2023 Colorado Revised Statutes › Title 24 - GOVERNMENT - STATE (§§ 24-1-101 — 24-116-102) › PRINCIPAL DEPARTMENTS (§§ 24-30-101 — 24-36-306) › Article 32 - DEPARTMENT OF LOCAL AFFAIRS (§§ 24-32-101 — 24-32-3711) › Part 1 - DIVISION OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT (§§ 24-32-101 — 24-32-134) › Section 24-32-118.5 - Mobile veterans-support unit grant program - fund created - report - definitions - repeal

(1)
As used in this section, unless the context otherwise requires:
(a)
"Division" means the division of local government created in section
24-32-103
.
(b)
"Fund" means the mobile veterans-support unit grant program cash fund created in subsection (5) of this section.
(c)
"Grant program" or "program" means the mobile veterans-support unit grant program created in subsection (2) of this section.
(d)
"Veteran" means a person who served in the active military, naval, air service, and space force of the United States, regardless of the person's discharge status.
(2)
(a)
The division shall establish and administer the mobile veterans-support unit grant program to provide funding to a veteran-owned-and-focused organization that serves veterans who live in rural areas or are experiencing homelessness.
(b)
The grant program must include funding for:
(I)
A two-year grant program;
(II)
Two staff members; and
(III)
The purchase of a vehicle to distribute supplies or transport veterans in rural areas who do not have access to public or private transportation. Every effort must be made to ensure the vehicle is compliant with the federal "Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990",
42 U.S.C. sec. 12101
et seq., as amended, in order to serve veterans who live with a disability.
(c)
The division shall establish and publicize criteria for the grant program. The eligible organization must:
(I)
Serve veterans regardless of the discharged status; and
(II)
Have experience serving veterans experiencing homelessness.
(d)
A mobile veterans-support unit established with the assistance of a grant award shall seek to build trust with the veterans it serves and act as a point of contact for veterans who do not have access to public or private transportation.
(e)
The division shall establish procedures and a timeline for an organization that receives grant money to report information to the division about the use of the grant money.
(3)
(a)
On or before October 15, 2021, the division shall:
(I)
Adopt policies and procedures for the administration of the program; and
(II)
Establish application procedures by which eligible organizations may apply for and receive money from the program.
(b)
Beginning December 1, 2021, the division shall:
(I)
Accept grant applications; and
(II)
Verify that an application meets the criteria described in subsection (2)(c) of this section.
(c)
On or before January 21, 2022, and subject to available appropriations, the division shall award grant money to eligible applicants.
(d)
On or before March 21, 2024, the division shall submit a request to the general assembly to continue the mobile veterans-support unit grant program.
(4)
The division may seek, accept, and expend gifts, grants, or donations from private or public sources for the purposes of this section. The division shall transfer each gift, grant, and donation to the state treasurer, who shall credit the same to the fund.
(5)
(a)
There is created in the state treasury the mobile veterans-support unit grant program cash fund, which shall consist of:
(I)
Gifts, grants, or donations collected pursuant to subsection (4) of this section; and
(II)
Money appropriated to the fund by the general assembly.
(b)
The state treasurer shall credit any interest and income derived from the deposit and investment of money in the fund to the fund.
(c)
Any unexpended and unencumbered money in the fund at the end of a fiscal year remains in the fund and is not transferred to the general fund or any other fund; except that, if the program is not renewed pursuant to subsection (3)(d) of this section, any money remaining in the fund as of June 30, 2024, shall be credited to the general fund.
(d)
Subject to annual appropriation by the general assembly, the division may expend money from the fund for the purpose of implementing this section. Subject to annual appropriation by the general assembly, the division may expend money from the fund for the direct and indirect costs associated with implementing the program.
(6)
A recipient of a grant pursuant to this section is not disqualified from receiving a grant pursuant to the veterans assistance grant program created in section
28-5-712
.
(7)
This section is repealed, effective January 1, 2025.
Added by 2021 Ch. 297,§1, eff. 9/7/2021.
2021 Ch. 297, was passed without a safety clause. See Colo. Const. art. V, § 1(3).