BY SENATOR(S) Exum, Amabile, Bridges, Cutter, Gonzales J., Hinrichsen, Jodeh, Kipp, Michaelson Jenet, Mullica, Roberts, Snyder, Sullivan, Wallace, Weissman, Winter F., Coleman;
also REPRESENTATIVE(S) Bacon, Bird, Boesenecker, Brown, Camacho, Carter, Clifford, Duran, Espenoza, Froelich, Garcia, Gilchrist, Hamrick, Jackson, Johnson, Joseph, Lieder, Lindsay, Lindstedt, Lukens, Mabrey, Paschal, Phillips, Ricks, Rutinel, Rydin, Sirota, Smith, Stewart K., Story, Titone, Valdez, Velasco, Willford, Woodrow, McCluskie.
Concerning changes to the Tony Grampsas youth services program, and, in connection therewith, making and reducing an appropriation.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Colorado:
SECTION 1. Legislative declaration. (1) (a) The general assembly finds that:
(I) Mentoring programs have been active in Colorado for many years, and national research has indicated that structured mentoring programs are effective tools in combating youth substance use, youth crime and violence, and other challenges faced by youth; and
(II) Research indicates that youth who are matched in professionally supported mentoring relationships are less likely to become involved in substance and alcohol use, less likely to be truant, less likely to commit violent acts against other persons, and more likely to show improvements in academic performance and positive peer relations.
(b) The general assembly further finds that:
(I) Research indicates that students who drop out of high school are more likely to be unemployed than high school graduates or struggle to find stable and fulfilling employment;
(II) High school dropouts are more likely to apply for and receive public assistance than high school graduates; and
(III) Research indicates that working with families who have young children in order to increase family strengths and enhance child development through building protective factors reduces the likelihood of child abuse and neglect.
(c) The general assembly further finds that despite the positive results that can be achieved through youth mentoring programs, dropout prevention and intervention programs, out-of-school time programs, and child abuse and neglect prevention and intervention programs, counties in the state of Colorado do not have the organizational resources necessary to carry out successful programs or lack volunteers to establish such programs, or both, and even in counties in which there are established programs, such programs are unable to meet the demand.
(2) Therefore, the general assembly declares that youth mentoring programs, dropout prevention and intervention programs, out-of-school time programs, and child abuse and neglect prevention and intervention programs would be beneficial and in the best interests of the citizens of the state of Colorado.
SECTION 2. In Colorado Revised Statutes, amend 26-6.8-101 as follows:
26-6.8-101. Definitions. As used in this article 6.8, unless the context otherwise requires:
(1) "Board" means the Tony Grampsas youth services board created in section 26-6.8-103.
(2) "Entity" means a local government, a Colorado public or not-for-profit school, a group of public or not-for-profit schools, a school district or group of school districts, a board of cooperative services, an institution of higher education, the Colorado National Guard, or a private nonprofit or not-for-profit community-based organization.
(3) "Executive director" means the executive director of the state department of human services.
(4) "Grant program" or "program" means the Tony Grampsas youth services grant program created in section 26-6.8-102.
(5) "Intermediary entity" means an eligible entity that applies for a grant to promote and support evidence-based or evidence-informed strategies or programs with subcontracted entities and:
(a) Interacts with local, community-based organizations, as well as with statewide or nationwide entities, to effectively monitor a specific evidence-based or evidence-informed strategy or program;
(b) Has the capacity to provide a variety of services to local programs that implement the same specific evidence-based or evidence-informed strategy or program as the intermediary entity, including the following services:
(I) Community preparation for program implementation;
(II) Staff training on the evidence-based or evidence-informed strategy or program;
(III) Technical assistance;
(IV) Program monitoring;
(V) Liaison for entities that develop or oversee a specific evidence-based or evidence-informed strategy or program;
(VI) Evaluation coordination; and
(VII) Financial administration through subcontracts;
(c) Serves as the fiscal and coordinating entity with the intent of subcontracting grant-related services to community partners;
(d) Allocates fifty percent or more of the entity's budget to partner entities;
(e) Has an application process to identify partner entities either prior to submitting the grant application or once the entity receives the funding notification; and
(f) Has a memorandum of understanding with each partner entity that is a subcontracted entity.
(6) "Multi-entity" means an eligible entity that applies for a grant in collaboration with a partner entity and:
(a) Has an established collaborative partnership between two or more entities for the purpose of providing community-based services;
(b) Has one lead entity that enters into subcontracts with other partner entities and:
(I) Serves as the liaison to the grant program as the primary contact and coordinates and submits all required grant program reports pursuant to section 26-6.8-102 (6) on behalf of the partner entities;
(II) Manages and coordinates all grant program procedures for the partner entities;
(III) Conducts program monitoring with partner entities to ensure alignment with the grant program;
(IV) Coordinates grant program-related evaluation processes with the partner entities; and
(V) Allocates fifty percent or more of the lead entity's budget to the partner entities; and
(c) Has a memorandum of understanding with each partner entity participating in the collaborative.
(7) "Single entity" means an eligible entity that applies for a grant independently despite any programmatic collaboration that may exist with other service providers.
