Section 26-2-138 - Refugee services program - state plan - rules - definitions - repeal(1) As used in this section, unless the context otherwise requires: (a) "Federal act" means Title IV of the federal "Immigration and Nationality Act", 8 U.S.C. sec. 1521 et seq., as amended, including any federal rules adopted pursuant to the federal act.(b) "Program" means the Colorado refugee services program established pursuant to subsection (2)(a) of this section.(c) "State plan" means Colorado's refugee services plan, described in subsection (2)(b) of this section.(2)(a) The Colorado refugee services program is established in the state department. The program must be administered in accordance with the state plan developed by the state department and approved by the federal office of refugee resettlement within the federal department of health and human services pursuant to the federal act.(b) The state department is the single state agency responsible for the development, review, and administration of the state plan.(3) The program must provide the following, in accordance with the federal act and the state plan:(a) Refugee cash assistance;(b) Refugee medical assistance;(c) Refugee social services, which may include but are not limited to employment services, employability assessments, English language instruction, vocational training, skills recertification, and case management services related to employment; and(d) Any other services or assistance consistent with the federal act.(4) The program may provide other services or assistance to support refugee resettlement and integration. The program shall assist the Colorado office of new Americans in carrying out its duties and goals as specified in section 8-3.7-103 (2)(g), including the sharing of outcomes, partnerships, and the alignment of mission and purpose.(5) The state department shall adopt rules, in accordance with article 4 of title 24, to implement this section.(6) The general assembly may appropriate funds to the state department for the administration of the program.(7) This section is repealed, effective October 1, 2024.Repealed by 2023 Ch. 293,§ 5, eff. 10/1/2024.Amended by 2021 Ch. 350, § 3, eff. 9/7/2021.Added by 2019 Ch. 297, § 2, eff. 8/2/2019.L. 2019: Entire section added, (SB 19-230), ch. 2755, p. 2755, § 2, effective August 2. L. 2021: (4) amended, (HB 21-1150), ch. 2278, p. 2278, § 3, effective September 7.Subsection (7) provided for the repeal of this section, effective October 1, 2024. (See L. 2023, pp. 1766, 1767.)
2021 Ch. 350, was passed without a safety clause. See Colo. Const. art. V, § 1(3). For the legislative declaration in SB 19-230, see section 1 of chapter 297, Session Laws of Colorado 2019.