expanding private financial investment, and site selector and technical assistance engagements; (B) Assist with regional capacity for coordination of economic development programs and worker assistance programs; (C) Support infrastructure projects and workforce development programs; or (D) Are consistent with the goals and strategies outlined in the just transition plan. (III) Repealed. (b) In addition to the requirements set forth in subsection (4)(a) of this section, the office shall expend money transferred to the fund pursuant to subsection (4)(a) of this section in accordance with the following requirements and limitations: (I) The office shall consult with the just transition advisory committee on expenditure decisions and prioritize the expenditure of the money in a manner consistent with the final just transition plan and the level of support for any given proposed expenditure from coal transition communities and state action teams formed to assist with the development of rural economic diversification and transition roadmaps as set forth in the final just transition plan. (II) The office may provide for the transfer of money from the fund to other state agencies only if the transfer is approved by the director, the executive director of the department, the executive director of the department of local affairs, and the director of the Colorado office of economic development. (III) The office shall expend or encumber the money transferred to the fund pursuant to this section by the close of state fiscal year 2029-30. (IV) The department is authorized to use up to five percent of the money in the fund to fund operational support for the office's expenditure of the money, including funding for the compensation of existing office employees. (c) Subject to the requirements of this subsection (4) and notwithstanding any other law, the office may expend money from the fund to make grants to any eligible entity, and a state agency to which a transfer of money from the fund is made pursuant to this subsection (4) may expend the money transferred to make grants to any eligible entity. (5) (a) Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, for the 2021-22 state fiscal year, the general assembly shall appropriate one hundred fifty thousand dollars from the fund to the department of higher education for use by the board of trustees of the Colorado school of mines to expand the CORE-CM initiative in the Greater Green river and Wind river basins. (b) As used in this subsection (5), "CORE-CM initiative" means the Carbon Ore, Rare Earth, and Critical Minerals Initiative for U.S. Basins, an initiative through the office of fossil energy in the federal department of energy, the purpose of which is to develop and catalyze regional economic growth, job creation, and associated technology innovation across basins throughout the country.

C.R.S. § 8-83-504.5 Additional coal transition workforce assistance program funding - coal transition workforce assistance program account

8-83-504.5. Additional coal transition workforce assistance program funding - coal transition workforce assistance program account. (1) (a) (I) The coal transition workforce assistance program account is hereby created in the fund. (II) (A) On June 30, 2021, the state treasurer shall transfer seven million dollars from the general fund to the account. (B) On July 1, 2022, the state treasurer shall transfer ten million dollars from the general fund to the account. (III) Subject to annual appropriation by the general assembly, the department shall expend money from the account for coal transition workforce assistance programs that directly assist coal transition workers, their family members, and other household members, including those coal transition workers, their family members, and their household members who are members of a disproportionately impacted community, including programs that: (A) Establish or expand existing apprenticeship programs, the training capacity of such programs, and the placement of coal transition workers into such programs, prioritizing programs that are recognized as registered apprenticeship programs by the department or a state apprenticeship agency recognized by the United States department of labor; (B) Aid implementation of the just transition plan; (C) Provide tuition assistance; (D) Provide job search assistance; (E) Provide career planning services and financial counseling; (F) Support child care assistance; (G) Support housing assistance; (H) Support health-care and behavioral health assistance; (I) Support retirement assistance; (J) Provide business start-up assistance; (K) Provide other services authorized by the federal "Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act", Pub.L. 113-128, such as on-the-job training, subsidized employment, and other strategies that aid in the implementation of individual transition plans; or (L) Test innovative coal transition work support programs through a pilot program. The department is encouraged to limit any pilot program to no more than forty total participants who are coal transition workers, coal transition worker family members, coal transition worker households, or a combination of coal transition workers, family members, and households. (IV) Repealed. (b) and (c) Repealed. (d) The department is authorized to use up to five percent of the money to fund operational support for the activities authorized by this section including funding for the compensation of one additional full-time equivalent employee. (e) The department shall expend the money transferred to the account pursuant to subsection (1)(a)(II)(B) of this section by the close of state fiscal year 2026-27. (f) Any unexpended and unencumbered money in the account at the end of any fiscal year remains in the account and shall not be credited or transferred to the general fund. (2) Subject to the requirements of subsection (1) of this section, the office may expend money from the account to make grants to any eligible entity. (3) On March 7, 2022, the state treasurer shall transfer two million dollars from the account to the fund.