(4) (8) "State department" means the state department of human services.
SECTION 3. In Colorado Revised Statutes, amend with relocated provisions 26-6.8-102 as follows:
26-6.8-102. Tony Grampsas youth services grant program - creation - guidelines and criteria - cash fund - rules - repeal. (1) (a) The Tony Grampsas youth services program is transferred to the state department. All program grants in existence as of July 1, 2013, shall continue to be valid through June 30, 2014. Persons appointed to the board shall continue serving until completion of their terms and may be reappointed as provided in section 26-6.8-103.
(b) The Tony Grampsas youth services grant program is establishedcreated in the state department to provide state funding forgrants to entities for developing and implementing prevention and intervention community-based programs to reduce incidents of youth crime and violence. Grant recipients may use the money received through the grant program to enhance existing programs or develop and implement new programs, including:
(a) Prevention and intervention programs intended to
(I) To provide prevention and intervention services in an effort to reduce incidents of youth crime and violence and
(II) To provide prevention and intervention services in an effort to reduce the occurrence and reoccurrence of child abuse and neglect and to reduce the need for state intervention in child abuse and neglect prevention and education;
(III) For the prevention and intervention ofprevent youth alcohol, tobacco, marijuana, and other drug use; and
(IV) For the prevention and intervention of student drop out.
(b) Youth mentoring programs that strive to reduce youth substance use, decrease incidents of youth crime and violence, and increase protective factors for youth who are five years of age or older but under twenty-five years of age and who are experiencing poverty, exposure to substance use, family conflict, association with peers who are justice-involved, disciplinary issues, or child abuse or neglect. Youth mentoring programs must ensure mentoring is the primary service provided by the program and make intentional matches or formal connections between youth and mentors.
(c) Student dropout prevention and intervention programs that provide services to students enrolled in a primary or secondary school who are at risk of dropping out of school. Student dropout prevention and intervention programs must utilize an appropriate combination of academic and extracurricular activities designed to enhance the overall education of students in secondary schools.
(d) Out-of-school time programs that may include an alcohol, tobacco, or other drug use intervention, prevention, and education component and primarily serve youth enrolled in grades six through eight or youth who are twelve to fourteen years of age. Out-of-school time programs must be designed to help youth develop their interests and skills in the areas of sports and fitness, character and leadership, or arts and culture and may provide education regarding the dangers of the use of alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs. Grant money must not be used for out-of-school time programs that are designed primarily to increase academic achievement or that provide religious instruction.
(e) Child abuse and neglect prevention and intervention strategies that provide services to children and their families with the goal of increasing family strengths, enhancing child development, and reducing the likelihood of child abuse and neglect. Child abuse and neglect prevention and intervention strategies must be based on engaging families, programs, and communities in enhancing protective factors.
(2) (a) The board shall choose those entities that will receive grants through the Tony Grampsas youth services program and the amount of each grant. The state department shall administer the grants awarded andgrant program, monitor the effectiveness of programs that receive grants, through the Tony Grampsas youth services programand, subject to available appropriations, award grants as provided in this section.
(b) Repealed.
(c) (b) Any grant awarded through the Tony Grampsas youth services program shall be paid from moneys appropriated pursuant to paragraph (d) of this subsection (2)Grant awards must be paid out of the youth service program fund created in subsection (7) of this section or out of the general fund. for the program. The boardstate department, in accordance with the timelines adopted pursuant to section 26-6.8-103 (3)subsection (4) of this section, shall submit a list of the entities chosen to receive grants to the governorboard for approval. The governorboard shall either approve or disapprove the entire list of entities by responding to the boardstate department within twenty days. If the governorboard does not respond to the boardstate department within twenty days after receipt of the list, the list is approved. The boardstate department shall not award a grant through the Tony Grampsas youth services program without the prior approval of the governorboard.
(d) (I) The youth services program fund is created in the state treasury. The principal of the fund consists of tobacco litigation settlement money transferred by the state treasurer to the fund pursuant to section 24-75-1104.5 (1.7)(e). Subject to annual appropriation by the general assembly, the state department may expend money from the fund for the Tony Grampsas youth services program, including the compensation of youth members of the Tony Grampsas youth services board, as described in section 26-6.8-103 (1)(e)(II). All unexpended and unencumbered money appropriated to the fund at the end of a fiscal year remains available for expenditure by the state department for the Tony Grampsas youth services program in the following fiscal year without further appropriation and must not be transferred or revert to the general fund at the end of a fiscal year.
(II) In addition to the moneys appropriated to the youth services program fund pursuant to subparagraph (I) of this paragraph (d), the fund also consists of any moneys appropriated to the fund from the marijuana tax cash fund created in section 39-28.8-501, C.R.S. Any moneys in the fund attributable to the marijuana tax cash fund shall be used for community-based programs for the prevention and intervention of marijuana use. Notwithstanding the provisions of subparagraph (I) of this paragraph (d), any unexpended and unencumbered moneys in the fund at the end of a fiscal year that are attributable to the marijuana tax cash fund shall remain in the fund and shall not be transferred to the tobacco litigation settlement cash fund or any other fund.
