A Bill for an Act
Page 1, Line 101Concerning the establishment of a workforce advisory
Page 1, Line 102council to consider air quality control rules that
Page 1, Line 103impact workforce issues in affected industries.
Bill Summary
(Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced and does not reflect any amendments that may be subsequently adopted. If this bill passes third reading in the house of introduction, a bill summary that applies to the reengrossed version of this bill will be available at http://leg.colorado.gov.)
The bill requires the executive director of the department of public health and environment (department) to establish a workforce advisory council (council) on or before August 1, 2025, for the purposes of:
- Discussing recommendations concerning the incorporation of workforce impact analyses into the rule-making procedures for rules that impact air quality;
- Recommending standard procedures for the department and the air quality control commission (commission) to follow when conducting workforce impact analyses for inclusion in rule-making procedures; and
- Determining if the establishment of a full-time workforce advocate position would add value to the air quality control rule-making process.
- Meet at least 4 times per year;
- Continue to advise the department on the impact of proposed air quality control rules on matters related to employment; and
- Make ongoing recommendations to the governor, the department, and the commission on legislative and regulatory air quality control policies that impact employment matters.
The bill requires the department to report the council's recommendations to the general assembly on or before January 15, 2026.
After January 15, 2026, the council is required to:
Page 2, Line 1Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Colorado:
Page 2, Line 2SECTION 1. In Colorado Revised Statutes, add 25-7-110.9 as
Page 2, Line 3follows:
Page 2, Line 425-7-110.9. Workforce advisory council - creation - purpose
Page 2, Line 5- air-quality control rule-making procedures - workforce impact
Page 2, Line 6analyses - reporting - definitions. (1) As used in this section:
Page 2, Line 7(a) "Council" means the workforce advisory council
Page 2, Line 8established by the executive director pursuant to subsection (2)
Page 2, Line 9of this section.
Page 2, Line 10(b) "Department" means the department of public health
Page 2, Line 11and environment.
Page 2, Line 12(c) "Executive director" means the executive director of
Page 2, Line 13the department.
Page 2, Line 14(d) "Workforce impact" means the probable impact of air
Page 3, Line 1quality control rules proposed by the department, commission,
Page 3, Line 2or air pollution control division on employment that may result
Page 3, Line 3in job loss or gain, worker displacement, workforce transitions,
Page 3, Line 4expansion or downsizing of businesses, major industry-wide
Page 3, Line 5workforce change, disruption in operations, or an economic
Page 3, Line 6impact to the state.
Page 3, Line 7(2) (a) On or before August 1, 2025, the executive director
Page 3, Line 8shall establish a workforce advisory council. The purpose of
Page 3, Line 9the council is to discuss recommendations concerning the
Page 3, Line 10incorporation of workforce impact analyses into the
Page 3, Line 11rule-making procedures for air quality control rules. The
Page 3, Line 12council consists of seven members, appointed as follows:
Page 3, Line 13(I) The executive director shall appoint three members as
Page 3, Line 14follows to the council to serve initial terms of two years:
Page 3, Line 15(A) An individual from a labor organization or
Page 3, Line 16professional association who represents workers in a regulated
Page 3, Line 17industry;
Page 3, Line 18(B) An individual from a labor organization or
Page 3, Line 19professional association who represents workers in the
Page 3, Line 20construction industry; and
Page 3, Line 21(C) A representative of a regulated business or
Page 3, Line 22association who has expertise in workforce development;
Page 3, Line 23(II) The executive director shall appoint three members as
Page 3, Line 24follows to the council to serve initial terms of three years:
Page 3, Line 25(A) A representative of a regulated industry who has
Page 3, Line 26expertise in human resources in regulated industries;
Page 3, Line 27(B) A training director for a registered apprenticeship
Page 4, Line 1program, as defined in section 8-15.7-101 (13), who trains workers
Page 4, Line 2in a regulated industry; and
Page 4, Line 3(C) A resident of Colorado who is an employee of a
Page 4, Line 4regulated business; and
Page 4, Line 5(III) The director of the office of future of work created
Page 4, Line 6in section 8-15.8-103 shall appoint an employee of the office to
Page 4, Line 7serve an initial term of two years on the council.
Page 4, Line 8(b) After a term of service on the council is complete or
Page 4, Line 9if there is a vacancy , the appointing authority shall appoint an
Page 4, Line 10individual who meets the relevant criteria to the council.
Page 4, Line 11(3) The council shall:
Page 4, Line 12(a) Between August 1, 2025, and December 31, 2025, meet at
Page 4, Line 13least four times;
Page 4, Line 14(b) Before January 15, 2026, recommend changes to the
Page 4, Line 15rule-making procedures of the executive director and the
Page 4, Line 16commission so that workforce impact analyses on matters
Page 4, Line 17related to air quality control are incorporated as necessary
Page 4, Line 18into the executive director's and commission's rule-making
Page 4, Line 19processes;
Page 4, Line 20(c) Recommend standard procedures for the executive
Page 4, Line 21director and commission to follow when conducting workforce
Page 4, Line 22impact analyses for inclusion in rule-making procedures; and
Page 4, Line 23(d) Determine if establishing a full-time workforce
Page 4, Line 24advocate position in the department to assist in workforce
Page 4, Line 25impact analysis and data gathering and if the establishment of
Page 4, Line 26prescribed advocacy for workers in the executive director's and
Page 4, Line 27commission's rule-making processes would add value to the
Page 5, Line 1process.
