NOTE: The governor signed this measure on 3/18/2016.
      
      
      SENATE BILL 16-022
      
      
      BY SENATOR(S) Martinez Humenik, Merrifield, Aguilar, Carroll,
      Donovan, Guzman, Heath, Hodge, Johnston, Jones, Kefalas, Kerr, Newell,
      Roberts, Steadman, Todd, Ulibarri;
      also REPRESENTATIVE(S) Pettersen, Singer, Wilson, Danielson, Duran,
      Esgar, Fields, Garnett, Ginal, Hamner, Kagan, Kraft-Tharp, Lee, Lontine,
      Melton, Mitsch Bush, Moreno, Primavera, Rosenthal, Ryden, Salazar,
      Tyler, Vigil, Williams, Winter, Young, Hullinghorst.
      
      
      Concerning removing certain limitations on the pilot program to
           mitigate cliff effect for low-income families who are
           working and receiving child care assistance.
      
      
      Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Colorado:
      
           SECTION 1.  In Colorado Revised Statutes, 26-2-808, amend (2)
      and (6) as follows:
      
           26-2-808.  Pilot program to mitigate cliff effect for low-income
      families who are working and receiving child care assistance -
      legislative declaration - county participation - fund - grant program -
      report - repeal. (2)  Beginning on April 13, 2012, the state department is
      authorized to develop and oversee a pilot program in which the Colorado
      child care assistance program as outlined in section 26-2-805 is modified
      to mitigate the cliff effect for low-income families that who are working
      and receiving child care assistance, referred to in this section as the "pilot
      program". The counties are highly encouraged to design the cliff
      mitigation to be revenue neutral for each individual family
      participating in the pilot program. County departments of social
      services may apply to the executive director or his or her designee to
      participate in the pilot program. Counties are highly encouraged to
      collaborate with early childhood councils and other community partners as
      necessary in the development of the application. Subject to available
      moneys in the fund, the executive director or his or her designee may
      select up to ten the counties that will participate in the pilot program as
      described in this section. In selecting the counties, the executive director or
      his or her designee shall seek diversity in the size of population, regional
      location, and demographic composition and shall consider whether there
      will be enough participants in each pilot program to enable researchers to
      evaluate whether the strategies used in the pilot program have addressed
      the cliff effect. The executive director or his or her designee shall enter into
      a memorandum of understanding with each county department selected to
      participate in the pilot program. The memorandum of understanding
      governs the implementation of the pilot program in that county, including
      but not limited to how the county decides which and how many families
      can participate in the pilot program.
      
           (6)  A county may participate in the pilot program on and after July
      1, 2012, and through June 30, 2019. A county shall operate the pilot
      program for at least two years; A county may apply to participate in the
      pilot program on or before January 1, 2017. except that the executive
      director or his or her designee may approve a shorter pilot
      program if the pilot program will contribute relevant data. Each
      participating county shall identify the families participating in the pilot
      program in that county. The state department shall collect all data on the
      pilot program. The state department shall evaluate and report on the pilot
      program using measurable outcomes.
      
           SECTION 2.  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
      
      
      
      
      
      
      ____________________________  ____________________________
      Effie Ameen                            Marilyn Eddins
      SECRETARY OF                 CHIEF CLERK OF THE HOUSE
      THE SENATE                         OF REPRESENTATIVES
      
      
      
      
                  APPROVED________________________________________
      
      
      
      
      
                                    _________________________________________
                                    John W. Hickenlooper
                                    GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF COLORADO