(III) If an entity seeks a grant from the board for a program directed at providing alcohol, tobacco, marijuana, and other drug use prevention and intervention services to youth, one of the criteria the board must consider is whether the program utilizes evidence-based practices in the delivery of services.
(3) To participate in the Tony Grampsas youth services program, an entity may apply to the board in accordance with timelines and guidelines adopted by the board pursuant to section 26-6.8-103.
(4) Entities seeking to provide youth mentoring services or to enhance existing youth mentoring programs are encouraged to submit an application to the board for grants directly from the Tony Grampsas youth services program, in addition to any funding the entities may be seeking from the youth mentoring services cash fund pursuant to section 26-6.8-104 (6), to establish or enhance youth mentoring programs. Entities submitting applications for grants directly from the Tony Grampsas youth services program pursuant to this section need not meet the requirements of section 26-6.8-104 (5)(b).
(3) (a) [Formerly 26-6.8-103 (2)(a)] The state department, in collaboration with the board, shall develop and make available program guidelines, including, but not limited to:
(I) Guidelines for proposal design for single entity applicants, multi-entity applicants, and intermediary entity applicants; and
(II) Local public-to-private funding match requirements; and
(III) (II) Processes for local review and prioritization of grant program applications.
(b) [Formerly 26-6.8-103 (2)(b) introductory portion] In addition to the guidelines developed pursuant to subsection (2)(a)subsection (3)(a) of this section, the state department, in collaboration with the board, shall develop criteria for awarding grants, under the Tony Grampsas youth services program, including, but not limited to, the following requirements:
(I) [Formerly 26-6.8-103 (2)(b)(I)] That the program is operated in cooperation with a local government, a local governmental agency, or a local nonprofit or not-for-profit agency;
(II) [Formerly 26-6.8-103 (2)(b)(II)] That the program is community-based, receiving input from organizations in the community such as schools, community mental health centers, local nonprofit or not-for-profit agencies, local law enforcement agencies, businesses, and individuals within the community;
(III) That the program utilizes evidence-based or evidence-informed practices in the delivery of services;
(IV) [Formerly 26-6.8-103 (2)(b)(II.5)] That the grant application process identifies and prioritizes funding programs that meet a need in the community, including, but not limited to, the presence of risk factors in a grant applicant's intended populations; and
(V) [Formerly 26-6.8-103 (2)(b)(III)(A)] That the program is directed at providing prevention and intervention services to children, youth, and their families in an effort to decrease incidents of youth crime and violence; preventpreventing child abuse and neglect; or decreasedecreasing youth alcohol, tobacco, marijuana, and other drug use; or that the program is directed at providing services to students and their families in an effort to reduce the dropout rate in secondary schools; pursuant to section 26-6.8-105;or providing youth mentoring;
(VI) [Formerly 26-6.8-103 (2)(b)(III)(B)] If an entity is seeking a grant from the board for a student dropout prevention and intervention program, pursuant to section 26-6.8-105, one of the criteria that the board shall consider is whether the program has been implemented elsewhere, if known, and, if so, the relative success of the program. It is not required, however, that the program be previously implemented for the boardstate department to award a grant to the entity.
(VII) [Formerly 26-6.8-103 (2)(b)(III)(C)] If an entity is seeking a grant from the board for a program directed at providing prevention and intervention services to youth and their families in an effort to decrease incidents of youth crime and violence, one of the criteria that the board shall consider is whether the program includes restorative justice components. It is not required, however, that the program include restorative justice components for the boardstate department to award a grant to the entity.
(c) An entity is eligible to receive a grant for out-of-school time programs regardless of whether the out-of- school time program to which the grant would apply serves youth who are eligible for free or reduced-cost lunch pursuant to the "Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act", 42 U.S.C. sec. 1751 et seq.
(4) [Formerly 26-6.8-103 (3)] In addition to the guidelines and criteria developed pursuant to subsection (2)subsection (3) of this section, the boardstate department shall establish timelines for submission and review ofsubmitting and reviewing grant applications for grants through the Tony Grampsas youth services program. The board shall also adoptand timelines for submission to the governor ofsubmitting the list of entities chosen to receive grants to the board. If the governorboard disapproves the list, the boardstate department may submit a replacement list within thirty days after suchthe disapproval.
(5) [Formerly 26-6.8-103 (4)] The boardstate department shall review all applications received pursuant to this section 26-6.8-102for grants from the Tony Grampsas youth services program and choose those entities that shall receive grants through the Tony Grampsas youth services programand select the grant recipients and the amount of each grant.
