§ 24-75-231. Workers, Employers, and Workforce Centers Cash Fund – Creation – Allowable Uses – Definitions – Repeal

1. As used in this section, unless the context otherwise requires:
   1. “American Rescue Plan Act of 2021” means the federal “American Rescue Plan Act of 2021”, Pub.L. 117-2, as the act may be subsequently amended.
   2. “COVID-19” means the coronavirus disease caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, also known as SARS-CoV-2.
   3. “COVID-19 public health emergency” or “public health emergency” means the period beginning on January 1, 2020, and extending until the termination of the national emergency concerning the COVID-19 outbreak declared pursuant to the federal “National Emergencies Act”, 50 U.S.C. sec. 1601 et seq.
   4. “Department” means a principal department identified in section 24-1-110 and the judicial department. The term also includes the office of the governor, including any offices created therein.
   5. “Fund” means the workers, employers, and workforce centers cash fund created in subsection (2)(a) of this section or an identical companion fund created by operation of section 24-75-226 (4)(c).
2. 1. The workers, employers, and workforce centers cash fund is hereby created in the state treasury. The fund consists of money credited to the fund in accordance with subsection (2)(b) of this section and any other money that the general assembly may appropriate or transfer to the fund. To respond to the public health emergency or its negative economic impacts, the general assembly may appropriate money from the fund to respond to the negative economic impacts of the COVID-19 public health emergency, including for the following purposes:
      1. To provide assistance to unemployed workers, including job training for individuals who want to and are available for work;
      2. To provide assistance to households;
      3. For programs, services, or other assistance for populations disproportionately impacted by the COVID-19 public health emergency, such as programs or services that address or mitigate the impacts of the public health emergency on education;
      4. To provide aid to impacted industries, small businesses, and nonprofit organizations to respond to the negative economic impacts of the COVID-19 public health emergency through the provision of related educational and job training services; and
      5. For administrative costs related to the purposes specified in subsections (2)(a)(I) to (2)(a)(IV) of this section.
   2. 1. Three days after June 23, 2021, the state treasurer shall transfer:
         1. Two hundred million dollars from the “American Rescue Plan Act of 2021” cash fund created in section 24-75-226 to the fund; and
         2. Twenty-five million dollars from the general fund to the fund.
      2. The state treasurer shall credit all interest and income derived from the deposit and investment of money in the fund to the fund.
3. A department may expend money appropriated from the fund for purposes permitted under the “American Rescue Plan Act of 2021” and shall not use the money for any purpose prohibited by that act. A department or any person who receives money from the fund shall comply with any requirements set forth in section 24-75-226.
4. This section is repealed, effective July 1, 2027.

Source: L. 2021: Entire section added, (HB 21-1264), ch. 308, p. 1871, § 4, effective June 23.

Editor’s note: Section 20 of chapter 308 (HB 21-1264), Session Laws of Colorado 2021, provides that the act adding this section takes effect only if SB 21-288 (chapter 221) becomes law and takes effect either upon the effective date of HB 21-1264 or one day after the passage of SB 21-288, whichever is later. HB 21-1264 became law and took effect June 23, 2021, and SB 21-288 took effect June 11, 2021.

Cross references: For the legislative declaration in HB 21-1264, see section 2 of chapter 308, Session Laws of Colorado 2021.