C.R.S. § 8-83-505 Utility workforce transition plans - reemployment of affected workers

8-83-505. Utility workforce transition plans - reemployment of affected workers. (1) Within thirty days after the approval to accelerate retirement of a generating unit by the utility's governing body and in no case less than six months before the retirement of an electric coal-fueled generating unit that has a nameplate capacity of at least fifty megawatts, the owner or operating agent of that unit shall submit to the office and to the affected community a workforce transition plan. (2) To the extent practicable, a workforce transition plan must include estimates of: (a) The number of workers employed by the electric utility or a contractor of the utility at the coal-fueled electric generating facility, which number must include all workers that directly deliver coal to the electric utility; (b) The total number of workers whose existing jobs, as a result of the retirement of the coal-fueled electric generating facility: (I) Will be retained; and (II) Will be eliminated; (c) With respect to the workers whose existing jobs will be eliminated due to the retirement of the coal-fueled electric generating facility, the total number and the number by job classification of workers: (I) Whose employment will end without them being offered other employment; (II) Who will retire as planned, be offered early retirement, or leave on their own; (III) Who will be retained by being transferred to other electric generating facilities or offered other employment by the electric utility; and (IV) Who will be retained to continue to work for the electric utility in a new job classification; and (d) If the electric utility is replacing the coal-fueled electric generating facility being retired with a new electric generating facility, the number of: (I) Workers from the retired coal-fueled electric generating facility who will be employed at the new electric generating facility; and (II) Jobs at the new electric generating facility that will be outsourced to contractors or subcontractors. (3) This section does not apply to an electric coal-fueled generating unit owned in whole or in part by a qualifying retail utility for which the qualifying retail utility, as that term is used in section 40-2-124, has submitted a workforce transition plan in an electric resource plan filed with the public utilities commission.

C.R.S. § 8-83-506 Report - recommendations - repeal

8-83-506. Report - recommendations - repeal. (1) (a) No later than January 1, 2024, the director shall provide written recommendations to the general assembly and the governor about changes to this part 5 that should be considered in order to better achieve the purposes of this part 5. (b) This subsection (1) is repealed, effective September 1, 2025. (2) (a) Between September 1 and November 15, 2022, and between September 1 and November 15 of each year thereafter, the director shall present a report to the joint budget committee of the general assembly on the history of expenditures from the fund and the account and the purposes for which the money in the fund and in the account has been expended or encumbered in the immediately preceding state fiscal year, specifying the programs described in sections 8-83-504 and 8-83-504.5 for which money has been expended, encumbered, or otherwise allocated. (b) Notwithstanding section 24-1-136 (11)(a)(I), the reporting requirement specified in subsection (2)(a) of this section continues indefinitely.

C.R.S. § 8-83-601 Definitions

8-83-601. Definitions. As used in this part 6: (1) "Commission" means the business experiential-learning commission in the department created by executive order B 2015 004, which works in partnership with the office of economic development and the work force development council, or a subsequent entity established for the same or similar purpose. (2) "Digital equity" means the condition in which individuals and communities have access to the information technology that is needed for full participation in society and the economy of the United States. (3) (a) "Digital inclusion" means the activities that are necessary to ensure that all individuals in the state have access to, and the use of, affordable information and communication technologies, such as: (I) Reliable fixed and wireless broadband internet service; (II) Internet-enabled devices that meet the needs of the user; and (III) Applications and online content designed to enable and encourage self-sufficiency, participation, and collaboration. (b) "Digital inclusion" includes the ability to obtain: (I) Access to digital literacy training; (II) Quality technical support; and (III) Basic awareness of measures to ensure online privacy and cybersecurity. (4) "Digital literacy" means the skills associated with using technology that enable users to find, evaluate, organize, create, disseminate, and communicate information. (4.5) "Externship program" means the statewide teacher externship program created in section 8-83-602.5. (5) "Incentive program" means the work-based learning incentive program created in section 8-83-602. (5.5) "K-12 teacher" or "teacher in a K-12 classroom" means a teacher teaching in a public school in the state. (5.7) "Local education provider" means a school district, a board of cooperative services that operates a school, a district charter school, or an institute charter school. (6) "Next-skilling" means activities to develop future-ready skills necessary for employment in the twenty-first century and includes the focus areas of human skills, digital skills, business skills, growth mindset, and a lifelong learning mindset. (7) "Office" means the office of future of work created in section 8-15.8-103. (8) "Office of economic development" means the Colorado office of economic development created in section 24-48.5-101. (9) "Office of new Americans" means the office created in section 8-3.7-103. (10) "Program" means the statewide digital navigator program created in section 8-83-603. (10.5) "Public school" means a school in the state that enrolls students in any of grades kindergarten through twelfth grade, including a traditional public school of a school district, as described in section 22-1-101 (1); a charter school, as defined in section 22-30.5-103 (2); or an institute charter school, as defined in section 22-30.5-502 (6). (11) (a) "Reskilling" means activities to: (I) Support unemployed and underemployed individuals who need or want to change industries in order to return to full-time work or who need or want to obtain more appropriate work-based skills; and (II) Help unemployed and underemployed individuals achieve economic self-sufficiency. (b) "Reskilling" may include technical training for new positions and new careers and entrepreneurial training for individuals who wish to pursue self-employment and business ownership. (12) "Skills-based hiring" means hiring a person based on the person's knowledge, skills, and abilities that are specific to the job for which the person is being considered. (12.5) "STEM" means the combination of the disciplines of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. (13) "Target populations" includes: (a) Any household with an income that is not more than one hundred fifty percent of the federal poverty level, as determined by the most current federal poverty guidelines issued by the United States department of health and human services; considered. (12.5) "STEM" means the combination of the disciplines of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. (13) "Target populations" includes: (a) Any household with an income that is not more than one hundred fifty percent of the federal poverty level, as determined by the most current federal poverty guidelines issued by the United States department of health and human services; (b) Individuals who are fifty years of age or older; (c) Individuals who are or were incarcerated; (d) Veterans; (e) Individuals with disabilities; (f) Individuals who have recently immigrated to the United States and reside in this state; (g) Individuals who are English language learners; (h) Individuals with low levels of literacy; (i) Individuals who primarily reside in rural areas; (j) Individuals experiencing homelessness; and (k) Youth. (l4) "Upskilling" means activities to increase the skill levels of an employee so the employee is able to retain employment and advance within a company. (15) (a) "Work-based learning" means learning that occurs, in whole or in part, in the workplace that provides youth and adults, including teachers in K-12 classrooms, with hands-on, real-world experience and training for skills development. (b) "Work-based learning" includes activities such as job shadowing, internships, externships, pre-apprenticeships, apprenticeships, residencies, and incumbent-worker training. (c) "Work-based learning" also includes externships in STEM or STEM-related fields tailored to provide K-12 teachers with knowledge to improve classroom curriculum. (16) "Work-based learning intermediary" means an entity selected by the department pursuant to section 8-83-602 (3). (17) "Work force development council" means the state work force development council created in section 24-46.3-101. (18) "Youth" means an individual eligible to be educated in the public school system pursuant to section 2 of article IX of the state constitution.

