Support of Coloradans with Disabilities

      Joint Budget Committee. Under current law, the Colorado disability funding committee (committee), a 13-member appointed committee housed within the Colorado disability opportunity office (office), is responsible for awarding grants or contracts to entities for programs that assist individuals with disabilities in obtaining or retaining disability benefits and for new or innovative pilot programs that improve the quality of life of individuals with disabilities. The disability support fund (fund) finances the work of the committee and the office. The fund receives revenue from an annual $25 fee paid for license plates in a retired style and from the sale of unique vehicle registration numbers.

     The bill relocates the fund in statute and clarifies that the fund is subject to annual appropriation to support the office. For state fiscal year 2026-27, the money in the fund is also subject to annual appropriation by the general assembly to the department of labor and employment for vocational rehabilitation. On June 30, 2026, the state treasurer is required to transfer $21 million from the fund to the general fund. By October 1, 2026, the state treasurer is also required to issue a warrant in the amount of $523,343 from the fund to the Colorado disability funding authority (authority), which is a newly created special purpose authority. Beginning on October 1, 2026, the bill also replaces the $25 annual fee paid for license plates in a retired style with a one-time and annual donation of $22.50 remitted to the authority and a one-time and annual fee of $2.50 credited to the fund.

     The bill requires that any grant or contract awarded by the committee be completed by July 1, 2027, and repeals the committee on July 1, 2027. The bill reassigns the committee's responsibilities for administering the sale of unique vehicle registration numbers to the office. The office may contract with one or more public or private entities to implement the marketplace and sale of unique vehicle registration numbers and to perform any of the related duties assigned to the office. The office may use the money collected from the sale of unique vehicle registration numbers to pay the contracting entity for their services.

     Beginning on July 1, 2027, the bill makes the authority responsible for many of the committee's previous grantmaking responsibilities, as well as other grantmaking responsibilities relating to programs that assist individuals with disabilities. The authority is governed by a board made up of 13 members appointed by the governor, the majority of whom are individuals with disabilities, individuals with immediate family members with disabilities, or individuals who are caregivers to a family member with a disability. In making the appointments, the governor must ensure that the authority board has members with experience in or knowledge of:

• Business and business management;
• Nonprofit entities and managing nonprofit entities;
• Advocacy for individuals with disabilities;
• The practice of medicine, with experience working with individuals with disabilities; and
• The practice of law, with experience working with individuals with disabilities.

The authority is required to invite nonprofit entities, independent living centers, county departments of human services, county departments of social services, and other state and county agencies to submit proposals for programs to aid individuals with disabilities in accessing disability benefits. Beginning on July 1, 2027, the authority is required to award a contract or grant to one or more of the entities that submitted program proposals. When adequate funding is available, the authority may also accept and review proposals to fund projects or programs that study or pilot new and innovative ideas that will lead to an improved quality of life or increased independence for individuals with disabilities. When adequate funding is available, the authority may also make grants or develop, implement, or deliver education programs concerning reserved parking that is available to an individual with a disability affecting mobility.

     On or before December 1, 2027, and on or before each December 1 thereafter, the authority is required to prepare and submit a financial and performance report to the joint budget committee of the general assembly. In addition to this annual report, the state auditor may also be required to conduct or cause to be conducted postaudits of the authority.


(Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)