Colorado Veterans' Service-To-Career Pilot Program

The act creates the Colorado veterans' service-to-career pilot program (program) for the purpose of enhancing workforce center services that are not available under federal law. The department of labor and employment will select one or more workforce centers to contract with a nonprofit agency to administer the program. A selected workforce center shall develop and expand programs to provide workforce development-related services specifically tailored to the unique needs and talents of veterans, spouses, and other eligible participants. The services provided by the program may include:

• Skills training;
• Opportunities for apprenticeship placements;
• Opportunities for internship placements;
• Opportunities for work placements with businesses or other organizations; and
• Support services.

The department is required to develop a grant program so that workforce centers may apply for money to administer the program. Money for the internships and apprenticeships may come from the employer, federal money, and grant money through the general fund. The bill outlines specific requirements that workforce centers must meet in order to participate in the grant program.

$500,000 is appropriated from the marijuana tax cash fund to the department for use by the division of employment and training to implement the program.

(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)