(1) One or more work force centers selected by the department pursuant to the grant program developed by the department in subsection (4) of this section may contract with a nonprofit agency to administer the program. Work force centers selected by the department and the nonprofit agency shall develop and expand programs to provide work force development-related services specifically tailored to the unique needs and talents of eligible participants. The services may include: (a) Skills training;
Opportunities for apprenticeship or internship placements, including an internshipthat allows for direct entry of eligible participants;
Opportunities for internship placements for a specified and limited time period aslong as the tasks performed by the intern do not replace the tasks currently performed by a paid contractor or employee;
Opportunities for work placements with businesses or other organizations; and(e) Support services, as needed.
(1.5) The department shall collaborate with stakeholders and, if feasible, develop a grant application form by March 1, 2019, so that a nonprofit agency may submit one application for multiple service centers effective with the fiscal year 2019-20 grant cycle.
(2) (a) If an internship, as allowable, is not fully funded by the employer, the employer and the work force center may share the cost of the hourly wage or stipend for the eligible participant, as determined by the work force center and as permitted under state and federal law.
(b) If an eligible participant is eligible for funding through the act, this funding must be used first. If funding is not available or is limited or if the use of funds is not allowable under the act, the eligible participant may use program funding.
(3) The work force centers selected by the department and the nonprofit agency are encouraged to additionally provide services that include:
Job fairs;
Mentorship opportunities with professionals;
Professional and industry-specific seminars;
Career and professional counseling; and
Counseling on educational and skills training opportunities available to eligible participants.
(4) The department shall develop a grant process so that work force centers may apply for money to administer the program. Each work force center that wishes to administer the program must submit a grant application that:
(a) Describes the current services that the work force center offers and demonstrates that those services:
Do not duplicate services currently provided under the federal act; and
Will complement other services offered under the program;
States how the grant money would enable the work force center to expand its services for the purposes of the program;
Describes businesses or other organizations it is partnering with to provide the necessary services;
Explains how the services will be tailored or specifically marketed to any subgroupof eligible participants, including:
Eligible participants with significant barriers to employment, including those specified in 38 U.S.C. sec. 4100 et seq., such as veterans with bad conduct discharges;
Veterans experiencing homelessness;
Vietnam-era veterans who served for more than one hundred days between 1965 and 1975;
Eligible participants experiencing addiction;
National Guard and military reserve veterans; and
Veterans who are not able to enroll under the federal act or who are enrolled underthe federal act but could benefit from greater support; and
(e) Addresses any other requirements the department deems necessary.
(5) In selecting work force centers to administer the program, the department shall give preference to a work force center that:
Partners with an agency that is an integrated service and support center for veteransand their families;
Is located in the state of Colorado, in order to serve the highest number of eligibleparticipants;
Has existing programs or partnerships with businesses or organizations in the community to provide services appropriate to the program; and
Has the capacity to provide a wide range of work force development-related servicestailored to the unique needs of eligible participants.
(6) (a) Each work force center chosen to receive a grant shall use the money for direct services to eligible participants. Each work force center chosen to receive a grant shall report on the services offered; participation by each subgroup of eligible participants; the program's success measured through gainful employment and participation in skills training or educational programs of eligible participants; and any other requirements that the department deems necessary. Notwithstanding section 24-1-136 (11)(a)(I), the work force center shall submit the report to the department, which shall relay all information from the reports annually to the state, veterans, and military affairs committees of the house of representatives and the senate or to their successor committees.
The department shall develop an evaluation methodology to measure program outcomes and effectiveness prior to initiating the bid process for awarding grants. To the extent feasible, the evaluation process must enable a comparison between programs serving similar populations. It is the intent of the general assembly that the department award the grants no later than January 1, 2019. The grant period may be extended for one year subject to money appropriated by the general assembly. The grant award must include data tracking requirements that will be used to measure outcomes and effectiveness.
Any unspent money remaining in the department's fiscal year 2017-18 appropriationfor administrative costs may be used for the purpose of designing an evaluation methodology or contracting out the design. Any unspent money for direct program services remaining as of June 30, 2018, may be used by the programs in effect as of June 30, 2018, for the fiscal year starting July 1, 2018. Unspent money available at the end of each fiscal year rolls over to the next fiscal year to be spent in that year.
In analyzing and reporting on the performance data described in subsections (6)(a) and (6)(b) of this section, the department shall separately account for data pertaining to significant barriers to employment.
Source: L. 2016: Entire part added, (HB 16-1267), ch. 187, p. 660, § 1, effective August 10. L. 2018: IP(1), (1)(b), (2), (3)(e), (4), (5), and (6) amended and (1.5) added, (HB 18-1343), ch. 242, p. 1504, § 4, effective July 1.