Code of Colorado Regulations
1200 - Department of Agriculture
1207 - Agriculture Commissioner's Office
8 CCR 1207-3 - RULES PERTAINING TO THE AGRICULTURAL WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM
Part 10 - Statements of Basis, Specific Statutory Authority and Purpose

Universal Citation: 1200 CO Code Regs 10

Current through Register Vol. 47, No. 17, September 10, 2024

10.1. Adopted November 7, 2018 - Effective December 30, 2018

Statutory Authority

These Rules are proposed for adoption by the Commissioner of the Colorado Department of Agriculture as provided for with passage of SB 18-042 and pursuant to § 35-1-104.5(2), C.R.S.

Purpose

1. To create an agricultural workforce development program providing incentives to agricultural businesses to hire interns.

2. To establish general eligibility requirements of the Program.

3. To establish requirements qualifying an internship for reimbursement under the Program.

4. To establish requirements for agricultural businesses to be eligible to participate in the Program.

5. To establish application processes for agricultural businesses to seek approval to become a Program participant.

6. To establish application processes for internship candidates to determine eligibility to participate in the Program.

7. To establish processes for reimbursement of costs to the participating agricultural businesses to employ interns.

Factual and Policy Issues

Legislation was passed by the Colorado General Assembly in 2018 requiring the Commissioner of Agriculture to promulgate rules creating an agricultural workforce development program. In developing these proposed Rules, the Department reviewed policies and program guidelines relating to the Innovative Industries Internship Program administered by the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment. The Department also held two meetings to solicit input from stakeholders. More than a dozen organizations provided feedback and direction during these meetings.

10.2 Adopted September 9, 2020 - Effective October 30, 2020]

Statutory Authority

These modifications to the Rules are proposed for adoption by the Commissioner of the Colorado Department of Agriculture pursuant to § 35-1-104.5(2), C.R.S.

Purpose

1. To adjust the enrollment period to accommodate internships that follow the calendar rather than fiscal year, allow for the acceptance of applications on a rolling basis, and to allow for a longer period for participating businesses to submit invoices to the Department for reimbursement.

Factual and Policy Issues

Based on feedback from program participants, program administrators, and stakeholders, the following issues with the program were identified:

1) Colorado agricultural businesses located on state borders requested the ability to hire interns who are not Colorado residents;

2) a more flexible enrollment period would allow the Department to fund additional internships with funds remaining outside of the enrollment period,

3) agricultural businesses found compliance with the fifteen (15) day window for submitting reimbursement requests to be burdensome. The Department proposes these amendments in order to improve the program and remove each of these identified barriers.

Disclaimer: These regulations may not be the most recent version. Colorado may have more current or accurate information. We make no warranties or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained on this site or the information linked to on the state site. Please check official sources.
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