State-Level Data for Colorado Works Program

No later than October 1, 2025, the act requires the department of human services (state department), in consultation with the works allocation committee, to:

• Develop a standardized process for each county to collect and report to the state department on a monthly basis certain information about the Colorado works program;
• Develop recommendations that include a menu of standardized outcome measures and required levels of evidence for third-party contracted services funded with Colorado's temporary assistance for needy families (TANF) allocation; and
• Submit a report to the joint budget committee (JBC) that includes a description of the standardized process and recommendations.

Beginning January 1, 2026, and each January thereafter, the act requires the state department to submit a report to the JBC that includes the information collected and reported through the standardized process and the total dollar amount of Colorado's TANF allocation that is redistributed through the state budget or other programs and services and publish the information on a monthly basis on the state department's website in a publicly accessible format.

No later than July 1, 2026, the act requires the state department to submit a report to the JBC that includes certain information related to the standard of need for eligibility for basic cash assistance.

For the 2025-26 state fiscal year, the act appropriates $154,000 to the department of human services for use by the office of economic security to conduct the works program evaluation.

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