Editor's note: (1) This part 11 was added in 2019 and was not amended prior
to its repeal in 2020. For the text of this part 11 prior to 2020, consult the 2019
Colorado Revised Statutes and the Colorado statutory research explanatory note
beginning on page vii in the front of this volume.
(2) Section 23-60-1101 (4) provided for the repeal of this part 11, effective
July 1, 2020. (See L. 2019, p. 2961.)
PART 12
IN-DEMAND SHORT-TERM
CREDENTIALS PROGRAM
Cross references: For the legislative declaration in HB 23-1246, see section
1 of chapter 199, Session Laws of Colorado 2023.
23-60-1201. Support for in-demand short-term credentials program -
created - report - appropriation - definitions - repeal. (1) Subject to available
appropriations, the board, in coordination with its career and technical education
role and mission as Colorado's state administrator of the federal Carl D. Perkins
Career and Technical Education Improvement Act of 2006, 20 U.S.C. sec. 2301 et
seq., as amended, shall administer the in-demand short-term credentials program
to support the expansion of the number of available and qualified professionals
who are able to meet Colorado's in-demand workforce needs.
(2) The board shall allocate money to an eligible institution based on the
number of students enrolled in eligible programs for state fiscal years 2023-24
through 2025-26 to provide assistance to students for eligible expenses that
support their enrollment in eligible programs.
(3) An eligible institution that receives funds pursuant to the program shall
provide employment eligibility requirements to students who express interest in
participating in the eligible program prior to the student's admission to the
program, in accordance with the federal Higher Education Act of 1965, as
amended, and regulations adopted in accordance with the act.
(4) The program begins no later than the start of the 2023-24 academic year.
(5) (a) A student participating in the program shall complete and submit the
free application for federal student aid or Colorado application for state financial
aid.
(b) Any financial aid received pursuant to subsection (5)(a) of this section,
and any other financial aid or scholarships received by the student, must be fully
applied to the student's cost of attendance before program resources are applied
to the student's eligible expenses.
(6) (a) (I) For the 2023-24 state fiscal year, the general assembly shall
appropriate to the department of higher education for allocation by the board
thirty-eight million six hundred thousand dollars from the general fund for the
program, of which not more than eighty thousand dollars may be used for purposes
of marketing the program and not more than one percent may be used for
administration pursuant to this section.
(II) Any unexpended money from the appropriation pursuant to this
subsection (6)(a) must be used to pay for expenses that are not eligible expenses
but are related to a student's housing, transportation, child or dependent care, and
food expenses.
(b) Any unexpended money remaining from the appropriation pursuant to
this subsection (6) at the end of the 2023-24 state fiscal year:
(I) Does not revert to the general fund or any other fund;
(II) May be used by the board in the 2024-25 or 2025-26 state fiscal year
without further appropriation; and
(III) Must not be used for any purpose other than the purposes set forth in
this section.
(7) (a) On or before January 1, 2024, and on or before every January 1
thereafter, the board shall submit a report to the Colorado commission on higher
education, the education committees of the house of representatives and the
senate, or any successor committees, and the joint budget committee. The report
must include:
(I) The number of students awarded funds pursuant to the program in each
eligible program, in total and disaggregated by any factors determined by the
board;
(II) If available, the number of students awarded funds pursuant to the
program who continued enrollment in the eligible program in a subsequent
academic term, in total and disaggregated by any factors determined by the board;
(III) If available, the number of students awarded funds pursuant to the
program who completed an eligible program, in total and disaggregated by any
factors determined by the board;
(IV) If available, employment and earnings outcomes for students awarded
funds pursuant to the program, in total and disaggregated by any factors
determined by the board; and
(V) A detailed statement of the allocation of funds for the program, including
costs incurred to administer the program.
(b) Beginning in 2024 and each year thereafter, the Colorado commission on
higher education shall submit a report compiling the data collected pursuant to
subsection (7)(a) of this section to the senate and house of representatives
education committees, or their successor committees, during the hearings held
pursuant to the SMART Act, part 2 of article 7 of title 2.
(c) Notwithstanding section 24-1-136 (11)(a)(I), the reporting requirement in
this subsection (7) continues indefinitely.
(8) As used in this section, unless the context otherwise requires:
(a) Eligible expenses means tuition, fees, books, materials, or supplies for
eligible programs.
(b) Eligible institution means a community or technical college described in
section 23-60-205, an area technical college defined in section 23-60-103 (1), a
local district college defined in section 23-71-102 (1), and Colorado Mesa university
established pursuant to section 23-53-101.
(c) Eligible program means an in-demand credential in early childhood,
education, law enforcement, fire and forestry, construction, or nursing that is two
years or less in duration.
(d) Program means the in-demand short-term credentials program
described in subsection (1) of this section.
(9) This section is repealed, effective July 1, 2027.