Skills2Compete- is a multi-sector policy advocacy coalition focused on greater access to education and training opportunities which ultimately lead to middle skilled jobs.

For more information, contact: Chaer Robert, Coordinator Colorado Center on Law and Policy 789 Sherman St #300, , CO 80203 cclponline.org/skills2compete @skill2competeco

Workforce and Skills Legislation at the Capitol Updated June 10, 2021

The following bills in the 2021 Colorado General Assembly focus on issues related to skills training for Colorado workers. Copies of the full bills, fiscal notes and scheduled hearings are available at http://leg.colorado.gov/.

PRIORITY BILLS—SUPPORT House Bill 21-1270 Appropriation to Dept of Human Services for SNAP Employment & Training Representatives (D) & (D) & Senator (D) and (R)

Expands availability of Employment and Training Program for SNAP recipients. Additional funding would provide more training and skill building opportunities, including high school equivalency diploma preparation and basic skills and literacy classes, more employment related support services, work based learning opportunities, coaching and case management. Provides funds to expand programs to serve residents of additional counties whether through Third Party Partners or through government workforce centers or contracts. Currently, SNAP E & T is only available to residents in 21 counties. Fiscal Note: One time $3 Million in state general fund will pull down $3 million in matching federal funding. Governor

House Bill 21-1264 Funds Workforce Development Increase Work Skills Representatives Tom Sullivan (D) and (D) and Senators Chris Kolker (D) and (R)

Provides $25 million to provide 6000 grants to up to 13 months to fund reskilling, upskilling, or next skilling for about 6,000 unemployed or underemployed workers during period of times when the state unemployment rate exceeds 4%. Funds can be used for career counseling, career exploration, tuition, employer-provided training, needs-based services, transportation, equipment, retention service and program implementation and administration. Ends June 30, 2024.

Fiscal Note: $25 million, one time, two years to spend Governor

1 of 7 ACCESS TO EDUCATION AND SKILLS TRAINING

Senate Bill 21-029 Colorado American Indian Tribes In-State Tuition Senator (D) & Reps (D) & (D)

Extend in-state tuition rates to students who are enrolled members of tribes with historical ties to Colorado state land.

Fiscal Note: $240,000 general fund; up to $3 million is lost revenue to the institutions themselves. Governor

Senate Bill 21- 057 Private Lenders of Student Loans Acts and Practices Senators (D) and (D)

Adds private lenders, creditors, & collection agencies connected to student loans to Colorado Loan Services Act.

Fiscal Note: $109,543 Governor

Senate Bill 21-100 Sunset Continue Council Higher Ed Representatives Senator (D) and Rep Julie McCluskie (D)

Renews for 10 years. Committee is in charge of implementing HB20-1002- Credit for Prior Experience

Fiscal Note: $6,053 Signed into Law

Senate Bill 21-106 Concerning Successful High School Transitions Senators James Coleman (D) & (R) and Representative Barbara McLachlan (D) & (R)

Adds 4th year for post secondary opportunities for certain early graduates of high school innovative learning pilot program

Fiscal Note: $278,511 in 2021-22; $633,361 in 2022-23 Governor

2 of 9 Senate Bill 21-236 Increase Capacity Early Childhood Care and Education Senators (D) and Jerry Sonnenburg (R) and Representatives (D) and Tonya Van Beber (R)

Creates 4 new grant programs to increase capacity for early childhood care and education, improve recruitment and retention rates for early childhood educators and improve salaries for educators.

• Employer-based childcare facility grant program • ECE recruitment and retention grant and scholarship program • Child Care Teacher salary grant program • Community innovation and resilience for care and learning equity grant program

Fiscal Note: $8.8 million in 2021; $93 million in federal dollars in 2021-22; $37 million federal money in 2022-23 Governor

House Bill 21-1007 State Apprenticeship Agency Reps Tom Sullivan(D) & David Ortiz (D) & Sens Danielson (D) & Robert Rodriguez (D)

Creates a formal state apprenticeship agency and outlines its responsibilities and powers. This would likely speed up approval for new programs versus having to go through federal office for approval.