(6) (a) [Formerly 26-6.8-103 (2)(c)] In addition to the guidelines and criteria developed pursuant to paragraphs (a) and (b) of this subsection (2), the board shall develop result-oriented criteria for measuring the effectiveness of programs that receive grants under the Tony Grampsas youth services program as deemed appropriate to the nature of each program including, but not limited to, requiring grantees to evaluate the impact of the services provided by the program.Except as provided in subsection (6)(b) of this section, each entity that receives a grant shall annually report the following information to the state department:
(I) The total number of individuals served;
(II) The demographic information of each individual served;
(III) A description of the services provided and how the services meet one or more of the following priorities:
(A) Providing prevention and intervention services to children, youth, and their families in an effort to decrease incidents of youth crime and violence;
(B) Providing youth mentoring programs;
(C) Preventing child abuse and neglect;
(D) Decreasing youth alcohol, tobacco, marijuana, and other drug use; or
(E) Providing services to students and their families in an effort to reduce the dropout rate in secondary schools; and
(IV) Any criteria developed pursuant to this paragraph (c) for measuring the effectivenessThe outcomes achieved by the services provided and the methods used to track the outcomes. Measuring the outcome of student dropout prevention and intervention programs established pursuant to section 26-6.8-105 shallmust include the implementation of a method by which to track the students served by the program to evaluate the impact of the services provided, which tracking shallmust continue, if possible, for at least two years or through graduation from a secondary school, whichever occurs first.
(b) Notwithstanding subsection (6)(a) of this section to the contrary, each entity that receives a grant and has an operating budget of less than one million five hundred thousand dollars, or that receives a grant in the amount of not more than twenty-five thousand dollars, shall annually report the information required in subsections (6)(a)(I) to (6)(a)(III) of this section to the state department.
(c) If an entity utilizes a separate process for evaluating and reporting on the services provided, the entity may submit that report to meet the requirements of this subsection (6).
(7) (a) [Formerly 26-6.8-102 (2)(d)(I)] The youth services program fund is created in the state treasury. The principal of the fund consists of tobacco litigation settlement money transferred by the state treasurer to the fund pursuant to section 24-75-1104.5 (1.7)(e). Subject to annual appropriation by the general assembly, the state department may expend money from the fund for the Tony Grampsas youth services grant program, including the compensation of youth community members of the Tony Grampsas youth services board. as described in section 26-6.8-103 (1)(e)(II). All unexpended and unencumbered money appropriated to the fund at the end of a fiscal year remains available for expenditure by the state department for the Tony Grampsas youth services grant program in the following fiscal year without further appropriation and must not be transferred or revert to the general fund at the end of a fiscal year.
(b) [Formerly 26-6.8-102 (2)(d)(II)] In addition to the moneysmoney appropriated to the youth services program fund pursuant to subparagraph (I) of this paragraph (d)subsection (7)(a) of this section, the fund also consists of any moneysmoney appropriated to the fund from the marijuana tax cash fund created in section 39-28.8-501. C.R.S. Any moneysAny money in the fund attributable to the marijuana tax cash fund shallmust be used for community-based programs for the prevention and intervention of marijuana use. Notwithstanding the provisions of subparagraph (I) of this paragraph (d)subsection (7)(a) of this section to the contrary, any unexpended and unencumbered moneysmoney in the fund at the end of a fiscal year that areis attributable to the marijuana tax cash fund shallmust remain in the fund and shallmust not be transferred to the tobacco litigation settlement cash fund or any other fund.
(c) (I) On June 30, 2025, the state treasurer shall transfer the unexpended and unencumbered balance of the youth mentoring services cash fund, the student dropout prevention and intervention fund, and the Colorado student before-and-after school project fund to the youth services program fund.
(II) This subsection (7)(c) is repealed, effective July 1, 2026.
(8) This section does not prevent an entity that receives a grant pursuant to this article 6.8 from applying for a grant administered by the attorney general's office pursuant to section 24-31-108.
(9) The state department shall adopt any rules necessary to implement the grant program.
SECTION 4. In Colorado Revised Statutes, amend 26-6.8-103 as follows:
26-6.8-103. Tony Grampsas youth services board - members - duties. (1) (a) There is created the Tony Grampsas youth services board, which is a type 2 entity, as defined in section 24-1-105. The board consists of the following members:
(I) (a) Four adult community members appointed by the governor;
(II) (b) Two youth community members appointed by the governor;
(III) (c) Three adult community members appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives;
(IV) (d) Two adult community members appointed by the president of the senate; and
(V) (e) One adult community member appointed by the minority leader of the senate.
(b) (2) No more than seven of the members appointed to the board may be affiliated with the same political party.
(c) (3) In addition to the appointed board members, the executive director or the executive director's designee shall serve asis a member of the board.
(d) (I) (4) (a) In appointing adult community members to the board, the governor, the speaker of the house of representatives, and the president and the minority leader of the senate shall:
(A) (I) Choose personscommunity members who have a knowledge and awareness of innovative strategies for youth crime and violence prevention and intervention services and for reducing the occurrence and reoccurrence of child abuse and neglect; and
(B) (II) Appoint one or more personscommunity members who possess knowledge and awareness of early childhood care and education As used in this subsection (1)(d)(I)(B), "early childhood" means younger than nine years of agefor children who are younger than nine years of age.
(II) (b) In appointing members to the board, the speaker of the house of representatives and the president of the senate shall each appoint at least one personcommunity member who has a knowledge and awareness of student issues, including the causes of student dropout in secondary schools, as well as innovative strategies for reducing the dropout rate among secondary school students.
