SB 23-149

Senate Bill 23-149, titled "Higher Education Student Financial Aid For Youth Mentors," creates a pilot program that provides financial assistance for students who mentor youth through approved organizations. These students will receive help with tuition and other costs at public colleges in Colorado. The bill was signed into law by the governor on June 6, 2023, and it became effective on August 7, 2023. This means that eligible mentors can now apply for financial aid to support their higher education starting this fall.

Official Summary

The act creates the youth mentorship assistance grant pilot program (program) in the Colorado opportunity scholarship initiative within the department of higher education (department). The program provides financial assistance for the cost of attendance at a public higher education institution to students who provide mentorship services to an approved youth mentorship organization. The act requires the Colorado opportunity scholarship initiative advisory board to select approved youth mentorship organizations to participate in the program and administer the program. The act requires each approved youth mentorship organization to submit an annual report to the department, and the department to submit an annual report to the education committees of the senate and house of representatives, concerning the program. For the 2023-24 state fiscal year, $100,000 is appropriated from the general fund to the department for use by the Colorado opportunity scholarship initiative advisory board to implement the act. APPROVED by Governor June 6, 2023 EFFECTIVE August 7, 2023 NOTE: This act was passed without a safety clause and takes effect 90 days after sine die. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

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