NOTE: This measure became law without the governor's signature on 6/6/2015. SENATE BILL 15-290 BY SENATOR(S) Todd, Holbert, Kerr, Aguilar, Carroll, Heath, Johnston, Jones, Merrifield, Newell; also REPRESENTATIVE(S) Wilson, Court, Fields, Ginal, Hamner, Kraft-Tharp, Lee, Lontine, McCann, Mitsch Bush, Moreno, Pabon, Pettersen, Primavera, Rosenthal, Ryden, Salazar, Williams, Windholz, Young, Hullinghorst. Concerning creation of the Colorado student leaders institute, 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 article 44.3 to title 24 as follows: ARTICLE 44.3 Colorado Student Leaders Institute Pilot Program 24-44.3-101. Legislative declaration. (1) The general assembly finds that: (a) The state is committed to increasing the number of students who graduate from a Colorado high school, enroll in a Colorado institution of higher education, and graduate with a postsecondary credential in two to four academic years; (b) Several states have implemented a summer residential education program for high school students who demonstrate exceptional intellectual curiosity, creativity, and maturity. While participating in the summer program, students attend classes, lectures, seminars, concerts, art exhibits, theatrical performances, and films and have the opportunity to learn independently and from distinguished faculty, staff members, and guest lecturers. (c) The summer residential education programs implemented in other states have: (I) Successfully developed a civic voice among the states' best students so that they graduate from high school as civic participants; (II) Prepared motivated students to participate in a competitive workforce; (III) Helped to create young leaders who are energized to find solutions for the pressing issues facing their states; and (IV) Motivated students to remain in their home states for their postsecondary education and careers; and (d) A high percentage of the students who have participated in the summer residential education programs have subsequently enrolled in postsecondary education in their home states and earned a baccalaureate degree in four years. (2) The general assembly finds, therefore, that it is in the best interests of the state to establish the Colorado student leaders institute as a pilot program using the model of summer residential education programs implemented in other states and to appropriate state moneys to ensure the successful operations of the institute for the benefit of Colorado high school students. (3) The general assembly further finds that, for purposes of section 17 of article IX of the state constitution, the Colorado student leaders institute is an accountable program that assists students in meeting state academic standards and may therefore receive funding from the state education fund created in section 17 (4) of article IX of the state constitution. 24-44.3-102. Definitions. As used in this article, unless the context otherwise requires: (1) "Executive board" means the executive board of the Colorado student leaders institute established pursuant to section 24-44.3-104. (2) "Host institution" means the institution of higher education that the executive board contracts with pursuant to section 24-44.3-104 to operate the institute. (3) "Institute" means the Colorado student leaders institute created in section 24-44.3-103. 24-44.3-103. Colorado student leaders institute - created - applications. (1) There is created in the office of the lieutenant governor the Colorado student leaders institute to operate as a pilot program through the summer of 2019. The institute is a competitive residential summer academic program for students who are entering tenth or eleventh grade in the coming fall semester. The institute operates for four weeks each summer during which time students who are accepted to the institute attend college-level classes, lectures, and seminars as well as enrichment activities, including concerts and theatrical productions. Each student who is accepted to the institute is encouraged to donate up to four hundred dollars to the institute to assist in meeting operational costs. Subject to available appropriations, up to one hundred students may annually participate in the institute. (2) (a) The institute shall annually offer classes in at least the following two areas: (I) Science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics; and (II) International social studies. (b) The institute shall annually provide enrichment activities for students who participate in the institute, which must include but need not be limited to activities relating to visual expression and music appreciation. (c) In addition to participating in classes and enrichment activities, students who participate in the institute must: (I) Complete a history research project for a competition held during the term of the institute; and (II) Complete a public service practicum that includes a final report of findings and recommendations to the general assembly for legislative action. (3) (a) (I) To apply to participate in the institute: (A) A student who is enrolled in a public school that is not a charter school must be nominated by the superintendent of the school district in which the student is enrolled; and (B) A student who is enrolled in a charter school or in a private school must be nominated by the principal of the school. (II) A student who is participating in a nonpublic home-based educational program as described in section 22-33-104.5, C.R.S., may apply without having been nominated. (b) To apply to participate in the institute, a student must submit an application to the executive board that is in the form and meets the requirements established by the host institution. If the applying student is enrolled in a public school, the student must submit a copy of his or her individual career and academic plan, as described in section 22-2-136, C.R.S., with the application. (4) The host institution shall award three hours of postsecondary academic credit to each student who successfully completes the institute. The school district or high school in which each student is enrolled is encouraged to apply the academic credit hours that a student receives for completing the institute toward completing the student's high school graduation requirements. 