(III) (c) In appointing community members to the board, the governor shall:
(A) (I) Appoint at least one personcommunity member who is representative of a minority community;
(B) (II) Appoint at least one personcommunity member who is knowledgeable in the area of child abuse and neglect prevention and intervention; and
(C) (III) Appoint at least one personcommunity member who is knowledgeable in the area of youth crime and violence prevention and intervention.
(IV) (d) In appointing youth community members to the board, the governor shall appoint members who are fifteen years of age or older but under twenty-six years of age. A youth board member who reaches twenty-six years of age during the youth board member's term may remain on the board for the remainder of the term.
(e) (5) The board shall choose a chair and vice-chair from among its members.
(f) (I) (6) (a) The appointed members of the board shall serve three-year terms; except that the terms of appointed members shall be staggered so that no more than a minimum majority of the appointed members' terms expire in the same year. If a vacancy arises in one of the appointed offices, the authority making the original appointment shall fill the vacancy for the remainder of the term.
(II) (b) Adult and youth board members of the board may be reimbursed out of available appropriations for actual and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties.
(g) (7) The board is authorized to meet remotely, when necessary. via telecommunications.
(2) (a) The board shall develop and make available program guidelines, including but not limited to:
(I) Guidelines for proposal design;
(II) Local public-to-private funding match requirements; and
(III) Processes for local review and prioritization of program applications.
(b) In addition to the guidelines developed pursuant to subsection (2)(a) of this section, the board shall develop criteria for awarding grants under the Tony Grampsas youth services program, including but not limited to the following requirements:
(I) That the program is operated in cooperation with a local government, a local governmental agency, or a local nonprofit or not-for-profit agency;
(II) That the program is community-based, receiving input from organizations in the community such as schools, community mental health centers, local nonprofit or not-for-profit agencies, local law enforcement agencies, businesses, and individuals within the community;
(II.5) That the grant application process identifies and prioritizes funding programs that meet a need in the community, including, but not limited to, the presence of risk factors in a grant applicant's intended populations; and
(III) (A) That the program is directed at providing prevention and intervention services to children, youth, and their families in an effort to decrease incidents of youth crime and violence; prevent child abuse and neglect; or decrease youth alcohol, tobacco, marijuana, and other drug use, or that the program is directed at providing services to students and their families in an effort to reduce the dropout rate in secondary schools pursuant to section 26-6.8-105.
(B) If an entity is seeking a grant from the board for a student dropout prevention and intervention program pursuant to section 26-6.8-105, one of the criteria that the board shall consider is whether the program has been implemented elsewhere, if known, and, if so, the relative success of the program. It is not required, however, that the program be previously implemented for the board to award a grant to the entity.
(C) If an entity is seeking a grant from the board for a program directed at providing prevention and intervention services to youth and their families in an effort to decrease incidents of youth crime and violence, one of the criteria that the board shall consider is whether the program includes restorative justice components. It is not required, however, that the program include restorative justice components for the board to award a grant to the entity.
(c) In addition to the guidelines and criteria developed pursuant to paragraphs (a) and (b) of this subsection (2), the board shall develop result-oriented criteria for measuring the effectiveness of programs that receive grants under the Tony Grampsas youth services program as deemed appropriate to the nature of each program including, but not limited to, requiring grantees to evaluate the impact of the services provided by the program. Any criteria developed pursuant to this paragraph (c) for measuring the effectiveness of student dropout prevention and intervention programs established pursuant to section 26-6.8-105 shall include the implementation of a method by which to track the students served by the program to evaluate the impact of the services provided, which tracking shall continue, if possible, for at least two years or through graduation from a secondary school, whichever occurs first.
(3) In addition to the guidelines and criteria developed pursuant to subsection (2) of this section, the board shall establish timelines for submission and review of applications for grants through the Tony Grampsas youth services program. The board shall also adopt timelines for submission to the governor of the list of entities chosen to receive grants. If the governor disapproves the list, the board may submit a replacement list within thirty days after such disapproval.
(4) The board shall review all applications received pursuant to section 26-6.8-102 for grants from the Tony Grampsas youth services program and choose those entities that shall receive grants through the Tony Grampsas youth services program and the amount of each grant.
(5) In addition to the duties relating specifically to the Tony Grampsas youth services program specified in this section, the board shall operate the prevention and intervention programs specified in this article 6.8 and such other prevention and intervention programs as may be assigned to the board by executive order to be funded by federal money, state money, or both. All unexpended and unencumbered money appropriated to the fund at the end of a fiscal year remains available for expenditure by the state department for the Tony Grampsas youth services program in the following fiscal year without further appropriation and must not be transferred or revert to the general fund at the end of a fiscal year.
SECTION 5. In Colorado Revised Statutes, repeal 26-6.8-104 as follows:
26-6.8-104. Colorado youth mentoring services.(1) Short title. This section shall be known and may be cited as the "Colorado Youth Mentoring Services Act".
(2) Legislative declaration. (a) The general assembly finds and declares that mentoring programs have been active in Colorado for many years. The general assembly finds that national research has indicated that structured mentoring programs are effective tools in combating youth substance use, youth crime and violence, and other challenges faced by youth. The general assembly further finds, based upon recent national research results, that youth who are matched in professionally supported mentoring relationships are less likely to become involved in substance and alcohol use, less likely to be truant, less likely to commit violent acts against other persons, and more likely to show improvements in academic performance and positive peer relations.
