The act amends the composition of the Colorado opportunity scholarship initiative advisory board.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)
The bill creates 2 emergency relief grant programs to allow the state to allocate and quickly distribute money to existing licensed and start-up child care providers (providers) in Colorado. The child care sustainability grant program (sustainability program) is created in the department of human services (department). The purpose of the sustainability program is to provide financial support to licensed providers in Colorado, including those that are in danger of closing as a result of the COVID-19 public health emergency. The department shall develop a formula, criteria, and timeline to allocate grants to eligible providers. A grant award from the sustainability program must range from at least $500 to no more than $35,000. A licensed provider's child care capacity is a key criteria in determining the amount of the grant award. The department shall determine grant award amounts for eligible providers as soon as possible, but no later than January 31, 2021, and distribute the money for grant awards no later than February 28, 2021. The emerging and expanding child care grant program (expansion program) is created in the department. The purpose of the expansion program is to expand access and availability of licensed providers throughout Colorado. The intent of the expansion program is to provide financial assistance to new or existing providers. A grant award from the expansion program must range from at least $3,000 to no more than $50,000. A grant award from the expansion program may be used for costs associated with expansion of an existing provider or to assist with the creation of a new child care program. Costs may include staff training, background check fees, cleaning supplies, educational supplies, and capital or facility improvement costs. The department shall begin the grant award process on or before January 31, 2021. The bill makes an appropriation. (Note: Italicized words indicate new material added to the original summary; dashes through words indicate deletions from the original summary.) (Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.)
The act requires the state board of education (state board) to stagger the review and revision of the preschool through elementary and secondary education standards as follows: On or before July 1, 2022, and on or before July 1 every 6 years thereafter, the state board shall review and revise approximately 1/3 of the preschool through elementary and secondary education standards; On or before July 1, 2024, and on or before July 1 every 6 years thereafter, the state board shall review and revise approximately 1/3 of the preschool through elementary and secondary education standards; and On or before July 1, 2026, and on or before July 1 every 6 years thereafter, the state board shall review and revise the remaining approximately 1/3 of the preschool through elementary and secondary education standards. The state board shall ensure that all preschool through elementary and secondary education standards are reviewed one time every 6 years. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)
The governing board of an institution of higher education may, but is not required to, require a national assessment test score as an eligibility criterion for admission for first-time freshman students who graduate from high school in 2021. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)
The act allows a homeless youth who is 15 years of age or older (youth) to consent to receiving shelter or shelter services from a licensed homeless youth shelter. The state department of human services shall promulgate rules for licensed homeless youth shelters to follow when a youth consents to receiving shelter or shelter services. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)
Making Higher Education Attainable Interim Study Committee. The bill creates the improve student success innovation pilot program (pilot program) in the department of higher education (department) to implement a program designed to incentivize collaboration among multiple institutions of higher education to improve student success and increase the number of students who complete postsecondary education. When selecting a program or programs for the pilot program, the department and commission on higher education (commission) shall prioritize program proposals that address common barriers to student success and the completion of postsecondary education, as well as other factors. The department and commission shall submit an annual report to the joint budget committee of the general assembly and the education committees of the house of representatives and the senate regarding the efficacy of the program. The general assembly shall appropriate $20 million each year for the 2020-21, 2021-22, and 2022-23 fiscal years, from the general fund to the department to distribute to the state institutions of higher education selected to implement their projects. The pilot program repeals on July 1, 2024. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)
To protect bee and other pollinator populations throughout the state, the bill requires the commissioner of agriculture (commissioner), on or before March 1, 2021, to adopt rules to regulate the use of neonicotinoid pesticides and sulfoximine pesticides by classifying specific neonicotinoid pesticides and sulfoximine pesticides as restricted-use pesticides. The commissioner's rules must exempt from the restricted use of the pesticides their use as indoor pest control, personal care, and pet care products; however, the commissioner, thereafter, may amend the rules to disallow their use as indoor pest control, personal care, or pet care products if the commissioner determines that another commercially available product that is not a neonicotinoid pesticide or a sulfoximine pesticide is as or more effective than a neonicotinoid pesticide or a sulfoximine pesticide when used in accordance with the product's label directions for the same indoor pest control, personal care, or pet care use or uses. The commissioner's rules regarding the restricted use of neonicotinoid pesticides and sulfoximine pesticides must not apply to commercial applicators, limited commercial applicators, public applicators, qualified supervisors, certified operators, and private applicators. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)
Section 1 of the bill requires a department to annually submit a report of all unfunded programs (report) to staff of legislative council (staff) along with a SMART Act report. An "unfunded program" is defined as any program, service, study, or other function that a department is required or permitted by law to undertake, but for which the department has not received an appropriation or money from any other source for the last 6 fiscal years. Staff will provide the report to the applicable SMART Act joint committee of reference and a compilation of the reports to the statutory revision committee. The department is required to include the report in its SMART Act presentation to the joint committee of reference. Section 2 authorizes the statutory revision committee to recommend legislation to repeal an unfunded program included in the report.(Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.)
The bill requires the Colorado supreme court to issue a license to practice law and the department of education to issue a teacher license if in either situation, the license applicant otherwise meets the licensing requirements and: The person has a current and valid employment authorization document issued by the United States citizenship and immigration services; The person is lawfully present in the United States; and The person was issued a social security number by the United States social security administration ; or The person is a United States citizen, a legal permanent resident, or is otherwise lawfully present in the United States. (Note: Italicized words indicate new material added to the original summary; dashes through words indicate deletions from the original summary.) (Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.)
The bill directs the state board of education (state board) to review, during the first review of standards performed after July 1, 2021, standards relating to the knowledge and skills that a student should acquire in school to ensure that the financial literacy standards for ninth through twelfth grade include an understanding of the costs associated with obtaining a postsecondary degree or credential and how to budget for and manage the payment for those costs, including managing student loan debt; understanding credit cards and credit card debt; and understanding retirement plans, including investments and retirement benefits. The bill adds to the resources contained in the existing financial literacy resource bank created and maintained by the state board specific references relating to assessing the affordability of higher education and how to budget and pay for higher education, as well as how to manage student loan debt; understanding credit cards and credit card debt; and understanding retirement plans, including investments and retirement benefits. Under current law, school districts are encouraged to adopt a financial literacy curriculum and to make completion of a course in financial literacy a graduation requirement. The bill adds assessing the affordability of higher education and how to budget and pay for higher education, as well as how to manage student loan debt, to the suggested financial literacy curriculum, as well as familiarizing students with the process and required forms to apply for financial aid, grants, and scholarships. (Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.)
