NOTE: The governor signed this measure on 5/26/2014. HOUSE BILL 14-1205 BY REPRESENTATIVE(S) Ryden, Garcia, Conti, Court, Duran, Exum, Ferrandino, Fields, Gardner, Hamner, Hullinghorst, Kraft-Tharp, Lebsock, Lee, May, McCann, McLachlan, Melton, Mitsch Bush, Moreno, Navarro, Pabon, Peniston, Primavera, Rosenthal, Salazar, Schafer, Szabo, Vigil, Williams, Young, Becker, Fischer, Foote, Gerou, Ginal, Kagan, Labuda, Pettersen, Rankin, Tyler, Buckner; also SENATOR(S) Crowder, Steadman, Aguilar, Heath, Herpin, Kefalas, Kerr, King, Newell, Nicholson, Rivera, Roberts, Tochtrop, Todd, Ulibarri, Zenzinger, Carroll. Concerning the veterans assistance grant program. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Colorado: SECTION 1. In Colorado Revised Statutes, add 28-5-712 as follows: 28-5-712. Veterans assistance grant program - created - rules - fund - repeal. (1) There is hereby created in the division of veterans affairs the veterans assistance grant program, referred to in this section as the "program", to provide moneys to nonprofit organizations and governmental agencies that provide services to ensure the health and well-being of veterans of the United States armed forces who live in Colorado, including but not limited to: (a) Mental health services; (b) Family counseling services; (c) Job training; (d) Employment; and (e) Housing for homeless veterans. (2) On or before September 1, 2014, the adjutant general, in consultation with the board of veterans affairs created in section 28-5-702, shall adopt rules for the administration of the program, including but not limited to: (a) Criteria for determining which nonprofit organizations and governmental agencies are eligible to receive moneys from the program; and (b) Procedures by which eligible nonprofit organizations and governmental agencies may apply for and receive moneys from the program. (3) (a) There is hereby created the veterans assistance grant program cash fund, referred to in this section as the "fund", which shall consist of: (I) Moneys received by the division as gifts, grants, or donations pursuant to paragraph (d) of this subsection (3); and (II) Such moneys as are appropriated to the fund by the general assembly. (b) The moneys in the fund are subject to annual appropriation to the division by the general assembly for the direct and indirect costs associated with implementing the program. The state treasurer may invest any moneys in the fund not expended for the purposes of this section as provided by law. The state treasurer shall credit any interest and income derived from the deposit and investment of moneys in the fund to the fund. Any unexpended and unencumbered moneys in the fund at the end of a fiscal year remain in the fund and shall not be credited to any other fund; except that, any moneys remaining in the fund on September 1, 2024, shall be credited to the general fund. (c) The division may expend not more than five percent of the moneys annually appropriated to the fund to pay the administrative expenses incurred by the division in administering the program. (d) The division is authorized to accept gifts, grants, and donations for the purposes described in this section. The division shall transfer each such gift, grant, and donation to the state treasurer, who shall credit the same to the fund. (4) In its annual report before the house and senate committees of reference pursuant to section 2-7-203, C.R.S., the department of military and veterans affairs shall include information describing the grants awarded through the program during the preceding year. (5) This section is repealed, effective September 1, 2024. Before repeal, the department of regulatory agencies shall review the program as described in section 24-34-104, C.R.S. SECTION 2. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 24-34-104, add (55) (h) as follows: 24-34-104. General assembly review of regulatory agencies and functions for termination, continuation, or reestablishment. (55) The following agencies, functions, or both, terminate on September 1, 2024: (h) The veterans assistance grant program, created by section 28-5-712, C.R.S. SECTION 3. Appropriation - adjustments to 2014 long bill. For the implementation of this act, appropriations made in the annual general appropriation act to the department of military and veterans affairs for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2014, are adjusted as follows: The appropriation to the division of veterans affairs is increased by 0.4 FTE. SECTION 4. 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 6, 2014, if adjournment sine die is on May 7, 2014); 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 2014 and, in such case, will take effect on the date of the official declaration of the vote thereon by the governor. ________________________________________________________ Mark Ferrandino Morgan Carroll SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE PRESIDENT OF OF REPRESENTATIVES THE SENATE ____________________________ ____________________________ Marilyn Eddins Cindi L. Markwell CHIEF CLERK OF THE HOUSE SECRETARY OF OF REPRESENTATIVES THE SENATE APPROVED________________________________________ _________________________________________ John W. Hickenlooper GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF COLORADO