(b) The general assembly further finds that, despite the positive results that may be achieved through structured youth mentoring programs, counties in the state of Colorado do not have the organizational resources necessary to carry out successful mentoring programs or lack volunteers to establish such programs, or both. The general assembly finds that even counties in which there are established youth mentoring programs, such programs are unable to meet the demand for mentors.
(c) The general assembly therefore declares and determines that the provision of youth mentoring services that would use public and private entities to recruit, train, screen, and supervise volunteers to serve as mentors for youth would be beneficial and in the best interests of the citizens of the state of Colorado.
(3) Definition. For purposes of this section, "youth" means a person who is five years of age or older but under twenty-five years of age and who is challenged by such risk factors as poverty, residence in a substance-abusing household, family conflict, association with peers who commit crimes, residence in a single-parent household, exhibition of indicia of delinquent behavior, or being the victim of child abuse.
(4) Provision of youth mentoring services. There is created the Colorado youth mentoring program to provide state funding for the provision of evidence-informed youth mentoring services in an effort to reduce youth substance use, decrease the incidents of youth crime and violence, and increase protective factors for youth. The funding must be used to provide evidence-informed youth mentoring services in communities that do not have existing mentoring programs as well as to enhance established evidence-informed youth mentoring programs that are already in existence.
(5) Administration - duties of contracting entities. (a) To be eligible for money from the youth mentoring services cash fund created in subsection (6) of this section for the provision of evidence-informed youth mentoring services, an entity must apply to the board in accordance with the timelines and guidelines adopted by the board pursuant to section 26-6.8-103 and must meet the requirements of subsection (5)(b) of this section.
(b) An entity selected by the board to provide an evidence-informed youth mentoring program shall:
(I) Adhere to evidence-informed standards of practice. An evidence-informed youth mentoring program uses a model that is evaluated annually and incorporates research evidence into its design and delivery. An entity that is awarded a grant shall annually demonstrate proof that evidence-informed standards are applied throughout the program. An entity must demonstrate proof that it applies evidence-informed standards by presenting current proof of compliance for achievement from an evaluation concerning the application of evidence-informed standards administered by an outside organization; and
(II) Ensure mentoring is the primary service provided by the program and make intentional matches or formal connections between youths and mentors.
(c) Community-based organizations may obtain private and public funds, grants, gifts, or donations for youth mentoring programs. The executive director may accept and expend on behalf of the state any funds, grants, gifts, or donations from any private or public source for the purpose of implementing this section; except that the executive director shall not accept a grant or donation if the conditions attached to the grant or donation require the expenditure thereof in a manner contrary to law.
(d) Entities selected to receive grants pursuant to this section for the provision of youth mentoring services shall match any grant received with a contribution that is the equivalent of twenty percent of the grant awarded.
(6) Youth mentoring services cash fund. There is created in the state treasury the youth mentoring services cash fund, referred to in this subsection (6) as the "fund". The money in the fund is subject to annual appropriation by the general assembly for the direct and indirect costs of implementing this section. All unexpended and unencumbered money appropriated to the fund at the end of a fiscal year remains available for expenditure by the state department for youth mentoring services in the following fiscal year without further appropriation and must not be transferred or revert to the general fund at the end of the fiscal year. The executive director may accept on behalf of the state any grants, gifts, or donations from any private or public source for the purpose of this section. All private and public money received through grants, gifts, or donations must be transmitted to the state treasurer, who shall credit the same to the fund. The general assembly may appropriate money from the marijuana tax cash fund created in section 39-28.8-501. All investment earnings derived from the deposit and investment of money in the fund remains in the fund and must not be transferred or revert to the general fund of the state at the end of any fiscal year.
SECTION 6. In Colorado Revised Statutes, repeal 26-6.8-105 as follows:
26-6.8-105. Colorado student dropout prevention and intervention program.(1) Short title. This section shall be known and may be cited as the "Colorado Student Dropout Prevention and Intervention Act".
(2) Legislative declaration. The general assembly hereby finds that:
(a) During the last decade, over one hundred thousand students in Colorado left school without successfully completing a high school program;
(b) In 1996, three million six hundred thousand young adults in the United States were neither enrolled in school nor had they completed a high school program;
(c) In the 1995-1996 academic year, approximately thirteen thousand students withdrew from Colorado schools prior to receiving a diploma, resulting in a four percent dropout rate;
(d) Of those students who withdrew from Colorado schools prior to receiving a diploma, approximately five thousand nine hundred were minority students;
(e) The dropout rate of minority students in Colorado is significantly greater than that of nonminority students;
(f) Numerous factors, including socioeconomic background, lack of adult support, and the inability to communicate well in English, influence a student's decision to drop out of school;
(g) Research has shown that, compared with high school graduates, relatively more dropouts are unemployed, and those dropouts who do succeed in finding work tend to earn less money than high school graduates; and
(h) High school dropouts are more likely to apply for and receive public assistance than high school graduates.
