Colorado § 8-83-601 - Definitions.

§ 8-83-601. Definitions.

As used in this part 6:

(1) "Commission" means the business experiential-learning commission in the department created by executive order B 2015 004, which works in partnership with the office of economic development and the work force development council, or a subsequent entity established for the same or similar purpose.

(2) "Digital equity" means the condition in which individuals and communities have access to the information technology that is needed for full participation in society and the economy of the United States.

(3) (a) "Digital inclusion" means the activities that are necessary to ensure that all individuals in the state have access to, and the use of, affordable information and communication technologies, such as:

(I) Reliable fixed and wireless broadband internet service;

(II) Internet-enabled devices that meet the needs of the user; and

(III) Applications and online content designed to enable and encourage self-sufficiency, participation, and collaboration.

(b) "Digital inclusion" includes the ability to obtain:

(I) Access to digital literacy training;

(II) Quality technical support; and

(III) Basic awareness of measures to ensure online privacy and cybersecurity.

(4) "Digital literacy" means the skills associated with using technology that enable users to find, evaluate, organize, create, disseminate, and communicate information.

(4.5) Repealed.

(5) "Incentive program" means the work-based learning incentive program created in section 8-83-602.

(5.5) "K-12 teacher" or "teacher in a K-12 classroom" means a teacher teaching in a public school in the state.

(5.7) "Local education provider" means a school district, a board of cooperative services that operates a school, a district charter school, or an institute charter school.

(6) "Next-skilling" means activities to develop future-ready skills necessary for employment in the twenty-first century and includes the focus areas of human skills, digital skills, business skills, growth mindset, and a lifelong learning mindset.

(7) "Office" means the office of future of work created in section 8-15.8-103.

(8) "Office of economic development" means the Colorado office of economic development created in section 24-48.5-101.

(9) "Office of new Americans" means the office created in section 8-3.7-103.

(10) "Program" means the statewide digital navigator program created in section 8-83-603.

(10.5) "Public school" means a school in the state that enrolls students in any of grades kindergarten through twelfth grade, including a traditional public school of a school district, as described in section 22-1-101 (1); a charter school, as defined in section 22-30.5-103 (2); or an institute charter school, as defined in section 22-30.5-502 (6).

(11) (a) "Reskilling" means activities to:

(I) Support unemployed and underemployed individuals who need or want to change industries in order to return to full-time work or who need or want to obtain more appropriate work-based skills; and

(II) Help unemployed and underemployed individuals achieve economic self-sufficiency.

(b) "Reskilling" may include technical training for new positions and new careers and entrepreneurial training for individuals who wish to pursue self-employment and business ownership.

(12) "Skills-based hiring" means hiring a person based on the person's knowledge, skills, and abilities that are specific to the job for which the person is being considered.

(12.5) "STEM" means the combination of the disciplines of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.

(13) "Target populations" includes:

(a) Any household with an income that is not more than one hundred fifty percent of the federal poverty level, as determined by the most current federal poverty guidelines issued by the United States department of health and human services;

(b) Individuals who are fifty years of age or older;

(c) Individuals who are or were incarcerated;

(d) Veterans;

(e) Individuals with disabilities;

(f) Individuals who have recently immigrated to the United States and reside in this state;

(g) Individuals who are English language learners;

(h) Individuals with low levels of literacy;

(i) Individuals who primarily reside in rural areas;

(j) Individuals experiencing homelessness; and

(k) Youth.

(l4) "Upskilling" means activities to increase the skill levels of an employee so the employee is able to retain employment and advance within a company.

(15) (a) "Work-based learning" means learning that occurs, in whole or in part, in the workplace that provides youth and adults, including teachers in K-12 classrooms, with hands-on, real-world experience and training for skills development.

(b) "Work-based learning" includes activities such as job shadowing, internships, externships, pre-apprenticeships, apprenticeships, residencies, and incumbent-worker training.

(c) "Work-based learning" also includes externships in STEM or STEM-related fields tailored to provide K-12 teachers with knowledge to improve classroom curriculum.

(16) "Work-based learning intermediary" means an entity selected by the department pursuant to section 8-83-602 (3).

(17) "Work force development council" means the state work force development council created in section 24-46.3-101.

(18) "Youth" means an individual eligible to be educated in the public school system pursuant to section 2 of article IX of the state constitution.

Source: L. 2022: Entire part added, (SB 22-140), ch. 357, p. 2548, § 2, effective July 1. L. 2023: (7) amended, (SB 23-051), ch. 37, p. 143, § 15, effective March 23; (4.5), (5.5), (5.7), (10.5), and (12.5) added and (15) amended, (HB 23-1198), ch. 239, p. 1286, § 1, effective August 7. L. 2026: (4.5) repealed, (SB 26-169), ch. 311, p. 1798, § 6, effective August 12.