The legislation provided up to $400 in support services to Colorado job seekers or newly employed individuals who are working on employment goals and may not qualify for or have access to other resources. The legislature funded the Program with a three-year total appropriation of $750,000 beginning in 2019 and ending in June 2022. This bill appropriates $500,000 annually to the employment support and job retention services program cash fund.

This legislation expanded Medicaid health insurance coverage for children and pregnant people who lack documentation.

The bill created a “Healthy School Meals for All” program in the Colorado Department of Education to reimburse school food authorities for free meals provided to students who are not eligible for free or reduced-price meals.

This bill updated the state Colorado Works program (also known as ‘TANF’) by increasing the monthly benefit known as “Basic Cash Assistance” for participating households. It also made improvements to how TANF serves families by reducing punitive sanctions, creating a feedback loop with ongoing program participants and program administrators, and reducing the “cliff effect” to allow a smoother off-ramp to economic security by improving income disregards.

Colorado continued to fund its Food Pantry Assistance Grant Program, this time with an additional $5 million in funding.

Local human services offices across Colorado have different tools to help them manage caseloads and process applications for programs like food stamps and Medicaid.