(3) Definitions. For purposes of this section, "student" means an individual enrolled in a primary or secondary school who is facing adversity such as dropping out of school because of the individual's socioeconomic background, lack of adult support, language barriers, or other identified indicators that cause school drop out.
(4) Colorado student dropout prevention and intervention program. There is created the Colorado student dropout prevention and intervention program in the Tony Grampsas youth services program to provide services to students and their families in an effort to reduce the dropout rate in secondary schools through an appropriate combination of academic and extracurricular activities designed to enhance the overall education and edification of students in secondary schools.
(5) Administration. (a) The state department shall administer the student dropout prevention and intervention program. Subject to the designation in subsection (5)(b) of this section, the board shall select those entities that will receive grants through the student dropout prevention and intervention program and the amount of each grant. In addition, the state department shall monitor the effectiveness of programs that receive funds through the student dropout prevention and intervention program. To be eligible for grants from the board for the provision of student dropout prevention and intervention programs for students, an entity must apply to the board in accordance with the timelines and guidelines adopted by the board pursuant to section 26-6.8-103.
(b) Any moneys awarded by the board shall be paid from moneys appropriated out of the general fund for the Tony Grampsas youth services program. Each year no less than ten percent of the total appropriation from the general fund shall be designated and used exclusively for programs specifically designed to prevent students from dropping out of secondary schools; except that, commencing in fiscal year 2004-05 and in each fiscal year thereafter, no less than twenty percent of the total appropriation shall be designated and used exclusively for such purpose.
(6) Receipt of money. (a) The executive director may accept on behalf of the state any funds, grants, gifts, or donations from any private or public source for the purpose of implementing student dropout prevention and intervention programs pursuant to this section; except that the executive director shall not accept funds, grants, gifts, or donations if the conditions attached thereto require the expenditure thereof in a manner contrary to law.
(b) All private and public money received through funds, grants, gifts, or donations pursuant to this subsection (6) shall be transmitted to the state treasurer, who shall credit the same to the student dropout prevention and intervention fund, which fund is hereby created. The money in the fund is subject to annual appropriation by the general assembly for the direct and indirect costs associated with the administration of this section. The executive director may expend money appropriated to the state department from the fund to provide a grant for implementing and administering a student dropout prevention and intervention program. All investment earnings derived from the deposit and investment of money in the fund is credited to the fund. All unexpended and unencumbered money in the fund at the end of a fiscal year remains available for expenditure by the state department for student dropout prevention and intervention in the following fiscal year without further appropriation and must not be transferred or revert to the general fund at the end of a fiscal year.
SECTION 7. In Colorado Revised Statutes, repeal 26-6.8-106 as follows:
26-6.8-106. Colorado student before-and-after-school project - creation - funding.(1) Definitions. As used in this section, unless the context otherwise requires:
(a) "Before-and-after-school program" means a program that meets before regular school hours or after regular school hours or during a period when school is not in session.
(b) "Fund" means the Colorado student before-and-after-school project fund created in subsection (4) of this section.
(c) "Project" means the Colorado before-and-after-school project created in subsection (2) of this section.
(2) Colorado student before-and-after-school project. There is created, in the Tony Grampsas youth services program, the Colorado student before-and-after-school project to provide grants to entities to provide high-quality before-and-after-school programs that may include an alcohol, tobacco, or other drug use intervention, prevention, and education component. Entities that receive grants pursuant to this section shall apply the grants to creating and implementing before-and-after-school programs that primarily serve youth enrolled in grades six through eight or youth who are twelve to fourteen years of age. The before-and-after-school programs are designed to help youth develop their interests and skills in the areas of sports and fitness, character and leadership, or arts and culture and may provide education regarding the dangers of the use of alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs. Before-and-after-school programs that are designed primarily to increase academic achievement or that provide religious instruction are not eligible for funding pursuant to this section.
(3) Administration. (a) The state department shall administer the project. The board shall select the entities that will receive grants through the project and the amount of each grant. In addition, the state department shall monitor the effectiveness of before-and-after-school programs that receive moneys through the project. To be eligible for grants through the project, an entity shall apply to the board in accordance with the timelines and guidelines adopted by the board pursuant to section 26-6.8-103. Notwithstanding any provision of this article or any criteria for awarding grants adopted by the board pursuant to section 26-6.8-103 (2)(b) to the contrary, an entity may be eligible to receive a grant pursuant to this section regardless of whether the before-and-after-school program to which the grant would apply serves youth who are eligible for free or reduced-cost lunch pursuant to the "Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act", 42 U.S.C. sec. 1751 et seq.
(b) The grants awarded through the project shall be paid from moneys appropriated from the fund to the state department. The board and grant recipients are encouraged to apply moneys awarded through the project to leverage additional funding as matching funds from private and federal sources.
(4) Colorado student before-and-after-school project fund. There is created in the state treasury the Colorado student before-and-after-school project fund that consists of money that the general assembly may appropriate to the fund. The money in the fund is subject to annual appropriation by the general assembly to the state department for the purpose of providing grants as provided in this section and the direct and indirect costs associated with the implementation of this section. Any money 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 money in the fund is credited to the fund. All unexpended and unencumbered money in the fund at the end of a fiscal year remains available for expenditure by the state department for before-and-after-school programs in the next fiscal year without further appropriation. Any unexpended and unencumbered money remaining in the fund at the end of a fiscal year remains in the fund and shall not be credited or transferred to the general fund or another fund.