C.R.S. § 8-83-602 Work-based learning incentive program - creation - rules - appropriation

8-83-602. Work-based learning incentive program - creation - rules - appropriation. (1) Work-based learning incentive program. (a) On or before January 1, 2023, the department, in consultation with the commission, the office of economic development, the department of education, the department of higher education, the state board for community colleges and occupational education, local district colleges, the work force development council, and area technical colleges, as defined in section 23-60-103, shall establish a work-based learning incentive program to provide monetary incentives to selected employers to create high-quality, work-based learning opportunities that benefit adults and youth. (b) In administering the incentive program, the department shall strive to create an equal proportion of work-based learning opportunities for youth and adults and to select employers and work-based learning intermediaries with the goal of increasing the number of youth and adults participating in work-based learning. The department shall select work-based learning intermediaries that: (I) Demonstrate expertise in and a continued commitment to connecting, educating, and coaching employers regarding work-based learning opportunities for adults and youth, such as a chamber of commerce, a nonprofit entity, an industry association, a local workforce area, a registered apprenticeship program, or a local government entity; (II) Work within and across the state to partner with multiple employers; local education providers, institutions of higher education, or other educational entities; and other public and private entities to facilitate work-based learning experiences; (III) Support employers in implementing work-based learning in collaboration with the commission and in alignment with the work-based learning quality expectations developed in subsection (5) of this section; and (IV) Support employers in learning about the work-based learning quality expectations and share best practices for meeting the work-based learning quality expectations developed in subsection (5) of this section. (2) Department responsibilities. The department shall: (a) Through an application process, select employers and at least two work-based learning intermediaries to participate in the incentive program with the goal of maximizing regional diversity and engaging the optimum number of employer participants in high-demand industries as determined by the annual Colorado talent report prepared pursuant to section 24-46.3-103 (3); (b) For the purpose of providing incentives to employers to provide work-based learning opportunities to youth and adults, allocate money directly to employers and to work-based learning intermediaries; (c) Outline performance expectations for work-based learning intermediaries and employers participating in the incentive program that include the authority of the department to discontinue an entity's participation in the incentive program if the entity fails to meet the expectations; (d) Outline a scale for the amount of money awarded to an employer based on criteria such as the duration of work-based learning experiences, the number of participants, geography, business size, and other factors; ng in the incentive program that include the authority of the department to discontinue an entity's participation in the incentive program if the entity fails to meet the expectations; (d) Outline a scale for the amount of money awarded to an employer based on criteria such as the duration of work-based learning experiences, the number of participants, geography, business size, and other factors; (e) Collect data concerning the incentive program that includes: (I) The work-based learning intermediaries participating in the incentive program; (II) The number of employers participating in the incentive program; (III) The number of work-based learning opportunities provided by employers and the number of work-based learning hours completed; (IV) The number of work-based learning opportunities that led to a job in the respective industry; (V) The number of youth and adult participants in the incentive program, including employees, interns, apprentices, or other individuals who participated in the incentive program; (VI) The de-identified demographic information of the individuals participating in the incentive program, including race, geographic region or zip code, and whether the individuals meet low-income criteria as determined by the department; and (VII) Any outcomes and data to measure the success of the incentive program, including outcomes related to employers that participated in the incentive program and subsequently adopted work-based learning as a business practice beyond the incentive program's duration; (f) Ensure that youth and adults are made aware of opportunities for them to learn in the workplace at the same time as earning an income through the incentive program; (g) Provide technical assistance and planning assistance to employers and work-based learning intermediaries regarding the work-based learning quality expectations developed in subsection (5) of this section; and (h) Beginning in 2023 and each year thereafter, submit a report compiling the data collected pursuant to subsection (2)(e) of this section to the senate business, labor, and