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Second Regular Session
Seventy-fifth General Assembly
STATE OF COLORADO
INTRODUCED
LLS NO. 26-0618.01 Sarah Lozano x3858 HOUSE BILL 26-1055
House Committees Senate Committees
Education
A BILL FOR AN ACT
CONCERNING THE CREATION OF THE MY COLORADO CARD PILOT101
PROGRAM, AND , IN CONNECTION THEREWITH , PROVIDING102
YOUTH IN GRADES SIX THROUGH TWELVE WITH ACCESS TO103
CULTURAL, ARTS , RECREATIONAL , OR EXTRACURRICULAR104
FACILITIES THROUGHOUT COLORADO.105
Bill Summary
(Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced and does
not reflect any amendments that may be subsequently adopted. If this bill
passes third reading in the house of introduction, a bill summary that
applies to the reengrossed version of this bill will be available at
http://leg.colorado.gov.)
The bill creates the my Colorado card pilot program (pilot
program) in the department of public health and environment
HOUSE SPONSORSHIP
Lindsay,
SENATE SPONSORSHIP
(None),
Shading denotes HOUSE amendment. Double underlining denotes SENATE amendment.
Capital letters or bold & italic numbers indicate new material to be added to existing law.
Dashes through the words or numbers indicate deletions from existing law.
(department) to provide individuals in grades 6 through 12 (youth) access
to cultural, arts, recreational, or extracurricular activities throughout the
state (activities). The department must develop a physical or digital my
Colorado card for the youth participating in the pilot program to access
the activities covered by the pilot program.
No later than December 30, 2026, the department, after obtaining
feedback and recommendations from community-led organizations no
later than December 1, 2026, must select a limited number of pilot
communities to participate in the pilot program (selected pilot
communities). A selected pilot community must appoint a coordination
team to support youth participation in the pilot program.
The department must also coordinate with the selected pilot
communities and community-led organizations to:
! Identify youth in the selected pilot communities to
participate in the pilot program;
! Facilitate access to activities for youth participating in the
pilot program; and
! Collect nonidentifying participation data for evaluation and
reporting purposes.
The department shall evaluate the pilot program on an annual basis
to assess certain components of the pilot program. On or before
December 1, 2027, and on or before each December 1 thereafter, the
department shall submit a report to certain committees of the general
assembly summarizing the results of the department's evaluation,
observed outcomes and challenges of the pilot program, and
recommendations regarding the continuation or modification of the pilot
program.
The pilot program repeals on September 1, 2031, subject to the
sunset review process.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Colorado:1
SECTION 1. Legislative declaration. (1) The general assembly2
finds and declares that:3
(a) Youth across Colorado face very different levels of4
opportunities within the communities where they live and learn;5
(b) Many youth live and learn in areas that would be considered6
opportunity deserts, which are places where there is limited or no7
equitable access to cultural, arts, recreational, or extracurricular facilities;8
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(c) This lack of opportunity contributes to mental health1
