2023 Colorado Revised Statutes › Title 8 - LABOR AND INDUSTRY (§§ 8-1-101 — 8-88-207) › LABOR I - DEPARTMENT OF LABOR AND EMPLOYMENT (§§ 8-1-101 — 8-20.5-401) › LABOR RELATIONS (§§ 8-2-101 — 8-3.8-101) › Article 3.7 - COLORADO OFFICE OF NEW AMERICANS (§§ 8-3.7-101 — 8-3.7-205) › Part 1 - COLORADO OFFICE OF NEW AMERICANS (§§ 8-3.7-101 — 8-3.7-108) › Section 8-3.7-103 - [Effective until 10/1/2024] Colorado office of new Americans - creation - duties - report

(1)
(a)
There is hereby created, initially in the department of labor and employment, the Colorado office of new Americans, the head of which shall be the director of the Colorado office of new Americans, who shall be appointed by the executive director of the department. The Colorado office of new Americans and the director of the office are
type 1
entities, as defined in section
24-1-105
, and exercise their powers and perform their duties and functions under the department of labor and employment. The director of the ONA has regular access to the office of the governor and has the power to convene other state agencies.
(b)
The director shall staff the ONA in order to effectively meet the goals and intentions set forth in this article 3.7 and to meet future needs of Colorado's new American community. In order to successfully carry out the ONA's purpose, it is the general assembly's intent that an individual's lived experience or work within the immigrant community be considered when hiring decisions are made for ONA staff. The ONA serves as the point of contact for immigrant-serving state agencies, private sector organizations, and the public about immigrant issues in Colorado.
(c)
(I)
The ONA shall convene stakeholders and state agencies, including the department, the governor's office, the department of human services, the department of regulatory agencies, and the department of public health and environment, to develop a recommendation to the governor's office on what state agencies or offices are best suited to administer the Colorado refugee services program created in section
26-2-138
, and any related programs, so that the ONA's refugee integration goals are met or exceeded.
(II)
The ONA shall complete a draft recommendation before January 1, 2022, and shall complete a final recommendation, which the ONA shall provide to the governor's office, no later than one year after September 7, 2021.
(III)
The department shall report on the efficacy of the ONA and the ONA's progress toward meeting the goals set forth in this article 3.7, including the draft and final recommendations described in subsection (1)(c)(II) of this section, as part of the department's annual presentation to its legislative committee of reference pursuant to section
2-7-203
. If necessary, the committee may make a recommendation that a member of the general assembly sponsor appropriate legislation regarding the Colorado refugee services program created in section
26-2-138
.
(2)
The Colorado office of new Americans shall:
(a)
Implement a statewide strategy to facilitate economic stability and promote successful economic, social, linguistic, and cultural integration by investing in the success of immigrants in Colorado;
(b)
Identify and address issues related to integration;
(c)
Foster enhanced inclusion for immigrants;
(d)
Ensure equitable opportunities and access to services for immigrants;
(e)
Establish and work with a community advisory committee that can provide input to the state from Colorado's immigrant communities;
(f)
Work directly with immigrant populations to hear and address their concerns and obstacles in accessing services;
(g)
Coordinate with the Colorado refugee services program created in section
26-2-138
to align it with the goals of the ONA, and manage or direct any other relevant programs that might exist or be created on or after September 7, 2021, including immigrant-focused state programs, initiatives, and policies, that might exist or be created in the future, so that the state's services for immigrants and the state's approach to immigrant integration are cohesive, integrated, and elegant;
(h)
Coordinate with and make recommendations to the governor, the general assembly, and state agencies on ways to improve policies and programs to support immigrant integration across the state, such as:
(I)
Recommending changes in the organization, management, programs, and budget of state agencies in order to promote the integration of immigrants;
(II)
Coordinating with state agencies and public-private partnerships;
(III)
Serving as a resource for community-based organizations serving immigrants in Colorado;
(IV)
Creating a public-private program to build up immigrant-serving nonprofits statewide;
(V)
Responding to inquiries and serving as the point of contact for immigrant-serving agencies, state agencies, and the public about immigrant issues in Colorado; and
(VI)
Recommending and participating in cultural competency and diversity, equity, and inclusion training for state departments;
(i)
Ensure the ONA is utilizing data only as authorized under state and federal law to inform the state's efforts to advance economic stability and integration for immigrants. The ONA shall never use or share data solely for the use of civil immigration enforcement.
(j)
As funding allows, undertake studies, symposia, research, and factual reports to gather insight and to formulate and present recommendations to the governor, state agencies, and the general assembly related to issues of concern and importance to immigrants in Colorado. The ONA shall also analyze economic and demographic trends in order to make policy and programmatic recommendations to the governor, state agencies, and the general assembly.
(k)
To the extent possible, ensure that all ONA services, systems, vital documents, and other communications and resources, including websites, are accessible to all Coloradans, regardless of English proficiency and disabilities. Where applicable and possible, the ONA shall ensure compliance exceeds the compliance requirements of the federal "Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990",
42 U.S.C. sec. 12101
et seq., as amended, any available English proficiency plans, and the Colorado anti-discrimination act in part 6 of article
34
of title
24
.
(l)
Contribute education and workforce data beginning in the 2025-26 state fiscal year, as necessary, to the Colorado statewide longitudinal data system consistent with the governance practices established by the Colorado statewide longitudinal data system governing board pursuant to section 24-37.5-125 (4).
(3)
As funding allows, the ONA shall promote integration activities among immigrants by using a model similar to the family resource center program set forth in part 1 of article 3 of title 26.5 with the goal of implementing immigrant support through community-based initiatives and nonprofit organizations where immigrants and immigrant families can access formal and informal support to promote their health, economic well-being, and integration. The activities must include, but need not be limited to:
(a)
Economic opportunities such as:
(I)
Workforce development, skills recognition, and barrier reduction;
(II)
Initiatives that increase economic stability;
(III)
Entrepreneurship and higher education attainment; and
(IV)
Naturalization among eligible individuals;
(b)
Increased access, such as:
(I)
Connecting immigrants to local, state, and federal resources, and to other resources as they are available or relevant to meet the immigrants' needs;
(II)
Connecting immigrants and immigrant families with English language learning programs; and
(III)
Providing immigrants and immigrant families with referrals to community-based organizations; and
(c)
State education and outreach by:
(I)
Promoting and celebrating the success and contributions of Colorado's immigrant community; and
(II)
Engaging with the receiving community in order to foster inclusivity and integration by building awareness, promoting mutual understanding, and increasing social bridging opportunities.
(4)
The ONA shall advise and provide guidance to the governor, state agencies, and the general assembly on any immigrant issue.
(5)
(a)
On or before November 1, 2022, and, notwithstanding section
24-1-136(11)
, on or before November 1 each year thereafter, the director of the office of new Americans, or the director's designee, shall submit a report to the general assembly. The report shall include a review and summary of the activity, information, and data on all the programs that the office administered during the prior fiscal year.
(b)
In order to minimize the costs associated with preparing the report required by subsection (5)(a) of this section, the ONA is authorized to incorporate or append to such report any other reports it is required by law to develop.
Amended by 2024 Ch. 238,§ 5, eff. 5/23/2024.
Amended by 2022 Ch. 469, § 85, eff. 8/10/2022.
Amended by 2022 Ch. 123, § 20, eff. 7/1/2022.
Added by 2021 Ch. 350, § 1, eff. 9/7/2021.
2022 Ch. 469, was passed without a safety clause. See Colo. Const. art. V, § 1(3).
This section is set out more than once due to postponed, multiple, or conflicting amendments.