technology committee and the house of representatives business affairs and labor committee, or their successor committees, during the hearings held under the "State Measurement for Accountable, Responsive, and Transparent (SMART) Government Act", part 2 of article 7 of title 2. (3) Selection as a work-based learning intermediary. In order to be considered by the department for selection as a work-based learning intermediary, the entity shall submit an application to the department in a form and manner established by the department, which must be a simplified application designed to maximize employer participation. In the application, the entity shall: (a) Demonstrate the entity's record of connecting employers with local education providers, institutions of higher education, or other training providers such as registered apprenticeship programs; (b) Outline how the entity plans to bring employers, local education providers, institutions of higher education, or other training providers such as registered apprenticeship programs together to accomplish the purposes of the incentive program; (c) Outline how the entity will meet or exceed the quality expectations for work-based learning established by the office pursuant to subsection (5) of this section; and (d) Submit any other information deemed appropriate by the department, including an attestation of a commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace. (4) Responsibilities of work-based learning intermediaries. A work-based learning intermediary shall directly facilitate work-based learning opportunities with employers through incentive payments made directly to employers for technical assistance, business coaching, and other types of support. Work-based learning intermediaries and employers may use incentive payments for: ion in the workplace. (4) Responsibilities of work-based learning intermediaries. A work-based learning intermediary shall directly facilitate work-based learning opportunities with employers through incentive payments made directly to employers for technical assistance, business coaching, and other types of support. Work-based learning intermediaries and employers may use incentive payments for: (a) Start-up management costs for employers to create work-based learning programs, including training for employers to establish and manage a work-based learning program; (b) Developing and providing personalized participant supports, including transportation assistance, and partnering with other entities to provide access to or referrals for supportive services, learning supports, financial advising, and other types of support to ensure adults and youth can participate in work-based learning; (c) Educating employers on how to work with local education providers and institutions of higher education to create career-connected learning partnerships; (d) Training costs, including enrollment, registration, and course fees for participation in classroom training and certifications aligned with work-based learning; (e) Providing incentives for employers who participate in the delivery of education services; (f) Any services, resources, and support identified by employers to support work-based learning that align with the purposes of this section, including fostering regional partnerships by sector or industry and hiring a business coach or other individual to act as a liaison between a work-based learning intermediary and employers receiving incentive payments; and (g) Ensuring alignment with and avoiding duplication of existing programs and, where practicable, leveraging existing resources. (5) Work-based learning quality expectations. The office, in consultation with the department, the commission, the office of economic development, the department of education, the department of higher education, the state board for community colleges and occupational education, area technical colleges, and the work force development council, shall: (a) On or before September 15, 2022, develop work-based learning quality expectations for youth and adults, taking into consideration: (I) How the expectations align with employer needs; (II) Evidence-based practices; (III) The potential outcomes of work-based learning opportunities for youth and adults; (IV) Opportunities to award educational credit or payment for work-based learning experiences; (V) Alignment with the minimum standards set by the federal department of labor or the state apprenticeship agency, where applicable; and (VI) Graduation and completion rates of the programs, where applicable; and (b) Review and revise the work-based learning quality expectations every five years, including consideration of: (I) The relevance of and innovations in work-based learning; (II) Whether work-based learning is dynamic and responsive to the needs of business and education partners; (III) How the work-based learning experiences align with employer expectations for adults and youth in high-wage, high-demand jobs; and (IV) The quality of work-based learning provided to participants in the incentive program. (6) Appropriation. For the 2022-23 state fiscal year, the general assembly shall appropriate three million dollars from the general fund to the department 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. (7) Rules. The executive director of the department may promulgate rules to implement this section.

