Colorado § 8-7.5-103 - Direct care workforce stabilization board - creation - membership.

§ 8-7.5-103. Direct care workforce stabilization board - creation - membership.

(1) Board creation. The direct care workforce stabilization board is created in the department as a type 2 entity, as defined in section 24-1-105, and exercises its powers and performs its duties and functions under the department and the executive director of the department.

(2) Board membership.

(a) The board consists of fifteen members appointed as follows:

(I) The executive director shall appoint the following members to the board:

(A) A representative of the department;

(B) Four members representing direct care employers or employer organizations, including at least one member that serves a rural or frontier area of the state;

(C) Four members representing direct care workers or worker organizations, including at least one member from a rural or frontier area of the state; and

(D) Four members representing direct care consumers who receive direct care services from direct care workers, including one member from an organization representing individuals with disabilities, one member from an organization representing older adults, and at least one member from a rural or frontier area of the state;

(II) The executive director of the department of health care policy and financing shall appoint a representative of the department of health care policy and financing to serve on the board; and

(III) The executive director of the department of public health and environment shall appoint a representative of the department of public health and environment to serve on the board.

(b) The appointing authorities shall make initial appointments to the board by October 1, 2023. To the extent possible, the appointing authorities shall appoint board members who represent Colorado's diversity with regard to ethnicity, race, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, disability, age, and socioeconomic background.

(3) Terms.

(a) (I) Except as provided in subsection (3)(a)(II) of this section, members of the board serve three-year terms of office and shall not serve more than two consecutive terms of office.

(II) and (III) Repealed.

(b) If a vacancy occurs on the board, the appointing authority for the vacant position shall fill the position on the board for the remainder of the unexpired term with a member qualified for the vacated position.

(4) Board chair. The board shall elect by a majority vote a member of the board to serve as the chair of the board.

(5) Meetings and hearings.

(a) The board shall convene its first meeting no later than November 15, 2023, and shall meet at least quarterly thereafter and at other times as determined by the chair for purposes of developing recommendations for minimum direct care employment standards pursuant to section 8-7.5-104.

(b) In addition to the meetings described in subsection (5)(a) of this section, the board shall host public hearings as described in section 8-7.5-104 (2)(c) to engage with and obtain input from direct care workers, direct care employers, and direct care consumers.

(c) All meetings and hearings of the board must include an option for remote participation by board members and any other participants in the meetings or hearings.

(6) Voting. The board may take action, including action to recommend minimum direct care employment standards under section 8-7.5-104, only upon the affirmative vote of at least eight members of the board.

(7) Staffing. The department shall provide staff support to the board as needed.

(8) No compensation - expense reimbursement. Members of the board serve without compensation but are entitled to reimbursement for actual and necessary expenses incurred in performing their duties under this article 7.5.

Source: L. 2023: Entire article added, (SB 23-261), ch. 362, p. 2172, § 1, effective August 7.

Editor's note: Subsection (3)(a)(III) provided for the repeal of subsections (3)(a)(II) and (3)(a)(III), effective September 1, 2024. (See L. 2023, p. 2172.)