HB 18-1316

HB 18-1316 is a Colorado bill that extends a grant program called WORK, which helps businesses and organizations provide training for skilled workers. The program will receive funding of $7.6 million over three years to support more training programs in partnership with industries. This extension also sets deadlines for awarding grants and requires the state workforce development council to manage the application process and make decisions about grant awards. Since the bill has been signed, it is now law and its provisions are being implemented to help businesses train their employees and address labor shortages.

Official Summary

Under current law, the department of labor and employment (department) administers the skilled worker, outreach, recruitment, and key training (WORK) grant program, which provides matching grants to eligible public or private entities or organizations that provide skilled worker training programs in partnership with industry. The general assembly is directed to appropriate $10 million for the WORK grant program for the 2015-16, 2016-17, and 2017-18 fiscal years. The bill: Extends the program for 3 fiscal years; Specifies deadlines for the department to award and issue matching grants to recipients; Requires the department to develop an expedited application process for eligible applicants; Specifies that the state work force development council (council), rather than the governor, is to appoint members to the WORK grant review committee; Authorizes the executive committee of the council to make grant award determinations; Requires the WORK grant review committee to submit its annual report to the general assembly by December 31 instead of by May 1 and to include the report as part of the Colorado talent pipeline report; Requires the general assembly to appropriate an additional $7.6 million for the WORK grant program for the 2018-19, 2019-20, and 2020-21 fiscal years, with not more than $3.3 million in any fiscal year; specifies how the money available for matching grants must be allocated, to the extent possible; and allows the department to expend in the next fiscal year, without further appropriation, money that was not expended or encumbered in the fiscal year for which it was appropriated. $1,000,000 is appropriated from the general fund to the WORK fund and is further appropriated to the department for the WORK grant program. (Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.) , Read More

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