C.R.S. § 8-83-602.5 Teacher externship program - creation - rules - repeal

8-83-602.5. Teacher externship program - creation - rules - repeal. (1) (a) On or before January 1, 2024, the department shall establish a teacher externship program to provide work-based learning opportunities for K-12 teachers in this state. The purpose of the externship program is for K-12 teachers to immerse themselves in a STEM or STEM-related field, or other fields that will provide value to K-12 teachers, in order to improve their classroom curriculums in a STEM or STEM-related area and foster student interest in jobs and internship opportunities that students may not be exposed to without the knowledge their K-12 teachers gain through an externship program. (b) The department shall establish at least one externship program model and develop consistency in offering the ability for K-12 teachers participating in an externship program to apply for graduate credits through an accredited college or university, career and technical education credits, and professional development credits. (2) (a) In administering the externship program, the department shall work with the department of education to strive to create equal opportunities for K-12 teachers throughout the state to participate in work-based learning. The department may use work-based learning intermediaries selected pursuant to section 8-83-602 (3) to aid in creating and finding work-based learning opportunities for K-12 teachers. (b) The department shall also collaborate with the department of education to establish minimum standards concerning: (I) The number of hours required in an externship opportunity; (II) Qualifications for K-12 teacher and employer participation in the externship program; and (III) Eligibility requirements for local education providers to receive direct payments. (c) The department shall work with the department of education to select appropriate employers for participation in the externship program. The department shall ensure that: (I) Each employer selected for the externship program is able to provide experience in a STEM or STEM-related field or in other appropriate working environments as determined by each local education provider that has a K-12 teacher who would like to participate in an externship program; and (II) The K-12 teachers who are placed with each employer have the opportunity to gain knowledge that can be transferred to the classroom to provide relevant and current information to students in subject matters that provide value to the K-12 teacher's local education provider. (3) For the purpose of providing incentives for employers to participate in the externship program, the department may allocate money directly to local education providers for teacher compensation and to work-based intermediaries, if applicable, to defray the costs of placing a K-12 teacher in an externship with an employer. (4) A K-12 teacher who participates in the externship program: (a) May be compensated by the local education provider, employer, or another entity for participation in the externship program; and (b) May apply for, as applicable: (I) Professional development credit as required by section 22-60.5-110 for license renewal; (II) Graduate credits through an accredited college or university; and (III) Career and technical education credits. (5) (a) The department shall gather the following data regarding the externship program: (I) The number of employer participants; (II) The number of K-12 teacher participants; (III) The local education providers with K-12 teachers participating in the externship program; and (IV) A review from each K-12 teacher who participates in the externship program, including information on the value found in the externship program. gather the following data regarding the externship program: (I) The number of employer participants; (II) The number of K-12 teacher participants; (III) The local education providers with K-12 teachers participating in the externship program; and (IV) A review from each K-12 teacher who participates in the externship program, including information on the value found in the externship program. (b) The department shall report this data on its website at least annually and shall share the information with the state board of education. (6) The director may seek and accept gifts, grants, and donations from private or public sources for the purposes of providing compensation to teachers who participate in the externship program. (7) If a teacher participating in the externship program is subject to a collective bargaining agreement or memorandum of understanding concerning the teacher's salary and the collective bargaining agreement or memorandum of understanding is in conflict with this section, the collective bargaining agreement or memorandum of understanding takes precedent over any payment authorized by this section. (8) The executive director of the department may promulgate rules to implement this section. (9) This section is repealed, effective September 1, 2025.

C.R.S. § 8-83-603 Statewide digital navigator program - office of future of work - rules - appropriation

8-83-603. Statewide digital navigator program - office of future of work - rules - appropriation. (1) On or before January 1, 2023, the office shall create a statewide digital navigator program. The purpose of the program is to address digital inequities that prevent youth and adults from securing employment. To address digital inequities, the program may provide services and supports, including access to digital technology, computer and technology skills training, and affordable internet service through the employment of digital navigators. The office shall, through an application process, select at least one administering entity to administer the digital navigator program. The digital navigator program will deploy digital navigators to: (a) (I) Conduct outreach to target populations in need of internet access, hardware, software, and digital skills; (II) Provide technology and literacy support to target populations; and (III) Connect target populations to resources in order to remove barriers to training and employment; (b) Make referrals to and facilitate enrollment of target populations in: (I) Digital literacy classes and workshops; (II) Reskilling, upskilling, and next-skilling opportunities; (III) Support services; (IV) Basic literacy or numeracy instruction or tutoring; (V) Workforce development services; and (VI) Work-based learning opportunities, including work-based learning opportunities created in section 8-83-602; (c) Connect target populations to low-cost internet programs and resources; (d) Identify and help distribute the necessary technologies to target populations; (e) Provide ad hoc basic digital skills support to target populations, including: (I) Setting up a computer; (II) Connecting a device to the internet; and (III) Assisting people in completing a job search, creating a profile through the my Colorado journey platform administered by the work force development council, creating an account with the connecting Colorado students grant program created in article 103 of title 23, and applying for public benefits through online applications; (f) Serve as on-the-ground data collectors to provide a detailed picture of Colorado community needs to inform the office and its partners described in subsection (3) of this section on where additional resources should be invested; and (g) Align and coordinate with other navigator programs and service providers. (2) In order to be considered by the office for selection as the administering entity of the digital navigator program, an entity shall submit an application to the office, in a form and manner established by the office, that: (a) Demonstrates the entity's record of conducting outreach to a target population or multiple target populations; (b) Outlines how the entity plans to partner with community organizations that include a public school, a public or multifamily housing authority, a library, a health-care provider, a community college or other institution of higher education, a state library agency, a public workforce center, and any other nonprofit or governmental community support organization, as applicable, to accomplish the purposes of the program; and plans to partner with community organizations that include a public school, a public or multifamily housing authority, a library, a health-care provider, a community college or other institution of higher education, a state library agency, a public workforce center, and any other nonprofit or governmental community support organization, as applicable, to accomplish the purposes of the program; and (c) Describes the entity's administrative capacity to successfully administer the program. (3) The office shall work collaboratively with other offices and divisions in the department, the department of higher education, the department of education, the Colorado broadband office created in section 24-37.5-903, the department of human services, the office of e-health innovation in the governor's office, and the office of economic development to identify and support diverse partners and employers. (4) (a) The office shall share outcomes of the program with partners described in subsection (3) of this section and collect data concerning the program that includes: (I) The outreach activities conducted; (II) The number of individuals served by the navigators and the de-identified demographics of those individuals, including race, geographic region or zip code, and whether the individuals meet low-income criteria as determined by the department; and (III) Any outcomes and data to measure the success of the program, including skills attainment and employment attainment. (b) The office shall include the outcomes shared and the data collected pursuant to this subsection (4) 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. (5) For the 2022-23 state fiscal year, the general assembly shall appropriate two million dollars from the general fund to the department for use by the office 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. (6) The executive director of the department may promulgate rules to implement this section.

