HB 18-1437

HB 18-1437, a Colorado bill that has been signed into law, changes how costs for college-level courses are handled in correctional facilities. Previously, inmates had to pay all the costs themselves unless they received financial help from specific programs or grants. Now, the new law allows these costs to be covered by private donations, local funding, federal grants, scholarships, or a combination of these sources, not just by the inmate. This means that more inmates could potentially afford to take college courses while in prison, which can help them gain skills and improve their chances of successful reintegration into society after release.

Official Summary

Under current law, the correctional education program in the department of corrections is required to provide every person in a correctional facility who demonstrates college-level aptitudes with the opportunity to participate in college-level academic programs that may be offered within the correctional facility. However, unless financial assistance for costs of the programs is provided through certain programs or through private or federally funded grants or scholarships, costs associated with such college-level academic programs must be borne entirely by the person participating in the program. The bill removes this stipulation concerning costs and states instead that such costs may be borne through private, local, or federally funded gifts, grants, donations, or scholarships, or by such persons themselves, or through any combination of such funding. (Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.) , Read More

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