Colorado § 8-15.7-201 - State apprenticeship agency - community college system - career and technical education - apprenticeship programs - alignment - repeal.

§ 8-15.7-201. State apprenticeship agency - community college system - career and technical education - apprenticeship programs - alignment - repeal.

(1) The state apprenticeship agency, in coordination with the career and technical education division of the Colorado community college system, shall align the high school career and technical education system and the registered apprenticeship system for programs and occupations related to infrastructure, advanced manufacturing, education, or health care. On or before July 1, 2026, the state apprenticeship agency and the career and technical education division must:

(a) Establish at least one state-level advisory board that will create state-approved programs that align with registered apprenticeship programs;

(b) Use each state-level advisory board to align the competencies of high school career and technical education division programs with registered apprenticeship programs; and

(c) Educate registered apprenticeship sponsors on how to include credit for previous experience from career and technical education in program standards.

(2) The state-level advisory boards shall select which high school career and technical education division programs to align with registered apprenticeship programs based on available registered apprenticeship programs in the relevant occupations and other criteria as established by the state apprenticeship agency in collaboration with the career and technical education division.

(3) On and after July 1, 2026, the state apprenticeship agency, in coordination with the career and technical education division of the Colorado community college system, shall expand the number of aligned programs in infrastructure, advanced manufacturing, education, and health care or related occupations identified as top jobs by the annual Colorado talent pipeline report produced pursuant to section 24-46.3-103 (3)(a). The state-approved programs do not invalidate existing or future career and technical education division programs that have demonstrated alignment to high wage, high skills, or in-demand industries.

(4) The office of future of work in the department shall engage in proactive outreach to foster collaboration between registered apprenticeship programs, the Colorado community college system, career and technical education programs, institutions of higher education, and other training providers in the related programs and occupations to facilitate awareness of opportunities for current and prospective participants.

(5) The community college system may receive funding for the services described in this section through a limited purpose fee-for-service contract pursuant to section 23-18-308 (1)(m).

(6) This section is repealed, effective June 30, 2028.

Source: L. 2024: Entire part added, (SB 24-104), ch. 299, p. 2037, § 3, effective August 7. L. 2026: (6) added, (HB 26-1371), ch. 281, p. 1564, § 5, effective June 1.

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