challenges, social isolation, neighborhood detachment, academic2
struggles, and strain on the overall well-being of youth;3
(d) Colorado is full of opportunities that should be available to all4
youth, no matter their zip code, affirming that all of Colorado belongs to5
our youth; and6
(e) Given the ongoing mental health crisis among youth, it is7
imperative that Colorado is committed to leveraging all partnerships and8
places to ensure protective factors and to eliminate the risk factors that9
keep youth from realizing their full potential.10
(2) Therefore, the general assembly declares that Colorado should11
create a pilot program that allows youth to have equitable access to12
cultural, arts, recreational, and extracurricular facilities, within and13
beyond the zip codes that they live and learn in.14
SECTION 2. In Colorado Revised Statutes, add 25-1-139 as15
follows:16
25-1-139. My Colorado card pilot program - creation of pilot17
program - selection of pilot communities - participating facilities -18
report - definitions - sunset review - repeal.19
(1) Definitions. AS USED IN THIS SECTION, UNLESS THE CONTEXT20
OTHERWISE REQUIRES:21
(a) "COMMUNITY-LED ORGANIZATION" MEANS AN ORGANIZATION22
THAT IS RUN BY INDIVIDUALS FROM THE COMMUNITY THAT THE23
ORGANIZATION HELPS OR THAT IS AUTHORIZED BY INDIVI DUALS OF THE24
COMMUNITY TO HELP THE COMMUNITY.25
(b) "C OORDINATION TEAM" MEANS A GROUP OF NO LESS THAN26
SEVEN PERSONS COMPRISED OF:27
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(I) EDUCATORS AND SCHOOL OFFICIALS;1
(II) COMMUNITY-LED ORGANIZATIONS;2
(III) ELECTED OFFICIALS;3
(IV) BUSINESSES AND SERVICE PROVIDERS;4
(V) PARENTS AND GUARDIANS; AND5
(VI) STUDENTS.6
(c) "C ULTURAL, ARTS , RECREATIONAL , OR EXTRACURRICULAR7
FACILITY" OR "FACILITY" MEANS A MUSEUM , CULTURAL INSTITUTION ,8
LIBRARY, ARTS ORGANIZATION , RECREATION CENTER , PARK , SPORTS9
FACILITY, AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAM SITE, OR OTHER COMMUNITY-BASED10
FACILITY THAT PROVIDES YOUTH ENRICHMENT OPPORTUNITIES.11
(d) "MY COLORADO CARD" MEANS A PHYSICAL OR DIGITAL CARD12
THAT ENABLES YOUTH PARTICIPATING IN THE PILOT PROGRAM TO ACCESS13
CULTURAL, ARTS, RECREATIONAL, OR EXTRACURRICULAR FACILITIES THAT14
PARTICIPATE IN THE PILOT PROGRAM.15
(e) "OPPORTUNITY DESERT" MEANS A GEOGRAPHIC AREA IN THE16
STATE WHERE YOUTH LACK REASONABLE ACCESS TO CULTURAL , ARTS,17
RECREATIONAL, OR EXTRACURRICULAR FACILITIES DUE TO ECONOMIC ,18
GEOGRAPHIC, TRANSPORTATION, OR SYSTEMIC BARRIERS.19
(f) "P ILOT PROGRAM " MEANS THE MY COLORADO CARD PILOT20
PROGRAM CREATED IN SUBSECTION (2)(a) OF THIS SECTION.21
(g) "R URAL RESERVATION COMMUNITY " MEANS A COMMUNITY22
THAT IS LOCATED ON OR PRIMARILY SERVING A FEDERALLY RECOGNIZED23
TRIBAL RESERVATION IN THE STATE.24
(h) "SELECTED PILOT COMMUNITY" MEANS A PILOT COMMUNITY25
THAT IS SELECTED FOR PARTICIPATION IN THE PILOT PROGRAM BY THE26
DEPARTMENT IN ACCORDANCE WITH SUBSECTION (3)(a) OF THIS SECTION.27
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(i) "Y OUTH" MEANS AN INDIVIDUAL IN GRADES SIX THROUGH1
TWELVE.2
(2) Creation of pilot program - administration by the3
department.4
(a) THE MY COLORADO CARD PILOT PROGRAM IS CREATED IN THE5
DEPARTMENT TO IMPROVE YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH OUTCOMES BY6
PROVIDING YOUTH WITH ACCESS TO CULTURAL, ARTS, RECREATIONAL, OR7
EXTRACURRICULAR FACILITIES THROUGHOUT THE STATE . THE8
DEPARTMENT SHALL ADMINISTER THE PILOT PROGRAM IN ACCORDANCE9
WITH THIS SECTION.10
