Colorado § 26-7-103 - Adoption assistance program - created - administration - funding - reporting - legislative intent - rules - definition.

§ 26-7-103. Adoption assistance program - created - administration - funding - reporting - legislative intent - rules - definition.

(1) The adoption assistance program is created in the state department and supervised by the state department. The program shall be administered by county departments pursuant to this article 7. The state department shall, through the state board of human services, adopt any rules necessary to implement the provisions of this article 7.

(2) In addition to any money appropriated to the state department by the general assembly for the program, the state department is also authorized to accept, on behalf of the program, any federal funds made available for any purpose consistent with the provisions of this article 7.

(3) The state department shall keep data as necessary to evaluate the program's effectiveness in providing stability to eligible children, youth, and families involved in adoption through the child welfare system. On or before November 1, 2020, and every November 1 thereafter, the state department shall prepare and make available to the public a report that includes, but is not limited to, information concerning:

(a) The cost of administering the program, including expenditures for monthly subsidies and other benefits;

(b) The types of services awarded through the program on a statewide basis;

(c) The number of dissolved adoptions involving children and youth who qualified for or received benefits from the program;

(d) The results of any program evaluation performed by the state department.

(4) On or before January 2, 2025, and every January 2 thereafter, the state department shall report to the joint budget committee data on actual program caseload and expenditures for the prior year as well as projected program caseload and expenditures for the current year. Notwithstanding the requirement in section 24-1-136 (11)(a)(I), the requirement to submit the report required in this subsection (4) continues indefinitely.

(5) It is the general assembly's intent that the program operate as an entitlement program and, pursuant to section 24-75-109 (1)(b), the state department is authorized to overexpend its appropriation to allow for reimbursement of ninety percent of counties' costs.

(6) As used in this section, unless the context otherwise requires, "program" means the adoption assistance program created in subsection (1) of this section.

Source: L. 2019: Entire article R&RE, (SB 19-178), ch. 180, p. 2043, § 1, effective August 2. L. 2024: (4) to (6) added, (HB 24-1408), ch. 134, p. 501, § 4, effective April 29.