C.R.S. § 8-83-701 Construction registered apprenticeship grant program - created - reports - appropriation - definitions

8-83-701. Construction registered apprenticeship grant program - created - reports - appropriation - definitions. (1) (a) There is created in the office within the department of labor and employment the construction registered apprenticeship grant program to provide grants to registered apprenticeship programs in the building and construction trades that provide training at no cost to apprentices. (b) The office shall consult with the office of economic development, the department of education, the department of higher education, the state board for community colleges and occupational education, local district colleges, the work force development council, and area technical colleges in the development and administration of the grant program to ensure alignment with, and reduce duplication of, related programs and initiatives. (2) (a) The office shall create a competitive application process through which it selects registered apprenticeship programs in the building and construction trades as grant recipients. A grant recipient must satisfy, at a minimum, the following criteria: (I) Train apprentices in the building and construction trades; (II) As a part of its grant application, demonstrate how it will use the grant award to provide training to apprentices at no cost to the apprentices; (III) As a part of its grant application, demonstrate how it will use the grant award to directly provide training to, or remove barriers to accessing training for, persons from target populations; (IV) As a part of its grant application, commit to diversity, equity, and inclusion in its registered apprenticeship program; and (V) As part of its grant application, provide any other criteria or additional information determined necessary by the department of labor and employment. (b) The office shall develop performance expectations for grant recipients. The office may terminate a registered apprenticeship program's participation in the grant program if the registered apprenticeship program fails to satisfy the performance expectations. (c) The office shall develop a scale for the amount of money to be awarded to grant recipients based upon factors including the number of apprentices in the registered apprenticeship program and the location of the registered apprenticeship program. (3) (a) The office shall require grant recipients to annually report data to the office. At a minimum, the grant recipients must report: (I) The number of apprentices awarded funds pursuant to the grant program, in total and disaggregated by any factors determined by the office; (II) If available, the number of apprentices awarded funds pursuant to the grant program who completed a registered apprenticeship program, in total and disaggregated by any factors determined by the office; (III) If available, employment and earnings outcomes for apprentices awarded funds pursuant to the grant program, in total and disaggregated by any factors determined by the office; and (IV) A detailed statement of the allocation of funds for the grant program, including costs incurred to administer the grant program. (b) Beginning in 2025 and each year thereafter, the office shall submit a report compiling the data collected pursuant to subsection (3)(a) of this section to the senate business, labor, and technology committee and the house of representatives business affairs and labor committee, or their successor committees, during the hearings held pursuant to the "SMART Act", part 2 of article 7 of title 2. (4) For the 2023-24 state fiscal year, the general assembly shall appropriate to the department of labor and employment for allocation by the office one million four hundred thousand dollars from the general fund for purposes of this section. Any unexpended money remaining at the end of the 2023-24 state fiscal year from the appropriation listed in this subsection (4): (a) Does not revert to the general fund or any other fund; l year, the general assembly shall appropriate to the department of labor and employment for allocation by the office one million four hundred thousand dollars from the general fund for purposes of this section. Any unexpended money remaining at the end of the 2023-24 state fiscal year from the appropriation listed in this subsection (4): (a) Does not revert to the general fund or any other fund; (b) May be used by the office in the 2024-25 or 2025-26 state fiscal year without further appropriation; and (c) Must not be used for any purpose other than the purposes set forth in this section. (5) As used in this section, unless the context otherwise requires: (a) "Grant program" means the construction registered apprenticeship grant program created in subsection (1) of this section. (b) "Office" means the office of future of work created in section 8-15.8-103. (c) "Registered apprenticeship program" has the same meaning as defined in section 8-15.7-101 (13). (d) "Target populations" has the same meaning as defined in section 8-83-601 (13).

