Colorado § 24-46.3-705 - Statewide work force innovation initiatives - development - stakeholder process - distribution of money for initiatives.

§ 24-46.3-705. Statewide work force innovation initiatives - development - stakeholder process - distribution of money for initiatives.

(1) The state council shall use the money allocated pursuant to section 24-46.3-703 (1)(b) for statewide work force innovation initiatives designed to perform the activities specified in subsection (2) of this section to address the negative economic impacts of the COVID-19 public health emergency.

(2) The state council shall conduct a stakeholder process to engage work force development boards and community leaders in the design of statewide initiatives, which may include the following activities:

(a) Supporting employers and trade associations that operate in multiple counties in developing training programs;

(b) Managing alignment of statewide activities in partnership with work force development areas for skills-based hiring and talent development activities;

(c) Capacity building and technical assistance activities, such as staff or contractors to support the administration of local competitions and related activities and contracting with local or national experts on evidence-based policy, results-based contracting, rigorous evaluation design, and implementation science;

(d) Capacity building and technical assistance for community-based organizations to increase knowledge and understanding of work force programming;

(e) Testing similar programs in multiple locations to assess what works so that successful practices used in specific locations can be scaled or replicated in other locations;

(f) Executing and managing contracts with external evaluators in accordance with section 24-46.3-706;

(g) Performing monitoring and compliance activities necessary to demonstrate fiscal integrity; and

(h) Conducting outreach and communication campaigns to reach Coloradans, including underserved and disproportionately impacted populations, who may benefit from available programs.

(3) (a) The state council shall distribute money in accordance with state and federal procurement guidelines for statewide work force innovation initiatives developed pursuant to this section that will perform activities specified in subsection (2) of this section.

(b) Any person that receives money for a statewide work force innovation initiative pursuant to this section shall:

(I) Report information as required by section 24-46.3-706 to the connecting Colorado database to facilitate an evaluation of the activities and the outcomes achieved; and

(II) Comply with any reporting requirements as determined by the state controller pursuant to section 24-75-226.

Source: L. 2021: Entire part added, (HB 21-1264), ch. 308, p. 1869, § 3, effective June 23.