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