(b) I N THE DEPARTMENT 'S ADMINISTRATION OF THE PILOT11
PROGRAM, THE DEPARTMENT SHALL, AT A MINIMUM:12
(I) D EVELOP A MY COLORADO CARD FOR USE BY THE YOUTH13
PARTICIPATING IN THE PILOT PROGRAM;14
(II) S ELECT PILOT COMMUNITIES TO PARTICIPATE IN THE PILOT15
PROGRAM IN ACCORDANCE WITH SUBSECTION (3) OF THIS SECTION;16
(III) COORDINATE WITH THE SELECTED PILOT COMMUNITIES AND17
COMMUNITY-LED ORGANIZATIONS TO:18
(A) I DENTIFY YOUTH IN THE SELECTED PILOT COMMUNITIES TO19
PARTICIPATE IN THE PILOT PROGRAM;20
(B) FACILITATE ACCESS TO CULTURAL, ARTS, RECREATIONAL, OR21
EXTRACURRICULAR FACILITIES IN AREAS THROUGHOUT THE STATE FOR22
YOUTH PARTICIPATING IN THE PILOT PROGRAM; AND23
(C) C OLLECT NONIDENTIFYING PARTICIPATION DATA FOR THE24
PURPOSES OF THE EVALUATION AND REPORTING REQUIREMENTS25
DESCRIBED IN SUBSECTION (4) OF THIS SECTION;26
(IV) C OORDINATE WITH COMMUNITY -LED ORGANIZATIONS TO27
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PROVIDE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO SELECTED PILOT COMMUNITIES1
RELATED TO:2
(A) M ENTAL-HEALTH-INFORMED AND TRAUMA -INFORMED3
PROGRAMMING PRACTICES;4
(B) S HARED-USE AGREEMENTS FOR CULTURAL , ARTS ,5
RECREATIONAL, OR EXTRACURRICULAR FACILITIES;6
(C) PARTNERSHIPS WITH COMMUNITY-LED ORGANIZATIONS, LOCAL7
GOVERNMENTS, AND TRIBAL AUTHORITIES; AND8
(D) I DENTIFICATION OF TRANSPORTATION STRATEGIES USING9
EXISTING RESOURCES; AND10
(V) C OORDINATE WITH OTHER STATE AGENCIES AND LOCAL11
GOVERNMENTS IN THE DEPARTMENT 'S ADMINISTRATION OF THE PILOT12
PROGRAM, AS APPROPRIATE , TO UTILIZE EXISTING YOUTH -SERVING13
RESOURCES IN FURTHERANCE OF THE PILOT PROGRAM.14
(c) (I) THE DEPARTMENT SHALL ENSURE THAT DATA COLLECTED15
THROUGH THE PILOT PROGRAM:16
(A) IS LIMITED TO NONIDENTIFYING PARTICIPATION DATA;17
(B) D OES NOT INCLUDE SENSITIVE PERSONAL , ACADEMIC , OR18
HEALTH INFORMATION; AND19
(C) COMPLIES WITH ALL APPLICABLE STATE AND FEDERAL PRIVACY20
LAWS.21
(II) DATA COLLECTED THROUGH THE PILOT PROGRAM SHALL NOT22
BE USED FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT , IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT , OR23
DISCIPLINARY PURPOSES.24
(3) Pilot communities - participating facilities.25
(a) N O LATER THAN DECEMBER 30, 2026, THE DEPARTMENT ,26
AFTER OBTAINING FEEDBACK AND RECOMMENDATIONS FROM27
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COMMUNITY-LED ORGANIZATIONS NO LATER THAN DECEMBER 1, 2026,1
SHALL SELECT A LIMITED NUMBER OF PILOT COMMUNITIES IN THE STATE2
TO PARTICIPATE IN THE PILOT PROGRAM , WHICH COMMUNITIES MUST3
COLLECTIVELY REPRESENT:4
(I) URBAN COMMUNITIES;5
(II) RURAL COMMUNITIES; AND6
(III) RURAL RESERVATION COMMUNITIES.7
(b) IN SELECTING PILOT COMMUNITIES, THE DEPARTMENT SHALL8
CONSIDER:9
(I) GEOGRAPHIC DIVERSITY ACROSS THE STATE;10
(II) COMMUNITIES IDENTIFIED AS OPPORTUNITY DESERTS; AND11
(III) B ARRIERS TO YOUTH ACCESS TO CULTURAL , ARTS ,12
RECREATIONAL , OR EXTRACURRICULAR FACILITIES , INCLUDING13
TRANSPORTATION BARRIERS.14
(c) (I) A SELECTED PILOT COMMUNITY SHALL APPOINT A15
COORDINATION TEAM TO SUPPORT YOUTH PARTICIPATION IN THE PILOT16
PROGRAM.17
(II) T HE SELECTION OF A COMMUNITY AS A PILOT COMMUNITY18
DOES NOT LIMIT YOUTH IN THAT SELECTED PILOT COMMUNITY FROM19
ACCESSING CULTURAL , ARTS , RECREATIONAL , OR EXTRACURRICULAR20
FACILITIES THROUGH THE PILOT PROGRAM IN OTHER PARTS OF THE STATE.21
(III) A SELECTED PILOT COMMUNITY MAY:22
(A) COORDINATE TRANSPORTATION SCHEDULES;23
(B) S UPPORT SHARED -USE OR INTERGOVERNMENTAL24
TRANSPORTATION AGREEMENTS; OR25