SECTION 8. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 13-3-113, amend (3)(a) as follows:
13-3-113. Family-friendly courts. (3) Definitions. For purposes of this section:
(a) "At-risk youth" shall have the same meaning as "youth" set forth in section 26-6.8-104 (3)means a person who is five years of age or older but under twenty-five years of age and who is experiencing poverty, exposure to substance use, family conflict, association with peers who are justice-involved, disciplinary issues, or child abuse or neglect.
SECTION 9. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 24-75-1104.5, amend (1.7)(e); and amend as it will become effective July 1, 2025, (3) as follows:
24-75-1104.5. Use of settlement money - programs - repeal. (1.7) Except as otherwise provided in subsections (1.3), (1.8), and (5) of this section, and except that disputed payments received by the state in the 2015-16 fiscal year or in any year thereafter are excluded from the calculation of allocations pursuant to this subsection (1.7), for the 2016-17 fiscal year and for each fiscal year thereafter, the following programs, services, and funds receive the following specified percentages of the total amount of settlement money received by the state in the preceding fiscal year:
(e) The Tony Grampsas youth services program created in article 6.8 of title 26, C.R.S., shall receivesection 26-6.8-102 receives seven and one-half percent of the total amount of settlement moneysmoney, which the state treasurer shall transfer to the youth services program fund created in section 26-6.8-102 (2)(d), C.R.S.section 26-6.8-102 (7);
(3) Notwithstanding subsection (1.7) of this section, for purposes of sections 23-20-136 (3.5)(a), 25-4-1401 (6), 25-4-1405 (2), 25-23-104 (2), 25.5-8-105 (3), 26.5-3-507 (2)(e), 26-6.8-102 (2)(d)26-6.8-102 (7), and 28-5-709 (2)(a), settlement money received and allocated by the state pursuant to subsection (1.7) of this section during the same fiscal year is deemed to be money received for or during the preceding fiscal year.
SECTION 10. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 25-3.5-804, amend (3)(a) as follows:
25-3.5-804. Tobacco education, prevention, and cessation programs - review committee - grants - reimbursement for expenses. (3) (a) The division shall review the applications received pursuant to this part 8 and make recommendations to the state board regarding those entities that may receive grants and the amounts of saidthe grants. On and after October 1, 2005, the review committee shall review the applications received pursuant to this part 8 and submit to the state board and the director of the department recommended grant recipients, grant amounts, and the duration of each grant. Within thirty days after receiving the review committee's recommendations, the director shall submit his or herthe director's recommendations to the state board. The review committee's recommendations regarding grantees of the Tony Grampsas youth services grant program, created in section 26-6.8-102, pursuant to section 25-3.5-805 (5) shall be submitted to the state board and the Tony Grampsas youth services boarddepartment of human services. Within thirty days after receiving the review committee's recommendations, the Tony Grampsas youth services boarddepartment of human services shall submit its recommendations to the state board. The state board has the final authority to approve the grants under this part 8. If the state board disapproves a recommendation for a grant recipient, the review committee may submit a replacement recommendation within thirty days. In reviewing grant applications for programs to provide tobacco education, prevention, and cessation programs for persons with behavioral or mental health disorders, the division or the review committee shall consult with the programs for public psychiatry at the university of Colorado health sciences center, the national alliance on mental illness, the mental health association of Colorado, and the department of human services.
SECTION 11. Appropriation - adjustments to 2025 long bill. (1) To implement this act, appropriations made in the annual general appropriation act for the 2025-26 state fiscal year to the department of human services for use by the office of children, youth and families are adjusted as follows:
(a) The cash funds appropriation from the marijuana tax cash fund created in section 39-28.8-501 (1), C.R.S., for the appropriation to the youth mentoring services cash fund is decreased by $500,000;
(b) The reappropriated funds appropriation from the youth mentoring services fund created in section 26-6.8-104 (6), C.R.S., for the Tony Grampsas youth services program is decreased by $504,120; and
(c) The cash funds appropriation from the marijuana tax cash fund created in section 39-28.8-501 (1), C.R.S., for the Tony Grampsas youth services program is increased by $500,000.
SECTION 12. Act subject to petition - effective date. This act takes effect at 12:01 a.m. on the day following the expiration of the ninety-day period after final adjournment of the general assembly; except that, if a referendum petition is filed pursuant to section 1 (3) of article V of the state constitution against this act or an item, section, or part of this act within such period, then the act, item, section, or part will not take effect unless approved by the people at the general election to be held in November 2026 and, in such case, will take effect on the date of the official declaration of the vote thereon by the governor.
Signed By: James Rashad Coleman, Sr., President of the Senate
Signed By: Julie McCluskie, Speaker of the House of Representatives
Signed By: Esther van Mourik, Secretary of the Senate
Signed By: Vanessa Reilly, Chief Clerk of the House of Representatives
Signed By: Jared S. Polis, Governor of the State of Colorado