Page 5, Line 2(4) In the discussions to incorporate workforce impact
Page 5, Line 3analyses into rule-making procedures pursuant to subsection
Page 5, Line 4(3)(b) of this section, the council shall:
Page 5, Line 5(a) Consider the workforce impact of a proposed air
Page 5, Line 6quality control rule a determining factor in the adoption of the
Page 5, Line 7rule;
Page 5, Line 8(b) Consider reasonable rule-making options that seek to
Page 5, Line 9minimize significant job loss in the execution of rules that affect
Page 5, Line 10air quality;
Page 5, Line 11(c) Promote rule-making procedures and outcomes based
Page 5, Line 12on a consideration of the workforce impact of a rule in a
Page 5, Line 13consistent manner and on an equal basis as the other factors
Page 5, Line 14that the executive director or the commission must consider in
Page 5, Line 15the rule-making process;
Page 5, Line 16(d) Solicit feedback from regulated workers, business
Page 5, Line 17owners, impacted sectors of industry, and other affected
Page 5, Line 18entities; and
Page 5, Line 19(e) Coordinate with the executive director and the
Page 5, Line 20commission to create a process to allow for information from
Page 5, Line 21workers in regulated industries who are unable to attend or
Page 5, Line 22participate in the rule-making hearings to be entered into the
Page 5, Line 23record of the rule-making proceeding.
Page 5, Line 24(5) The standard procedures recommended by the council
Page 5, Line 25pursuant to subsection (3)(c) of this section must:
Page 5, Line 26(a) Include procedures for the collection of data and
Page 5, Line 27information from workers, employers, labor organizations,
Page 6, Line 1professional associations, worker advocates, and other
Page 6, Line 2relevant organizations for use in conducting the workforce
Page 6, Line 3impact analyses;
Page 6, Line 4(b) Include ways to incorporate differing viewpoints into
Page 6, Line 5the workforce impact analyses to complement or rebut
Page 6, Line 6information gathered from regulated workers and businesses;
Page 6, Line 7(c) Allow for workforce impact analyses to include
Page 6, Line 8testimony, reports, and other data-based information during
Page 6, Line 9rule-making procedures that promote workforce retention,
Page 6, Line 10workforce training, and appropriate transitions for displaced
Page 6, Line 11workers that may result from the implementation of specific air
Page 6, Line 12quality control rules;
Page 6, Line 13(d) Promote the minimization of job loss in the
Page 6, Line 14implementation of statutory requirements that seek to reduce
Page 6, Line 15greenhouse gas emissions and improve air quality;
Page 6, Line 16(e) Require the inclusion of positive and negative impacts
Page 6, Line 17of the proposed rules on the workforce; and
Page 6, Line 18(f) Determine if there are specific recommendations for
Page 6, Line 19workforce impact analyses that are unique to the utility,
Page 6, Line 20manufacturing, or construction industry.
Page 6, Line 21(6) On or before January 15, 2026, the executive director
Page 6, Line 22shall report the council's recommendations to the house of
Page 6, Line 23representatives agriculture, water, and natural resources
Page 6, Line 24committee and the senate agriculture and natural resources
Page 6, Line 25committee.
Page 6, Line 26(7) After the executive director reports the
Page 6, Line 27recommendations to the general assembly pursuant to
Page 7, Line 1subsection (6) of this section, the council shall:
Page 7, Line 2(a) Meet at least four times per calendar year and as
Page 7, Line 3necessary based on scheduled rule-making procedures;
Page 7, Line 4(b) Advise the executive director and the commission in
Page 7, Line 5their rule-making proceedings on matters related to the impact
Page 7, Line 6of proposed rules on employment and workforce development
Page 7, Line 7and training in impacted industries and on matters related to
Page 7, Line 8displaced workers and transitions in the workforce;
Page 7, Line 9(c) Make recommendations to the governor, the
Page 7, Line 10department, and the commission on legislative and regulatory
Page 7, Line 11air quality control policies that impact employment, workforce
Page 7, Line 12development and training, and workforce transitions; and
Page 7, Line 13(d) Annually report on the activities of the council as a
Page 7, Line 14part of the department's presentation to its committee of
Page 7, Line 15reference at a hearing held pursuant to section 2-7-203 (2)(a) of
Page 7, Line 16the "State Measurement for Accountable, Responsive, and
Page 7, Line 17Transparent (SMART) Government Act".
Page 7, Line 18SECTION 2. Safety clause. The general assembly finds,
Page 7, Line 19determines, and declares that this act is necessary for the immediate
Page 7, Line 20preservation of the public peace, health, or safety or for appropriations for
Page 7, Line 21the support and maintenance of the departments of the state and state
Page 7, Line 22institutions.