(1) Subject to the provisions of subsection (3) of this section, the department, in consultation with the department of natural resources, shall develop and the state board shall adopt a state plan for environmental education. At a minimum, the state plan for environmental education shall address strengthening the reach and coordination of environmental education in public schools and providing to educators professional development in environmental education. The department shall ensure that the state plan for environmental education complies with any requirements imposed by federal law or by regulations adopted by the federal department of education.
(2) (a) The department is authorized to seek, accept, and expend public or private gifts, grants, or donations for the implementation of this section; except that the department may not accept a gift, grant, or donation for the implementation of this section that is subject to conditions that are inconsistent with this section or any other law of the state. The department shall transmit all private and public moneys received through gifts, grants, or donations to the state treasurer, who shall credit the same to the state environmental education fund, which fund is hereby created and referred to in this section as the "fund". The moneys in the fund are continuously appropriated to the department for the direct and indirect costs associated with implementing this section.
(b) Any moneys in the fund not expended for the purpose of this section may be invested by the state treasurer as provided by law. All interest and income derived from the investment and deposit of moneys in the fund shall be credited to the fund. Any unexpended and unencumbered moneys remaining in the fund at the end of a fiscal year shall remain in the fund and shall not be credited or transferred to the general fund or another fund.
(3) The department shall implement the provisions of subsection (1) of this section only if the department receives public or private gifts, grants, or donations in an amount it deems sufficient to offset the costs incurred in creating and adopting the state plan for environmental education.
Source: L. 2010: Entire section added, (HB 10-1131), ch. 332, p. 1532, § 4, effective May 27.
Cross references: For the legislative declaration in the 2010 act adding this section, see section 1 of chapter 332, Session Laws of Colorado 2010.