NOTE: The governor signed this measure on 3/13/2015.
      
      
      SENATE BILL 15-082
      
      
      BY SENATOR(S) Marble and Hodge, Holbert, Lundberg, Woods,
      Aguilar, Carroll, Cooke, Crowder, Donovan, Garcia, Guzman, Heath,
      Jones, Kefalas, Martinez Humenik, Merrifield, Newell, Roberts, Todd,
      Ulibarri;
      also REPRESENTATIVE(S) Moreno and Lawrence, Carver, Esgar, Fields,
      Ginal, Hamner, Kraft-Tharp, Landgraf, Lebsock, Lontine, Mitsch Bush,
      Pabon, Pettersen, Priola, Rosenthal, Roupe, Ryden, Salazar, Williams,
      Young.
      
      
      Concerning the authority of counties to establish a county
           workforce development program.
      
      
      Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Colorado:
      
           SECTION 1.  In Colorado Revised Statutes, add 30-11-126 as
      follows:
      
           30-11-126.  Counties - workforce development - incentives -
      limitations - authority to exceed revenue-raising limitations - legislative
      declaration - definitions. (1) (a)  The general assembly hereby finds
      and declares that:
      
           (I)  The health, safety, and welfare of the people of
      Colorado as well as the economic development and growth of
      local communities in the state depend on the development of a
      workforce that meets the needs of employers in the state;
      
           (II)  Financial incentives are often necessary to attract
      resources for workforce development, and such incentives can be
      particularly effective when offered at the local level; and
      
           (III)  Providing such incentives stimulates economic
      development in the state and results in the creation and
      maintenance of new jobs.
      
           (b)  The general assembly further finds and declares that
      it is in the best interests of the citizens of the state and the
      economic development of local governments within the state to
      create an incentive at the county level for taxpayers to
      contribute to a program that allows counties to provide
      financial assistance to county residents to pursue
      post-secondary education or training.
      
           (2)  For purposes of this section, "county" means any county
      or city and county. 
      
           (3)  Any county may establish a workforce development
      program, to be known as "bright future Colorado", to provide
      financial assistance to county residents who pursue
      post-secondary education or training from an accredited
      institution of higher education or certified training program. A
      county workforce development program may include, but need
      not be limited to, county residents who are high school
      graduates, county residents who have successfully completed a
      high school equivalency examination, as defined in section
      22-33-102 (8.5), C.R.S., or county residents who are veterans. Any
      county that establishes a workforce development program may
      also establish a workforce development fund to accept
      contributions for the purpose of the program.
      
           (4) (a)  Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, a county
      that has established a workforce development program may
      offer an incentive, in the form of a county property tax credit or
      rebate, to a residential or commercial property owner in the
      county who contributes to a county workforce development
      fund.
      
           (b)  A county shall not make any appropriation in
      furtherance of a workforce development program or give any
      credit or rebate pursuant to this section unless the board of
      county commissioners approves the total program amount
      annually at a public budget hearing.
      
           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
      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.
      
      
      
      
      ____________________________  ____________________________
      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