2023 Colorado Revised Statutes › Title 26.5 - EARLY CHILDHOOD PROGRAMS AND SERVICES (§§ 26.5-1-101 — 26.5-6-103) › Article 4 - CHILD CARE AND EDUCATION (§§ 26.5-4-101 — 26.5-4-403) › Part 2 - COLORADO UNIVERSAL PRESCHOOL PROGRAM (§§ 26.5-4-201 — 26.5-4-211) › Section 26.5-4-211 - Colorado universal preschool program provider participation bonus program - report - rules - definitions - repeal

(1)
As used in this section, unless the context otherwise requires:
(a)
"Colorado state-run preschool program" means the Colorado preschool program administered pursuant to article
28
of title
22
as it existed prior to July 1, 2023.
(b)
"Colorado universal preschool program application portal" means the system the department administers to operate and track the public's participation in the Colorado universal preschool program administered pursuant to this part 2.
(c)
"Colorado universal preschool program provider participation bonus program" or "bonus program" means the Colorado universal preschool program provider participation bonus program created in subsection (2) of this section.
(d)
"Eligible recipient" means a preschool provider participating in the Colorado universal preschool program created pursuant to section
26.5-4-204
that has signed a provider agreement and is in good standing with the department.
(e)
"Low-capacity preschool area" means a community with insufficient Colorado universal preschool programming capacity to meet the demand of parents in the preschool area who wish to enroll the parents' children.
(2)
There is created in the department the Colorado universal preschool program provider participation bonus program. The purpose of the bonus program is to:
(a)
Increase preschool provider participation in the Colorado universal preschool program to ensure that all children have access to a universal preschool classroom in their communities;
(b)
Strengthen the mixed delivery system by supporting preschool providers that have not previously participated in the Colorado state-run preschool program; and
(c)
Preserve access to infant and toddler care.
(3)
(a)
The department shall establish and make publicly available a process for soliciting, vetting, awarding, and monitoring payments under the bonus program that aligns with the purposes of the Colorado universal preschool program. The department shall post the process on the department's website.
(b)
The executive director may promulgate rules, as necessary, for the implementation of the program.
(c)
(I)
An eligible recipient must receive a bonus payment if the eligible recipient has registered with the Colorado universal preschool program application portal to participate in the Colorado universal preschool program by August 31, 2023, and has not previously participated in the Colorado state-run preschool program.
(II)
An eligible recipient may receive additional bonus payments if the eligible recipient:
(A)
Is licensed to provide care to infants and toddlers and is in good standing with the department; and
(B)
Maintains or increases the eligible recipient's licensed capacity to serve infants and toddlers between April 1, 2022, and April 1, 2024.
(III)
Subject to available appropriations, the department shall further distribute bonus payments to an eligible recipient located in a low-capacity preschool area that registers with the Colorado universal preschool program application portal to participate in the Colorado universal preschool program.
(4)
An eligible recipient awarded a bonus payment pursuant to this section shall use the bonus payment to implement or support the Colorado universal preschool program or maintain or expand infant and toddler care in this state.
(5)
(a)
On or before September 1, 2023, the department shall calculate the number of eligible recipients that applied for a bonus payment pursuant to subsection (3)(c) of this section and, based on available appropriations, determine an amount for the bonus payment.
(b)
All bonus payments must be distributed to eligible recipients that qualify pursuant to subsection (3)(c) of this section for a bonus payment on or before June 30, 2024.
(6)
On or before September 1, 2024, the department shall submit a report to the joint budget committee summarizing the following:
(a)
The number of eligible recipients that received a bonus payment;
(b)
The types of eligible recipients that received a bonus payment pursuant to subsection (3)(c) of this section;
(c)
The amount of each bonus payment; and
(d)
The number of bonus payments awarded pursuant to subsections (3)(c)(I), (3)(c)(II), and (3)(c)(III) of this section, respectively.
(7)
This section is repealed, effective July 1, 2025.
Added by 2023 Ch. 336,§ 1, eff. 6/2/2023.