Colorado § 8-88-303 - Program to assist individuals with disabilities - assistance to obtain disability benefits - rules.

§ 8-88-303. Program to assist individuals with disabilities - assistance to obtain disability benefits - rules.

(1) (a) The authority shall invite nonprofit entities, independent living centers as defined in section 8-85-102 (5), county departments of human services, county departments of social services, and other state and county agencies to submit proposals for programs to aid individuals with disabilities in accessing disability benefits.

(b) To qualify for consideration under this section, a nonprofit organization must be based in the state and:

(I) Be governed by a board:

(A) That is composed of persons with a demonstrated commitment to improving the lives of recipients with disabilities;

(B) That includes members who understand a range of disabilities; and

(C) A majority of the members of which are individuals with disabilities, individuals with immediate family members with disabilities, or individuals who are caregivers to a family member with a disability; or

(II) Have a contract with an organization that meets the criteria in subsection (1)(b)(I) of this section.

(c) To qualify for consideration under this section, a county department of human services, a county department of social services, or another state or county agency must have a contract with an organization that meets the criteria in subsection (1)(b)(I) of this section.

(2) (a) (I) The authority shall review the proposed programs and, beginning on July 1, 2027, shall award a contract or grant to one or more of the entities that best meet the requirements of this section.

(II) The term of each contract or grant is up to three years. The authority shall include evaluation criteria in the contract with metrics that must be met at least once a year to continue funding.

(b) In awarding a contract or grant, the authority shall consider whether the proposal includes:

(I) A system for evaluating whether an individual with a disability is reasonably able to navigate the application process to obtain disability benefits, health care, and employment;

(II) A system for prioritizing the need of applicants based upon the evaluations;

(III) A plan for assisting individuals with disabilities in navigating the processes of obtaining and retaining disability benefits, health care, and employment;

(IV) A plan for establishing working relationships with state agencies, county departments of human or social services, health-care providers, the United States social security administration, and the business community;

(V) A plan for encouraging individuals with disabilities to apply for open positions and a plan for retaining employees with disabilities;

(VI) Reasonable standards for accounting control of expenditures; and

(VII) Metrics to evaluate the program's quality and cost-effectiveness.

(c) The authority shall not discriminate against an applicant based on the applicant's advocacy concerning individuals with disabilities.

(d) To the greatest extent possible, the authority shall ensure, through one or more contracts or grants pursuant to this section, that individuals with disabilities are served statewide.

(3) An entity awarded a contract or grant under this section shall make quarterly reports of expenditures to the authority. The authority shall include in the contract or grant a method and format for making the reports.

(4) The authority shall establish rules to ensure money received from a contract or grant pursuant to this section is used for the purposes specified in this section.

Source: L. 2026: Entire part added, (HB 26-1382), ch. 301, p. 1708, § 10, effective June 2.