NOTE: The governor signed this measure on 4/6/2012.
      
      
      SENATE BILL 12-066
      
      
      BY SENATORS Nicholson, Aguilar, Boyd, Carroll, Foster, Giron, Heath,
      Hodge, Hudak, Jahn, Morse, Newell, Steadman, Tochtrop, Williams S.,
      Shaffer B.;
      also REPRESENTATIVES Gardner B., Barker, Conti, Fields, Fischer,
      Kefalas, Kerr A., Kerr J., Labuda, Levy, Ryden, Stephens, Summers, Todd,
      Tyler, Wilson, Young.
      
      
      Concerning expanding those persons eligible as guardians in the
           guardianship assistance program to include persons
           ascribed by the family as having a family-like relationship
           with the child.
       
      
      Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Colorado:
      
           SECTION 1.  In Colorado Revised Statutes, amend 26-5-110 as
      follows:
      
           26-5-110.  Guardianship assistance program - rules. (1)  There is
      hereby established a kinship guardianship assistance program in the state
      department, referred to in this section as the "program". Assistance from the
      program shall be made available to grandparents, and other persons related
      to a child relatives, persons ascribed by the family as having a
      family-like relationship with the child, or persons who have had
      a prior significant relationship with the child who:
      
           (a)  Are committed to the child's or children's permanency;
      
           (b)  Were the foster parent or parents of the child or children at the
      time they assumed guardianship; and
      
           (c)  Have assumed guardianship of the child or children.
      
           (2)  The state department may shall promulgate rules for the
      implementation of this section.
      
           (3)  Notwithstanding any provision of this section to the contrary, the
      state department shall not implement the kinship guardianship assistance
      program unless section 3 of Senate Bill 09-245 is enacted in 2009 and
      becomes law or until such time as the general assembly otherwise
      appropriates sufficient moneys for the implementation of the program,
      whichever occurs first.
      
           SECTION 2.  Act subject to petition - effective date. This act
      takes effect at 12:01 a.m. on the day following the expiration of the
      ninety-day period after final adjournment of the general assembly (August
      8, 2012, if adjournment sine die is on May 9, 2012); except that, if a
      referendum petition is filed pursuant to section 1 (3) of article V of the state
      constitution against this act or an item, section, or part of this act within
      such period, then the act, item, section, or part will not take effect unless
      approved by the people at the general election to be held in November 2012
      and, in such case, will take effect on the date of the official declaration of
      the vote thereon by the governor.
      
      
      
      
      ____________________________  ____________________________
      Brandon C. Shaffer                      Frank McNulty
      PRESIDENT OF                     SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE
      THE SENATE                         OF REPRESENTATIVES
      
      
      
      
      
      
      ____________________________  ____________________________
      Cindi L. Markwell                      Marilyn Eddins
      SECRETARY OF                 CHIEF CLERK OF THE HOUSE
      THE SENATE                         OF REPRESENTATIVES
      
      
      
      
                  APPROVED________________________________________
      
      
      
      
      
                                    _________________________________________
                                    John W. Hickenlooper
                                    GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF COLORADO