24-44.3-104. Colorado student leaders institute - executive board - duties. (1) An executive board appointed pursuant to subsection (2) of this section shall oversee the operations of the institute, including contracting with the host institution and annually selecting students to participate in the institute. (2) (a) The executive board consists of eleven members as follows: (I) The governor, with the consent of the senate, shall appoint eight persons to serve as members of the executive board as follows: (A) Two persons who are employed as educators in high schools in Colorado, one of whom is employed in a rural school district; (B) Two persons who are employed as teaching faculty or administrators in an institution of higher education in Colorado; and (C) Four persons from the community who have interest or experience in education; and (II) The commissioner of education or his or her designee, the executive director of the department of higher education or his or her designee, and the chief executive officer of the host institution or his or her designee shall serve as members of the executive board. (b) The appointed members of the executive board serve two-year terms and may be appointed to successive two-year terms; except that, of the members first appointed, the governor shall select four members to serve one-year terms. The appointed members of the executive board serve at the pleasure of the governor. If a vacancy arises on the executive board, the governor shall appoint a person to fill the vacancy for the remainder of the term. (c) The members of the executive board serve without compensation and without reimbursement for expenses. (d) The governor shall appoint the initial members to the executive board as soon as possible after the effective date of this section. In making appointments, the governor shall attempt to appoint persons who are representative of the gender and racial diversity within the state and who represent areas throughout the state. (3) The executive board has the following duties and powers: (a) The executive board shall oversee and direct the operations of the institute, including reviewing the student applications received, annually selecting students to participate in the institute, and annually selecting the faculty and courses for the institute, taking into account the recommendations of the host institution. In reviewing applications and selecting students to participate in the institute, the executive board shall ensure that: (I) At least fifty percent of the students selected to attend the institute each year: (A) Are eligible for free or reduced-cost lunch pursuant to the federal "National School Lunch Act", 42 U.S.C. sec. 1751 et seq.; or (B) Would be the first generation in their immediate families to attend an institute of higher education; (II) The students who are selected reside in areas throughout the state; are representative of the gender, ethnic, racial, and socio-economic diversity of the state; and are representative of the educational program options available throughout the state; and (III) The students who are selected demonstrate, through their individual career and academic plans for students enrolled in public schools, a commitment to continuing in postsecondary education after high school graduation. (b) (I) The executive board shall issue a request for proposals for a public or private institution of higher education to host the institute. The executive board shall select and enter into a contract on behalf of the institute with the public or private institution of higher education in accordance with the applicable provisions of the "Procurement Code", articles 101 to 112 of this title. The executive board may enter into a multi-year contract with a public or private institution of higher education, subject to annual review and renewal. (II) The contract to host the institute must require the host institution, at a minimum, to provide the following services in managing the institute: (A) Establish requirements for and create the form of the applications that students submit to participate in the institute and establish the timelines for submitting applications and selecting participants; (B) Review applications received from students and recommend participants to the executive board; (C) Annually solicit educators to participate as faculty for the institute and annually recommend to the executive board faculty and courses for the institute; (D) Provide space for classes, lectures, and seminars; and (E) Provide living and eating facilities for students who participate in the institute. (c) The executive board may appoint an advisory board consisting of persons in the community who are supportive of education to assist the executive board in marketing the institute and soliciting public and private gifts, grants, and donations for the institute. Any persons appointed to an advisory board pursuant to this paragraph (c) serve without compensation and without reimbursement for expenses. (d) Beginning in the 2017 regular legislative session, the executive board shall annually report to the education committees of the house of representatives and the senate, or any successor committees, the executive board's progress and success in implementing the institute. The executive board must, at a minimum, report the success of the institute as measured by the enrollment and progress of institute alumni in postsecondary educational programs. 24-44.3-105. Colorado student leaders institute - funding - cash fund created. (1) The general assembly shall annually appropriate moneys to the institute to pay the direct and indirect costs that the executive board incurs in operating the institute, including costs relating to the host institution and stipends for the institute faculty members. (2) (a) In addition to the amount appropriated pursuant to subsection (1) of this section, the executive board, with the assistance of an advisory board if appointed, may solicit, accept, and expend public or private gifts, grants, or donations to implement the institute. The executive board shall transmit any moneys that it receives pursuant to this paragraph (a) and any moneys it receives from participating students to the state treasurer. The state treasurer shall deposit the moneys in the Colorado student leaders institute cash fund, referred to in this section as the "cash fund", which is created in the state treasury. Annual operation of the institute is conditional upon receiving at least forty thousand dollars in gifts, grants, or donations by June 1 of each year. (b) The moneys in the cash fund are continuously appropriated to the executive board for the direct and indirect costs incurred in implementing the institute. The state treasurer may invest as provided by law any moneys in the cash fund that are not expended for the purposes of this article. The state treasurer shall credit to the cash fund all interest and income derived from the investment and deposit of moneys in the cash fund. Any unexpended and unencumbered moneys remaining in the cash fund at the end of a fiscal year must remain in the cash fund and shall not be credited to another fund; except that the state treasurer shall credit any unexpended and unencumbered moneys remaining in the fund as of June 30, 2019, to the state education fund created in section 17 (4) of article IX of the state constitution. 24-44.3-106. Repeal of article. This article is repealed, effective July 1, 2019. SECTION 2. Appropriation. (1) For the 2015-16 state fiscal year, $218,825 cash funds is appropriated to the department of education. This appropriation is from the state education fund created in section 17 (4) (a) of article IX of the state constitution. To implement this act, the department may use this appropriation to transfer moneys to the office of the lieutenant governor for the Colorado student leaders institute pilot program. (2) For the 2015-16 state fiscal year, $218,825 is appropriated to the office of the lieutenant governor. This appropriation is from reappropriated funds received from the department of education under subsection (1) of this section and is based on an assumption that the office will require an additional 1.0 FTE. 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. ____________________________ ____________________________ Bill L. Cadman Dickey Lee Hullinghorst 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