HOUSE 3rd Reading Unamended April 30, 2015 HOUSE Amended 2nd Reading April 29, 2015First Regular Session Seventieth General Assembly STATE OF COLORADO REENGROSSED This Version Includes All Amendments Adopted in the House of Introduction LLS NO. 15-0960.01 Kristen Forrestal x4217HOUSE BILL 15-1336 HOUSE SPONSORSHIP Lee and Fields, SENATE SPONSORSHIP Crowder, House Committees Senate Committees Business Affairs and Labor Appropriations A BILL FOR AN ACT Concerning the "Colorado Veterans' Service to Career Pilot Program", and, in connection therewith, creating a grant program through the department of labor and employment to aid work force centers in supporting veterans and their spouses seeking new employment and careers, and making an appropriation. Bill Summary (Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced and does not reflect any amendments that may be subsequently adopted. If this bill passes third reading in the house of introduction, a bill summary that applies to the reengrossed version of this bill will be available at http://www.leg.state.co.us/billsummaries.) The bill allows work force centers selected by the department of labor and employment (department) to participate in a grant program to develop and expand programs to provide work force development-related services specifically tailored for veterans and their spouses. The work force centers that apply to the grant program established by the department must submit an application that describes the current services provided, states how the grant money would allow for the expansion of services, and describes the businesses or other organizations that the work force centers will partner with to provide services. The work force centers selected by the department shall report on the program to the director of the department who shall relay the information to the state, veterans, and military affairs committees of the senate and the house of representatives. The bill appropriates $500,000 from the general fund to the department for the grant program. The program is subject to a future repeal, effective January 1, 2018. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Colorado: SECTION 1. In Colorado Revised Statutes, add article 14.3 to title 8 as follows: ARTICLE 14.3 Colorado Veterans' Service to Career Pilot Program 8-14.3-101. Short title. This article shall be known and may be cited as the "Colorado Veterans' Service to Career Pilot Program". 8-14.3-102. Definitions. As used in this article, unless the context otherwise requires: (1) "Department" means the department of labor and employment. (2) "Director" means the executive director of the department. (3) "Program" means the Colorado veterans' service to career pilot program. (4) "Spouse" means the current spouse of a veteran or the former spouse of a veteran who is currently eligible for veterans benefits. (5) "Veteran" means a veteran who has not been dishonorably discharged. (6) "Work force center" means a work force center created by a work force investment board pursuant to the "Colorado Work Force Investment Act", part 2 of article 83 of this title. 8-14.3-103. Colorado veterans' service to career pilot program. (1) One or more work force centers selected by the department pursuant to the grant program developed by the department in subsection (4) of this section shall administer the program. Work force centers selected by the department shall develop and expand programs to provide work force development-related services specifically tailored to the unique needs and talents of veterans and their spouses. The services must include: (a) Skills training; (b) Opportunities for apprenticeship or internship placements for a specified and limited time period; and (c) Opportunities for work placements with businesses or other organizations. (2) If an internship or apprenticeship is not fully funded by the employer, the employer and the work force center shall share the cost of the hourly wage or stipend for the veteran or spouse, as determined by the work force center. (3) The work force centers selected by the department are encouraged to additionally provide services that include: (a) Job fairs; (b) Mentorship opportunities with professionals; (c) Professional and industry-specific seminars; (d) Career and professional counseling; and (e) Counseling on educational and skills training opportunities available to veterans and their spouses. (4) The department shall develop a grant program so that work force centers may apply for moneys to administer the program. Each work force center that wishes to administer the grant program must submit a grant application that: (a) Describes the current services that the work force center offers; (b) States how the grant money would enable the work force center to expand its services for the purposes of the program; and (c) Describes businesses or other organizations it is partnering with to provide the necessary services. (5) In selecting work force centers to administer the program, the department shall give preference to each work force center that: (a) Is located in a community with a large military or veteran population, so that a large number of veterans and their spouses may be served efficiently; (b) Has existing programs or partnerships with businesses or organizations in the community to provide services appropriate to the program; and (c) Has the capacity to provide a wide range of work force development-related services tailored to the unique needs of veterans and their spouses. (6) Each work force center chosen to receive a grant shall use the money for direct services to veterans and spouses. The grant money shall not be used for program staff or operating costs. Each work force center chosen to receive a grant shall report on the services offered, veteran and spouse participation, and the program's success measured through gainful employment and participation in skills training or educational programs of veterans and their spouses. The reports shall be made to the director, who shall relay all information from the reports annually to the state, veterans, and military affairs committees of the house of representatives and the senate or to their successor committees. 8-14.3-104. Appropriation. For the fiscal year beginning on July 1, 2015, the general assembly shall make a one-time appropriation of five hundred thousand dollars from the general fund to the department to be used for the grant program developed by the department pursuant to section 8-14.3-103. The department may also use any moneys appropriated pursuant to this section for administrative costs incurred by the department pursuant to this section. Any unexpended and unencumbered moneys from an appropriation made pursuant to this section remain available for expenditure by the department for the grant program until December 31, 2017, without further appropriation. 8-14.3-105. Repeal of article. This article is repealed, effective January 1, 2018. SECTION 2. Appropriation. For the 2015-16 state fiscal year, $500,000 is appropriated to the department of labor and employment for use by the division of employment and training. This appropriation is from the general fund and is based on an assumption that the division will require an additional 0.5 FTE. To implement this act, the division may use this appropriation for the employment services for veterans and spouses grant program. Any moneys appropriated in this section not expended prior to July 1, 2016, remain available through December 31, 2017. SECTION 3. 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 5, 2015, if adjournment sine die is on May 6, 2015); 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 2016 and, in such case, will take effect on the date of the official declaration of the vote thereon by the governor.