§ 23-3.1-206.9. Colorado Collegeinvest Scholarship Program – Administration – Fund – Policies

1. There is hereby created the Colorado collegeinvest scholarship program for the purpose of increasing access to postsecondary education. The Colorado collegeinvest scholarship program shall be implemented and administered by the authority. A scholarship under the Colorado collegeinvest scholarship program may be awarded only to an undergraduate student who, each year:
   1. 1. Attends a state institution of higher education or a participating private institution of higher education as defined in section 23-18-102 (8) and is eligible to receive a stipend pursuant to article 18 of this title; or
      2. Attends a local district college that is part of a local college district organized pursuant to article 71 of this title; or
      3. Attends an area technical college, as defined in section 23-60-103 (1), and is earning postsecondary credits that may be transferred into an associate degree program at a community college or into a degree program at a four-year institution of higher education as provided in section 23-1-108 (7) and the state credit transfer policies established by the Colorado commission on higher education; and
   2. Demonstrates financial need through the student’s eligibility for the federal Pell grant or its successor program; and
   3. Meets any other eligibility requirements established by the board, which shall include but need not be limited to requiring the student to maintain a high school cumulative grade point average of at least 2.5.
2. 1. The Colorado collegeinvest scholarship trust fund, which is hereby created, shall consist of moneys deposited into the fund by the authority, any moneys appropriated to the fund by the general assembly, and any gifts, grants, and donations received by the authority for the Colorado collegeinvest scholarship program. Moneys deposited into the Colorado collegeinvest scholarship trust fund shall be deemed to be trust funds and shall be administered by the authority and shall be used for the direct and indirect costs of implementing and administering, including marketing, the Colorado collegeinvest scholarship program and may be used for need-based financial aid. Annual expenditures on direct marketing shall not exceed five percent of the annual revenue of the trust. Any unexpended and unencumbered moneys remaining in the Colorado collegeinvest scholarship trust fund at the end of a fiscal year shall remain in the fund and shall not be credited or transferred to the general fund or to any other fund. Any moneys appropriated by the general assembly to the Colorado collegeinvest scholarship trust fund shall be subject to annual appropriation.
   2. Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph (a) of this subsection (2) to the contrary, on July 1, 2009, of moneys credited to the Colorado collegeinvest scholarship trust fund other than moneys transferred from the student loan guarantee fund created in section 23-3.1-107 (1)(a), the state treasurer shall deduct fifteen million dollars from the Colorado collegeinvest scholarship trust fund and transfer such sum to the general fund.
   3. Notwithstanding any provision of paragraph (a) of this subsection (2) to the contrary, of moneys credited to the Colorado collegeinvest scholarship trust fund other than moneys transferred from the student loan guarantee fund created in section 23-3.1-107 (1)(a), the state treasurer shall deduct twenty-nine million eight hundred thousand dollars from the Colorado collegeinvest scholarship trust fund and transfer such sum to the general fund if the revenue estimate prepared in June of 2010 in accordance with section 24-75-201.3 (2), C.R.S., indicates for the fiscal year commencing July 1, 2010, that general fund expenditures for that fiscal year based on appropriations enacted by law will result in the use of more than three-eighths of the reserve required by section 24-75-201.1 (1)(d), C.R.S., or if the revenue estimate prepared in September or December of 2010 or in March or June of 2011 in accordance with section 24-75-201.3 (2), C.R.S., indicates for the fiscal year commencing July 1, 2010, that general fund expenditures for that fiscal year based on appropriations then in effect will result in the use of more than three-eighths of the reserve required by section 24-75-201.1 (1)(d), C.R.S.; however, said amount shall be deducted and transferred by the state treasurer only once pursuant to this paragraph (c).
3. The board shall adopt any policies necessary for the implementation and administration of the Colorado collegeinvest scholarship program, which shall include but need not be limited to implementing the program for the high school graduating class of 2008, providing awards to both part-time and full-time students, and specifying that a scholarship under the program shall only be paid to a student for up to five academic years. The board shall develop an application for the Colorado collegeinvest scholarship program that shall be returned as specified by the board. The application shall include the requirements for and the disqualifications from the Colorado collegeinvest scholarship program. The policies adopted by the board for the implementation and administration of the Colorado collegeinvest scholarship program shall be approved by the executive director.
4. Notwithstanding section 24-1-136 (11)(a)(I), on or before February 1 of each year, the board shall report to the education committees of the senate and the house of representatives, or any successor committees, on the status of the Colorado collegeinvest scholarship program. The report shall include, but need not be limited to, the financial status of the Colorado collegeinvest scholarship trust fund, the amount of money annually spent on administration, the average scholarship award amount, and the number of students participating in the Colorado collegeinvest scholarship program.

Source: L. 2005: Entire section added, p. 166, § 1, effective July 1. L. 2008: IP(1), (1)(c), (2), (3), and (4) amended, p. 205, § 4, effective August 5. L. 2009: (2) amended, (SB 09-279), ch. 367, p. 1926, § 6, effective June 1. L. 2010: (2) amended, (HB 10-1383), ch. 361, p. 1713, § 1, effective June 7. L. 2016: (1)(a)(III) amended, (HB 16-1082), ch. 58, p. 144, § 15, effective August 10. L. 2017: (4) amended, (HB 17-1251), ch. 253, p. 1059, § 6, effective August 9.