C.R.S. § 8-83-702 Repeal of part

8-83-702. Repeal of part. This part 7 is repealed, effective July 1, 2027.

C.R.S. § 8-83-801 Definitions

8-83-801. Definitions. As used in this part 8, unless the context otherwise requires: (1) "Department" means the department of labor and employment created in section 24-1-121. (2) "Office" means the office of future of work created in section 8-15.8-103. (3) "Program" means the apprenticeship navigator pilot program created by the office of future of work in section 8-83-802. (4) "Rural school district" means a school district that the department of education determines is rural, based on the geographic size of the school district and the distance of the school district from the nearest large, urbanized area. (5) "School district" means a school district authorized by section 15 of article IX of the state constitution and organized pursuant to article 30 of title 22. "School district" also includes a board of cooperative services created pursuant to article 5 of title 22 if it is operating a public high school and includes the state charter school institute established in section 22-30.5-503.

C.R.S. § 8-83-802 Apprenticeship navigator pilot program - navigator positions - report

8-83-802. Apprenticeship navigator pilot program - navigator positions - report. (1) On or before January 1, 2024, the office shall create a two-year apprenticeship navigator pilot program. The purpose of the program is to increase awareness of registered apprenticeship programs among graduating high school students and to increase participation by individuals who are eighteen years of age and older but under twenty-six years of age in registered apprenticeship programs. (2) (a) The office shall create two apprenticeship navigator positions within the program as follows: (I) One apprenticeship navigator must be assigned to a rural school district, to be selected by the office, that does not have an established public or private apprenticeship navigator position; and (II) One apprenticeship navigator must be assigned to a school district that is not a rural school district, to be selected by the office, that does not have an established public or private apprenticeship navigator position. (b) Each apprenticeship navigator is a full-time employee of the office. (3) The navigators shall: (a) Develop informational materials regarding registered apprenticeship programs to distribute to students, parents, and school staff; and (b) Hold events for parents and high school students in the navigator's assigned school district to raise awareness about registered apprenticeship program opportunities. (4) To further the purpose of the program, the office shall: (a) Utilizing the Colorado state apprenticeship resource directory established pursuant to section 8-83-308, create and maintain on the office's public website a job board for apprenticeships and quality preapprenticeships that is marketed toward and accessible to high school students; and (b) Explore ways to incorporate registered apprenticeship programs into the state's career planning tools, including the department of education's individual career and academic plans governed by rules established by the state board of education created and existing pursuant to section 1 of article IX of the state constitution and the my Colorado journey platform administered by the state work force development council created in section 24-46.3-101. (5) Upon completion of the program, the department shall provide a detailed report of the direct and indirect costs for the operation and administration of the program to the house of representatives education committee and the senate education committee, or their successor committees, to allow the general assembly to evaluate the efficacy of the program and its potential for broader application in the state.

C.R.S. § 8-83-803 Rules

8-83-803. Rules. The department may promulgate rules as necessary to implement this part 8.

C.R.S. § 8-83-804 Repeal of part

8-83-804. Repeal of part. This part 8 is repealed, effective January 1, 2027.

C.R.S. § 8-83-901 Definitions

8-83-901. Definitions. As used in this part 9, unless the context otherwise requires: (1) "Emerging industries" means industries that are in the early stage of potential market share in Colorado but are growing in economic importance and job creation. (2) "Office" means the office of future of work created in section 8-15.8-103. (3) "Study" means the workforce transitions study required by section 8-83-902 (1).

