(1) (a) On and after July 1, 2016, the rights, powers, duties, and functions regarding vocational rehabilitation programs, including the business enterprise program, vested in the department of human services prior to that date are transferred from the department of human services to the department of labor and employment by a type 2 transfer, as such transfer is defined in the "Administrative Organization Act of 1968", article 1 of title 24, C.R.S.
By July 1, 2016, the department of labor and employment shall execute, administer,perform, and enforce the rights, powers, duties, functions, and obligations regarding vocational rehabilitation programs, including the business enterprise program, that are transferred to the department pursuant to this article.
By July 1, 2016, the officers and employees of the department of human servicesprior to that date whose duties and functions concerned the duties and functions transferred to the department pursuant to this article and whose employment in the department is deemed necessary by the executive director to carry out the purposes of this article are transferred to the department and become employees of the department. The employees retain all rights to the personnel system and retirement benefits pursuant to the laws of this state, and their services are deemed to be continuous. All transfers and any abolishment of positions in the state personnel system shall be made and processed in accordance with state personnel system laws and regulations.
By July 1, 2016, all items of property, real and personal, including office furnitureand fixtures, books, documents, and records of the department of human services prior to that date pertaining to the duties and functions transferred to the department pursuant to this article are transferred to the department and become the property of the department.
(I) On and after July 1, 2016, whenever the functions of the department of humanservices or the division of vocational rehabilitation in the department of human services relating to vocational rehabilitation programs or services, including the business enterprise program, are referred to or designated by a contract or other document in connection with the duties and functions transferred to the department pursuant to this article, the reference or designation is deemed to apply to the department.
(II) All contracts entered into by the department of human services prior to July 1, 2016, in connection with the duties and functions transferred to the department pursuant to this article are hereby validated, with the department succeeding to all the rights and obligations of the contracts. Any appropriations of funds from prior fiscal years open to satisfy obligations incurred pursuant to those contracts are transferred and appropriated to the department for the payment of those obligations.
(2) (a) Starting on July 1, 2016, the department shall begin working with partners, stakeholders, and respective staff from both departments to transition vocational rehabilitation programs, including the business enterprise program, from the department of human services to the department of labor and employment. In addition to preparing and presenting a detailed transition plan as required by paragraph (b) of this subsection (2), starting in September 2015, the department shall present quarterly reports to the joint budget committee on the status of the transition of vocational rehabilitation programs, including the business enterprise program, from the department of human services to the department of labor and employment.
(b) By December 1, 2015, the department of human services and the department of labor and employment shall prepare a detailed transition plan, including statutory and budgetary recommendations, to be presented to the joint budget committee and the oversight standing committees for each department on any additional statutory changes that may be necessary to effectuate the transfer of vocational rehabilitation programs, including the business enterprise program, to the department of labor and employment and ensure the protection of vocational rehabilitation clients. In developing the transition plan, the departments shall include input and recommendations from interested stakeholders, including the state rehabilitation council.
Source: L. 2015: Entire article added with relocations, (SB 15-239), ch. 160, p. 483, § 2, effective May 8.
Editor's note: This article takes effect July 1, 2016; however, this section, as enacted by section 2 of Senate Bill 15-239, takes effect May 8, 2015.