HB26-1349 Funding for Prevention Services Programs Colorado Department of Early Childhood

The existing nurse home visitor program (program) provides regular in-home visiting nurse services to low-income first-time mothers during their pregnancies and through their children's second birthday. The nurse home visitor program fund (fund) is subject to annual appropriation by the general assembly to the department of early childhood (department) for grants to entities for operation of the program. Among other revenue sources, the fund consists of money received pursuant to the master tobacco settlement agreement. The act requires the state treasurer, on July 1, 2026, and on each July 1 thereafter through July 1, 2029, to transfer $5.1 million from the fund to the Colorado child abuse prevention trust fund (trust fund).     Funds from the trust fund are subject to annual appropriation by the general assembly to the Colorado child abuse prevention board (board) within the department for child abuse prevention programs. These prevention services are eligible for reimbursement money received for prevention services and programs identified in the federal Title IV-E prevention services clearinghouse pursuant to the federal 'Family First Prevention Services Act of 2018' (federal reimbursement money received for prevention services and programs). The trust fund and the board are scheduled to repeal on July 1, 2027. The act continues the trust fund and board indefinitely.     The act requires the department, on or before November 1, 2029, to report to the joint budget committee on the effect of the transfers from the fund to the trust fund, including an accounting of any additional federal reimbursement money received for prevention services and programs.     For the 2026-27 state fiscal year, the act increases an appropriation for home visiting from the general fund to the department by $5.1 million and decreases by a corresponding amount an appropriation for home visiting to the department from the fund. For the 2026-27 state fiscal year, the act increases an appropriation for child maltreatment prevention from the Colorado child abuse prevention trust fund to the department by $5.1 million and decreases by a corresponding amount an appropriation to the department from the general fund.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)