C.R.S. § 8-83-902 Workforce transitions study - report

8-83-902. Workforce transitions study - report. (1) On or before December 1, 2023, the office shall contract with an independent third party to conduct a study that explores workforce transitions in Colorado's economy for workers in the oil and gas industry and workers affected by industry disruption due to automation. (2) The office shall administer a request for proposals and solicit firms or public entities with the necessary credentials, as determined by the office, to bid on performing the study. (3) In performing the study, the contractor shall: (a) Regarding oil and gas workers: (I) Evaluate the transferable and nontransferable skills of workers in oil and gas extraction jobs, identify key populations of the workforce whose jobs may not easily transition to new industries or new types of work, and make recommendations to the office on next steps to develop workforce assistance programs to assist these workers; (II) Identify existing and emerging industries related to oil and gas extraction and the utility sector, and evaluate job transferability to and retraining for these existing and emerging industries, including adjacent energy and carbon management industries such as hydrogen fuels; enhanced geothermal systems; carbon capture, utilization, and sequestration; construction; well-plugging and remediation; workforce development for electric lineworkers and contractors focused on beneficial electrification and energy efficiency projects, and identify ways to remove barriers to obtaining appropriate skills and licenses; (III) In partnership with the Colorado energy office, created in section 24-38.5-101 (1), identify potential workforce needs in the short and medium term in emerging industries and renewable energy resources, as defined in section 40-2-124 (1)(a)(VII), and assess employment trends, taking historical data into account; (IV) Explore skill development needs, training availability, and transition strategies for workers and employers shifting from oil and gas jobs to emerging industries in the region, including consultation with other western states for purposes of learning about their workforce transition ideas and strategies; and (V) Develop policy and incentive proposals for programs to transition workers to existing and emerging industries in Colorado and the surrounding region, maximizing transition of workers to jobs in the same communities, and including analyses of federal funding opportunities; (b) Regarding industry disruption due to automation: (I) Explore how technology is simultaneously replacing existing work and creating new work; (II) Evaluate which occupations in Colorado are facing the most disruption due to automation; (III) Identify skill transferability to emerging industries and industries experiencing growth for occupations that are displaced due to automation and develop transition strategies for these workers and employers; (IV) Identify the skills needed for emerging and growing industries and explore the availability of skills training for workers transitioning to these industries; (V) Provide recommendations for funding, programs, and policies needed to prepare employers and workers for these transitions; (VI) Consult with relevant stakeholders across impacted industries in Colorado to discuss their human resource and workforce strategies and their long-term outlook on the industry and the state; (VII) Consult with relevant employers and employees across impacted industries in Colorado, including those who may be indirectly impacted; (VIII) Consult with employers and employees who may be indirectly impacted by a workforce transition to emerging industries, including employers and employees in energy sector construction, gas distribution, natural gas utilities, exploration equipment manufacturing, and wholesale or retail supply; and ployees across impacted industries in Colorado, including those who may be indirectly impacted; (VIII) Consult with employers and employees who may be indirectly impacted by a workforce transition to emerging industries, including employers and employees in energy sector construction, gas distribution, natural gas utilities, exploration equipment manufacturing, and wholesale or retail supply; and (c) Regarding funding for workforce transition and community economic development: (I) Evaluate and analyze federal funding sources available to the state government, local governments, and the private sector for workforce development and community economic development; (II) Evaluate and analyze current state and local government workforce development, resiliency, and recovery infrastructure; (III) Track current federal funding secured for workforce transition and economic development in communities affected by workforce transition and identify funding gaps; and (IV) Recommend policies that promote interagency collaboration to maximize the potential of government agencies and the private sector to secure available federal funding, including consideration of creating positions for staff who will serve as a liaison with existing state government offices, local governments, and the private sector for the purposes of grant writing and other support. (4) (a) On or before December 1, 2024, the office shall submit a report to the governor and to the business, labor, and technology committee of the senate and the business affairs and labor committee of the house of representatives, or their successor committees. The report must include the study's research, findings, and recommendations, in accordance with subsection (3) of this section. (b) The report required by this subsection (4) must include, but should not be limited to: (I) Consideration and comparison of wages and salaries in both existing industries and emerging industries and an assessment of potential gaps that may exist; and (II) Disaggregated data that maps the impact of workforce transition and maps the geographic location of potential jobs in existing or emerging industries. (c) The office shall issue an update on the key findings of the study to the business, labor, and technology committee of the senate and the business affairs and labor committee of the house of representatives, or their successor committees, by August 1, 2024.

C.R.S. § 8-83-903 Repeal of part

8-83-903. Repeal of part. This part 9 is repealed, effective September 1, 2025.

C.R.S. § 8-83-1001 Definitions

8-83-1001. Definitions. As used in this part 10, unless the context otherwise requires: (1) "International standard classification of education" or "ISCED" means a comprehensive framework for organizing education and training programs that applies uniform and internationally agreed-upon classifications to facilitate comparisons of education and training programs across countries. (2) "Office" means the office of future of work created in section 8-15.8-103.

C.R.S. § 8-83-1002 Apprenticeship program alignment with international standards

8-83-1002. Apprenticeship program alignment with international standards. (1) Beginning January 1, 2026, and annually thereafter, the office, in coordination with the department of education, the department of higher education, the department of labor and employment, and the career and technical education division within the Colorado community college system, shall collaborate with the state apprenticeship agency to determine ISCED equivalency levels for each apprenticeship program registered on or after July 31, 2025. In making ISCED equivalency level determinations, the office shall: (a) Apply the process recommended pursuant to section 23-5-145.8 (3)(b); and (b) Require posting of the determined ISCED level alongside the apprenticeship program on all issued apprenticeship certificates of completion and in all public listings, including, but not limited to, the eligible training provider lists disseminated by the department of labor and employment pursuant to section 8-83-225 (1)(c) and the Colorado state apprenticeship resource directory created pursuant to section 8-83-308. (2) On or before January 1, 2027, the office shall determine ISCED equivalency levels for each apprenticeship program registered before July 31, 2025. After making ISCED equivalency level determinations, the office shall require posting of the determined ISCED level alongside the apprenticeship program on all issued apprenticeship certificates of completion and in all public listings, including, but not limited to, the eligible training provider lists disseminated by the department of labor and employment pursuant to section 8-83-225 (1)(c) and the Colorado state apprenticeship resource directory created pursuant to section 8-83-308.
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

Starting a business in Colorado? Colorado LLC guide: costs and requirements