Signed by Governor Jared Polis

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to concur with Senate amendments and pass a bill that establish grant programs for community based organizations to provide appropriate services for recently arrived migrants in Colorado.

Highlights:

• Establishes a state Reception and Integration Gran Program to provide much-needed support to community-based organizations that provide for migrants who recently arrived in Colorado (Sec. 1).

• Requires the grant program to offer the following support for migrants, including, but not limited to (Sec. 1):

• Conducting intake an assessment of needs;

• Providing cultural orientation and case management;

• Distributing emergency and transitional supplies such as food and clothing;

• Providing employment services or referrals including career coaching, and identifying worker rights to avoid exploitation;

• Providing housing, housing-related services, or referrals for housing;

• Providing English as a second language classes;

• Providing financial orientation including understanding of credit, loans, and unbanked issues;

• Providing referrals for mental, physical, or disability health services;

• Assisting migrant parents to enroll their children in public school, including summer and early childhood programs to enable parents to find employment;

• Providing interpretation and translation services;

• Providing transportation, bus passes, or orientation of the bus and transportation system; or

• Providing immigration legal assistance or referrals to immigration legal services.

• Defines “migrant” as an individual who has arrived in the United States within the past year and does not qualify for federal support services or refugee resettlement assistance benefits (Sec. 1).

• Specifies that the provisions of this bill shall take effect 90 days following passage and approval by the Governor and the final adjournment date of the general assembly (Sec. 3).

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to amend and pass a bill that establishes grant programs for community-based Organizations to provide appropriate Services for recently arrived migrants in Colorado.

Highlights:

• Establishes a state Reception and Integration Gran Program to provide much-needed support to community-based organizations that provide for migrants who recently arrived in Colorado (Sec. 1).

• Requires the grant program to offer the following support for migrants, including, but not limited to (Sec. 1):

• Conducting intake an assessment of needs;

• Providing cultural orientation and case management;

• Distributing emergency and transitional supplies such as food and clothing;

• Providing employment services or referrals including career coaching, and identifying worker rights to avoid exploitation;

• Providing housing, housing-related services, or referrals for housing;

• Providing English as a second language classes;

• Providing financial orientation including understanding of credit, loans, and unbanked issues;

• Providing referrals for mental, physical, or disability health services;

• Assisting migrant parents to enroll their children in public school, including summer and early childhood programs to enable parents to find employment;

• Providing interpretation and translation services;

• Providing transportation, bus passes, or orientation of the bus and transportation system; or

• Providing immigration legal assistance or referrals to immigration legal services.

• Defines “migrant” as an individual who has arrived in the United States within the past year and does not qualify for federal support services or refugee resettlement assistance benefits (Sec. 1).

• Specifies that the provisions of this bill shall take effect 90 days following passage and approval by the Governor and the final adjournment date of the general assembly (Sec. 3).

Full Bill Text