Colorado § 24-32-3802 - Child care facility development toolkit and technical assistance program - creation - report - definitions - repeal.

§ 24-32-3802. Child care facility development toolkit and technical assistance program - creation - report - definitions - repeal.

(1) As used in this section, unless the context otherwise requires:

(a) "Eligible recipient" means a child care provider, developer, employer, local government, public school, or institution of higher education.

(b) "Program" means the child care facility development toolkit and technical assistance program created in subsection (2) of this section.

(c) "Program recipient" means an eligible recipient of an approved application to receive assistance under the program.

(2) There is created in the division the child care facility development toolkit and technical assistance program for the purposes of creating a toolkit for the development of child care facilities and providing technical assistance from consultants and related professionals to enable eligible recipients to understand the technical aspects of planning, developing, building, and co-locating child care facilities.

(3) (a) On or before November 1, 2024, the division shall adopt policies and procedures for the program that, at a minimum, include:

(I) Criteria establishing qualifications for an eligible recipient;

(II) Procedures and timelines for an eligible recipient to apply for assistance under the program;

(III) Criteria for determining the amount or nature of the assistance that a program recipient receives;

(IV) Performance criteria for program recipients' projects; and

(V) Reporting requirements for program recipients.

(b) In evaluating applications for assistance under the program, the division shall prioritize projects that will, in the discretion of the division, meet a demonstrable need for child care in the areas of greatest need across the state and will satisfy one or more of the purposes of the program set forth in subsection (2) of this section.

(c) The division shall consult with the department of early childhood, created in section 26.5-1-104 (1), in developing the policies and procedures required to be adopted pursuant to subsection (3)(a) of this section.

(4) On or before January 1, 2026, January 1, 2027, and January 1, 2028, the division shall publish a report summarizing the assistance that was approved under the program in the preceding fiscal year and the uses of assistance by program recipients. The report may contain recommendations by the division concerning the future administration of the program. The report must be shared with the house of representatives education committee, the house of representatives transportation, housing, and local government committee, the senate education committee, and the senate local government and housing committee, or their successor committees, and with the department of early childhood, and must be posted on the division's website.

(5) This section is repealed, effective July 1, 2028.

Source: L. 2024: Entire part added, (HB 24-1237), ch. 279, p. 1849, § 3, effective August 7.