Colorado § 24-75-231 - Workers, employers, and workforce centers cash fund - creation - allowable uses - definitions - repeal.

§ 24-75-231. Workers, employers, and workforce centers cash fund - creation - allowable uses - definitions - repeal.

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

(a) "American Rescue Plan Act of 2021" means the federal "American Rescue Plan Act of 2021", Pub.L. 117-2, as the act may be subsequently amended.

(b) "COVID-19" means the coronavirus disease caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, also known as SARS-CoV-2.

(c) "COVID-19 public health emergency" or "public health emergency" means the period beginning on January 1, 2020, and extending until the termination of the national emergency concerning the COVID-19 outbreak declared pursuant to the federal "National Emergencies Act", 50 U.S.C. sec. 1601 et seq.

(d) "Department" means a principal department identified in section 24-1-110 and the judicial department. The term also includes the office of the governor, including any offices created therein.

(e) "Fund" means the workers, employers, and workforce centers cash fund created in subsection (2)(a) of this section or an identical companion fund created by operation of section 24-75-226 (4)(c).

(2) (a) The workers, employers, and workforce centers cash fund is hereby created in the state treasury. The fund consists of money credited to the fund in accordance with subsection (2)(b) of this section and any other money that the general assembly may appropriate or transfer to the fund. The general assembly may appropriate money from the fund to respond to the negative economic impacts of the COVID-19 public health emergency or for the provision of government services, including for the following purposes:

(I) To provide assistance to unemployed workers, including job training for individuals who want to and are available for work;

(II) To provide assistance to households;

(III) For programs, services, or other assistance for populations disproportionately impacted by the COVID-19 public health emergency, such as programs or services that address or mitigate the impacts of the public health emergency on education;

(IV) To provide aid to impacted industries, small businesses, and nonprofit organizations to respond to the negative economic impacts of the COVID-19 public health emergency through the provision of related educational and job training services; and

(V) For administrative costs related to the purposes specified in subsections (2)(a)(I) to (2)(a)(IV) of this section.

(b) (I) Three days after June 23, 2021, the state treasurer shall transfer:

(A) Two hundred million dollars from the "American Rescue Plan Act of 2021" cash fund created in section 24-75-226 to the fund; and

(B) Twenty-five million dollars from the general fund to the fund.

(II) Repealed.

(III) The fund also includes:

(A) Thirty million nine hundred thirty-six thousand twelve dollars from the money the state received from the federal coronavirus state fiscal recovery fund under section 9901 of title IX, subtitle M of the "American Rescue Plan Act of 2021", which the state treasurer shall transfer to the fund; and

(B) The amount transferred to the fund in accordance with section 24-75-228 (3.5)(d).

(c) Three days after May 26, 2022, the state treasurer shall transfer thirty-two million three hundred seventy-three thousand one hundred eighty-four dollars from the money in the fund that originated from the general fund to the general fund.

(3) A department may expend money that originates from money the state received from the federal coronavirus state fiscal recovery fund that is appropriated from the fund for purposes permitted under the "American Rescue Plan Act of 2021" and shall not use the money for any purpose prohibited by that act. A department or any person who receives money from the fund shall comply with any requirements set forth in section 24-75-226.

(3.8) Pursuant to section 24-75-226.5 (6), on December 31, 2026, the state treasurer shall transfer any unexpended and unencumbered money in the fund that originates from the ARPA refinance state money cash fund to the ARPA refinance state money cash fund.

(4) This section is repealed, effective July 1, 2027.

Source: L. 2021: Entire section added, (HB 21-1264), ch. 308, p. 1871, § 4, effective June 23. L. 2022: (2)(b)(II) repealed, (HB 22-1342), ch. 137, p. 922, § 14, effective April 25; (2)(c) added, (HB 22-1350), ch. 233, p. 1726, § 2, effective May 26; IP(2)(a) amended and (2)(b)(III) added, (HB 22-1411), ch. 271, p. 1956, § 6, effective May 27. L. 2024: (3) amended and (3.8) added, (HB 24-1466), ch. 429, p. 2936, § 12, effective June 5.

Cross references: For the legislative declaration in HB 21-1264, see section 2 of chapter 308, Session Laws of Colorado 2021. For the legislative declaration in HB 24-1466, see section 1 of chapter 429, Session Laws of Colorado 2024.