Concerning the appropriation for the out-of-school time program grant program, and, in connection therewith, reducing an appropriation.
Summary
House Bill 26-1355 concerns funding for Colorado’s out-of-school time program grant program, which supports grants for programs serving students outside regular school hours. The bill amends existing law to remove the requirement that the General Assembly appropriate $3.5 million from the general fund in the 2026-27 fiscal year for the program, replacing that mandate with discretionary authority for lawmakers to decide whether to fund it.
The bill also makes a budget adjustment tied to the 2026-27 long bill: it reduces the general fund appropriation for the Department of Education’s out-of-school time program grant program by $1.75 million, unless the enacted budget does not include that appropriation or includes less than the amount needed for the reduction. The measure takes effect upon passage, with the budget-related reduction contingent on the annual appropriations act becoming law.
Impact
This bill would change Colorado Revised Statutes section 22-105.5-104 by eliminating a statutory mandate for a specific 2026-27 appropriation to the out-of-school time program grant program. In practical terms, it gives the General Assembly more flexibility in future budgeting for after-school and other out-of-school programming, while also directing a reduction in the Department of Education’s related 2026-27 appropriation by $1.75 million under specified conditions. The bill affects state education funding, the Department of Education, and organizations that receive or rely on these grants.
Sentiment
The available record shows no committee transcript or recorded votes, so there is no detailed public debate captured in the materials provided. The bill’s introduction in the Appropriations committees and its budget-focused language suggest it was treated as a fiscal measure rather than a policy overhaul. Its eventual veto by the Governor indicates that, despite legislative advancement, it did not become law and may have faced executive disagreement over the funding change.
Contention
The main point of contention appears to be whether the state should be required to dedicate a fixed amount of general fund money to the out-of-school time grant program in 2026-27, or whether that funding should remain discretionary. Supporters of the existing mandate would likely favor stable, predictable support for after-school and youth programming, while opponents of the mandated appropriation may have viewed the requirement as too rigid in light of broader budget pressures. The bill’s reduction of an already-planned appropriation also suggests tension over the appropriate level of state support for these grants.