NOTE: The governor signed this measure on 6/5/2014. SENATE BILL 14-015 BY SENATOR(S) Kerr, Aguilar, Heath, Jones, Newell, Nicholson, Schwartz, Steadman, Todd, Ulibarri, Zenzinger; also REPRESENTATIVE(S) Young and Melton, Buckner, Fields, Gardner, Gerou, Ginal, Hamner, Hullinghorst, Labuda, Mitsch Bush, Ryden, Schafer, Vigil. Concerning the creation of a hospitality career grant program, and, in connection therewith, making an appropriation. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Colorado: SECTION 1. In Colorado Revised Statutes, add part 2 to article 46.3 of title 24 as follows: PART 2 HOSPITALITY CAREER SECONDARY EDUCATION GRANT PROGRAM 24-46.3-201. Legislative declaration. (1) The general assembly hereby finds and declares that the hospitality industry: (a) Plays a vital role in Colorado's economy; (b) Is diverse, with employers throughout the state; (c) Employs more than two hundred forty thousand people in Colorado; (d) Produces more than ten billion dollars in annual sales in Colorado; (e) Creates sales that generate more than six hundred million dollars in state and local taxes annually; and (f) Is an essential element of Colorado's economy. (2) Therefore, the general assembly finds and declares that developing a hospitality career secondary education grant program for Colorado citizens will: (a) Increase the number of Colorado citizens accessing postsecondary education; (b) Increase the number of Colorado citizens completing degrees and other credentials; (c) Decrease the need for remediation at the postsecondary level; (d) Increase entry into employment and increase wages over time; and (e) Create better transitions in educational programs for students in the hospitality career pathway from high school to college. 24-46.3-202. Definitions. As used in this part 2, unless the context otherwise requires: (1) "Department" means the department of labor and employment created in section 24-1-121, C.R.S. (2) "Fund" means the hospitality career secondary education fund created in section 24-46.3-204. (3) "Grant program" means the hospitality career secondary education grant program established in section 24-46.3-203. (4) "Hospitality industry" means Colorado restaurants, hotels, and attractions. (5) "Hospitality program" means a hospitality secondary education program that, at a minimum: (a) Includes a curriculum that teaches career- and college-readiness skills that are pertinent to the hospitality industry; (b) Offers secondary-level students the opportunity to work in the hospitality industry and earn wages while in the program; (c) Offers hospitality industry-validated certificates of completion; (d) Is approved by the office in the Colorado community college system that administers high school career and technical education programs for use in Colorado high schools; (e) Has been administered in at least one Colorado high school for a minimum of three years; (f) Is endorsed and supported by at least one Colorado and one national hospitality trade association; and (g) Upon successful completion, will result in the issuance of a certificate to the student that articulates credits for postsecondary education. 24-46.3-203. Hospitality career secondary education grant program - established. (1) There is established in the department the hospitality career secondary education grant program. The purpose of the grant program is to accelerate growth and improve and expand the development of hospitality programs. The department shall administer the grant program through the acceptance and review of applications submitted pursuant to this section and the awarding of grants. The department shall develop application guidelines and establish deadlines for the grant program. (2) The department shall award the first grants of the grant program for the 2015-16 academic year, so long as moneys are appropriated to the cash fund created for implementation of the grant program. Grants must be awarded annually thereafter, based on available appropriations. (3) A hospitality program may apply for a grant from the grant program based on the guidelines and deadlines established by the department in subsection (1) of this section. To be eligible for a grant, a hospitality program shall include, at a minimum, the following information in its application: (a) A description of how the grant will be used; (b) A description of the hospitality program, including the number of years it has been in operation and the high schools in which it has been implemented; (c) A nonduplicative, clearly articulated course progression from one level of instruction to the next; (d) A description of the available opportunities for students to earn postsecondary credit; (e) Verification of industry-validated credentials; (f) Demonstration of partnerships with hospitality industry members where students have the opportunity to earn income; and (g) Verification that the hospitality program aligns with established Colorado academic standards. (4) The department shall disperse all of the moneys appropriated in a given year to the fund to applicants that are approved for a hospitality secondary education grant. 24-46.3-204. Hospitality career secondary education fund - creation. (1) There is created in the state treasury the hospitality secondary education fund, consisting of any moneys that may be appropriated to the fund by the general assembly. The moneys in the fund are subject to annual appropriation by the general assembly to the department for the direct and indirect costs associated with implementing this part 2. The state treasurer may invest any moneys in the fund not expended for the purpose of this part 2 as provided by law. The state treasurer shall credit all interest and income derived from the investment and deposit of moneys in the fund to the fund. (2) The department may expend up to two percent of the moneys annually appropriated from the fund to offset the costs incurred in implementing this part 2. (3) Any unexpended and unencumbered moneys remaining in the fund at the end of a fiscal year remain in the fund and shall not be credited or transferred to the general fund or another fund. 24-46.3-205. Reporting. On or before December 15, 2016, and on or before each December 15 thereafter, the department shall prepare an annual report on the grant program that includes, but is not limited to, the number and amounts of grants awarded, a list of hospitality programs that received grants, and the total number of students impacted through hospitality programs that received grants for the grant cycle most recently completed. The department shall provide a copy of the report to members of the business, labor, economic, and workforce development committee of the house of representatives and the business, labor, and technology committee of the senate, or any successor committees. SECTION 2. Appropriation. In addition to any other appropriation, there is hereby appropriated, out of any moneys in the general fund, not otherwise appropriated, to the department of labor and employment, for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2014, the sum of $56,665 and 0.5 FTE, or so much thereof as may be necessary, to be allocated to the division of employment and training for the implementation of this act. SECTION 3. Safety clause. The general assembly hereby finds, determines, and declares that this act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, and safety. ____________________________ ____________________________ Morgan Carroll Mark Ferrandino 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