Fiscal Note: $542,628 in 2021-22; $968,990 in 2022-23. Shifts to federal funding later. Governor

House Bill 21-1067 College Admission Use of National Test Score Representative (D) and Tony Exum (D) and Senators Tammy Story (D) and Janet Buckner (D)

Drop requirements for institutions to use national assessment tests in admission decisions.

Fiscal Note: None Signed into Law

House Bill 21- 1149 Energy Sector Career Pathway in Higher Ed Representative Dominique Jackson (D) 3 of 9 Creates a new energy career pathway.

Fiscal Note: $17,656 Governor

House Bill 21- 1173 Prohibiting Legacy Preference in Higher Ed Institutions Representative (D) and Senator Brittany Petersen (D)

The bill prohibits a governing board of a state-supported higher education institution (governing board) from considering legacy preferences and familial relationships to alumni of the institution in the admissions process.

Fiscal Note: None Signed into Law

House Bill 21-1290 Additional Funding for Just Transition Representatives (D) and ( R) and Senators Stephen Fenberg (D) and (R)

Transfers $8 million from General Fund to Just Transition Cash Fund and $7 million to a new coal transition worker assistance program, both in CDLE. Funds transition away from coal, including tuition reimbursement, job search help, apprenticeships, wage differential benefit, etc.

Fiscal note: $15 million, one time. Governor

CREDENTIALS

Senate Bill 21-012 Former Inmates With Fire Service Experience Senator (D) and Representative (D)

Those with felonies would not automatically be excluded from consideration for positions within wildland fire management positions in Department of Public Safety. Would even actively outreach to the prison firefighting program.

Fiscal Note: None Signed into Law

4 of 9 Senate Bill 21-077 Remove Lawful Presence Verification Credentialing Senator Julie Gonzales (D) & Reps Adrienne Benavidez (D) & Cathy Kipp (D)

Removes requirement that DORA confirm lawful presence prior to issuing a professional or business license.

Fiscal Note: None Signed into Law

Senate Bill 21-119 Increasing Access to High Quality Credentials Senators Jeff Bridges (D) and (R)

New requirements on existing program of financial incentives to school districts to encourage student in grade 9-12 to enroll in and complete a qualified industry recognized credential, internship, construction apprenticeship or pre-apprenticeship or AP class. Would target to align program with top ten industry recognized credentials of in demand industries.

Fiscal Note: $20,000 Governor

Senate Bill 21- 232 Displaced Worker Grant Senators (D) and Barbara Kirkmeyer (R) and Representatives Cathy Kipp (D) and (D)

Creates a new program under the Colorado Opportunity Scholarship Program for 3000 workers who have lost their jobs.To be eligible a person must have had some college, but have not yet attained a pot secondary credential.

Fiscal Note: $15 million Governor

5 of 9 House Bill 21-1330 Higher Education Student Success Representatives Julie McCluskie (D) and (D) and Senators Rachel Zenzinger (D) and Barbara Kirkmeyer (R)

Creates Colorado Re-engaged initiative (CORE) which allocates funding to public higher ed based on count of undergrad , in-state students whose family contribution does not exceed 250% of Pell Eligible contribution. Repeals requirement that Colo Commission on Higher Ed approve proposals for community colleges to offer bachelors of applied sciences. Allows employers who pay tuition for employees to pay in-state tuition rates for new employees. Funds help for high school students to compete financial aid forms.

Fiscal Note: $51 million in American Rescue Plan Funds Governor

SUPPORT SERVICES

Senate Bill 21-018 Continuation of Necessary Documents Program Senator (D) and Representative Daneya Esgar (D)

Removes the expiration date of 2021 from this program that helps people purchase documents needed for identification.