(C) P ROMOTE WALKABLE OR LOCALLY ACCESSIBLE CULTURAL ,26
ARTS, RECREATIONAL, OR EXTRACURRICULAR FACILITIES.27
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(d) THE DEPARTMENT AND A SELECTED PILOT COMMUNITY MAY1
ENCOURAGE FACILITIES PARTICIPATING IN THE PILOT PROGRAM TO:2
(I) O FFER FREE OR REDUCED -PRICE ACCESS TO YOUTH3
PARTICIPATING IN THE PILOT PROGRAM DURING DESIGNATED TIMES;4
(II) RESERVE CAPACITY FOR YOUTH PARTICIPATING IN THE PILOT5
PROGRAM WHEN FEASIBLE; AND6
(III) ALIGN HOURS OF OPERATION WITH AFTER-SCHOOL HOURS OR7
NONSCHOOL HOURS.8
(e) NOTHING IN THIS SECTION REQUIRES:9
(I) A COMMUNITY OR CULTURAL , ARTS , RECREATIONAL , OR10
EXTRACURRICULAR FACILITY IN THE STATE TO PARTICIPATE IN THE PILOT11
PROGRAM;12
(II) A FACILITY PARTICIPATING IN THE PILOT PROGRAM TO:13
(A) WAIVE FEES;14
(B) PROVIDE TRANSPORTATION;15
(C) ALTER CAPACITY LIMITS OR HOURS OF OPERATION; OR16
(D) DISPLACE EXISTING PROGRAMMING; OR17
(III) A SELECTED PILOT COMMUNITY TO PROVIDE TRANSPORTATION18
OR CREATE A NEW SERVICE TO PARTICIPATE IN THE PILOT PROGRAM.19
(4) Evaluation and reporting.20
(a) THE DEPARTMENT SHALL EVALUATE THE PILOT PROGRAM ON21
AN ANNUAL BASIS TO ASSESS:22
(I) YOUTH PARTICIPATION IN THE PILOT PROGRAM;23
(II) GEOGRAPHIC DIVERSITY OF FACILITIES PARTICIPATING IN THE24
PILOT PROGRAM;25
(III) OBSERVED INDICATORS OF ENGAGEMENT AND WELL-BEING OF26
THE YOUTH PARTICIPATING IN THE PILOT PROGRAM; AND27
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(IV) BARRIERS TO ACCESS TO FACILITIES PARTICIPATING IN THE1
PILOT PROGRAM, INCLUDING TRANSPORTATION BARRIERS.2
(b) ON OR BEFORE DECEMBER 1, 2027, AND ON OR BEFORE EACH3
DECEMBER 1 THEREAFTER, THE DEPARTMENT SHALL SUBMIT A REPORT TO4
THE HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE OF THE SENATE AND THE5
HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE OF THE HOUSE OF6
REPRESENTATIVES, OR ANY SUCCESSOR COMMITTEES, SUMMARIZING:7
(I) THE RESULTS OF THE EVALUATION CONDUCTED PURSUANT TO8
SUBSECTION (4)(a) OF THIS SECTION AND STRATEGIES IMPLEMENTED BY9
THE DEPARTMENT BASED ON THE RESULTS OF THE EVALUATION;10
(II) O BSERVED OUTCOMES AND CHALLENGES OF THE PILOT11
PROGRAM; AND12
(III) R ECOMMENDATIONS REGARDING THE CONTINUATION OR13
MODIFICATION OF THE PILOT PROGRAM.14
(5) Gifts, grants, or donations. THE DEPARTMENT MAY SEEK ,15
ACCEPT, AND EXPEND GIFTS , GRANTS, OR DONATIONS FROM PRIVATE OR16
PUBLIC SOURCES FOR THE PURPOSES OF THIS SECTION.17
(6) Sunset review - repeal. THIS SECTION IS REPEALED, EFFECTIVE18
SEPTEMBER 1, 2031. BEFORE THE REPEAL , THIS SECTION IS SCHEDULED19
FOR REVIEW IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 24-34-104.20
SECTION 3. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 24-34-104, add21
(32)(a)(XVI) as follows:22
24-34-104. General assembly review of regulatory agencies23
and functions for repeal, continuation, or reestablishment - legislative24
declaration - repeal.25
(32) (a) The following agencies, functions, or both, are scheduled26
for repeal on September 1, 2031:27
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(XVI) T HE MY COLORADO CARD PILOT PROGRAM CREATED IN1
SECTION 25-1-139.2
SECTION 4. Safety clause. The general assembly finds,3
determines, and declares that this act is necessary for the immediate4
preservation of the public peace, health, or safety or for appropriations for5
the support and maintenance of the departments of the state and state6
institutions.7
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