Fiscal Note: $300,000 annually Governor

Senate Bill 21- 060 Expand Broadband Service Senator Kerry Donovan (D) and Representative Dylan Roberts (D)

Board membership, defines “critically unserved “; and charges board with development of reimbursement program of $600 annually for those below poverty level or 30% AMI

Fiscal Note: $96,000 in 2022-23 Governor

Senate Bill 21-148 Creation of Financial Empowerment Office Senator Julie Gonzales (D) and Representative Daneya Esgar(D) and Kerry Tipper (D)

The office is charged with growing the financial resilience of Coloradans by expanding access to safe and affordable banking and credit, and free individual

6 of 9 financial counseling and coaching, as well as developing stronger consumer protections.

Fiscal Note: $279,728 Governor

Senate Bill 21-153 DOC Offender ID Assistance Program Senators James Coleman (D) and John Cooke (R)

Formalizes and makes universal a program to insure those being released from Colorado Department of corrections have a valid ID.

Fiscal Note: None Signed into law

House Bill 21-1109 Broadband Board Changes to Expand Broadband Services Representative (D) and (R) and Senator Jeff Bridges (D)

Changes board composition, requires development of an RFP for deploying broadband into underserved areas and to give additional consideration to proposed projects that would include discounted service for low income households.

Fiscal Note: $202,000 cash funds Governor

House Bill 21-1289 Funding for Broadband Deployment Representatives Chris Kennedy (D) and Mark Baisley (R) and Senators Jeff Bridges (D) and Kevin Priola(R)

Adds $75 million- one time to Broadband Office: $35million to Digital Inclusion Grant Fund in OIT; $35 million to the Broadband Stimulus Account in the Broadband Admin Fund in DORA; $5 million to the Interconnectivity Grant Program Fund in DOLA.

Fiscal Note: One time $75 million Governor

7 of 9 JOB QUALITY

Senate Bill 21-039 Elimination of Subminimum Wage Employment Senator Rachel Zenzinger (D) and Dennis Hisey (R) and Representative Yadira Caraveo (D) and (R)

Phased movement away from allowed sub-minimum wage for certain employment programs for people with disabilities in favor of supported employment.

Fiscal Note: $550,672 for 2021-22; $144,254 for 2022-23; $615,675 for 2023-24 Governor

Senate Bill 21-087 Agricultural Workers’ Rights Senator (D) & Representatives Karen McCormick (D) & Yadira Caraveo (D)

Removes exemption of agricultural labor from state and local minimum wage laws. Grants meal and rest breaks consistent with other employees. . Authorizes agricultural workers to have visitors at employer-provided housing. Amended to require CDLE to craft rules re overtime pay for hours in excess of 40/ week or 12/ day

Fiscal Note: $482,000 House State Affairs

Senate Bill 21-176 Protecting Opportunities and Workers Rights Act Senators Faith Winter (D) and (D)

Expands the Colorado Anti-Discrimination Act to Cover Independent Contractors, subcontractors and unpaid interns. Changes definition of “hostile work environment”, extends deadline to file claims, limits non-disclosure agreements, treats age discrimination claims same as other claims, prohibits caregiver discrimination, drop requirement to exhaust administrative remedies before filing in court. Heavily amended.

Fiscal Note: $5.2 Million Killed in House Finance

Senate Bill 21-233 CDLE Unemployment Insurance Division Enterprise Senators Robert Rodriguez (D) and Chris Hansen (D) and Representatives Adrienne Benavidez (D) and Serena Gonzalez-Gutierrez (D) 8 of 9 Amended into feasibility study re: Creating a fund to administer payments during periods of unemployment for workers whose employers are contributing into the unemployment insurance fund on their behalf, but who are not eligible to claim unemployment benefits due to immigrant status.

Fiscal Note: Cash fund under UI Enterprise fund. No general fund. $26,836,000 in 2021-2022; $34,472,000 in 2022-2023 cash fund. Amended down to $75,000 Governor

For more information, contact: Chaer Robert Skills2Compete Colorado Coordinator Colorado Center on Law and Policy [email protected]

@skill2competeco

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