Senate Bill 14-015 Summary

• Establishes the Hospitality Career Secondary Education Grant Program in the Department of Labor and Employment to support hospitality industry training programs in Colorado high schools.

• Creates the Hospitality Career Secondary Education Fund to receive appropriations from the General Assembly; the department may use up to 2% of annual appropriations for administrative costs.

• Defines eligible "hospitality programs" as secondary education programs that include career-readiness curriculum, work-study opportunities in restaurants/hotels/attractions, industry-validated certificates, and articulation of credits to postsecondary education.

• Requires grant applicants to demonstrate program operation for at least 3 years, documented industry partnerships, articulated course progression, and alignment with Colorado academic standards.

• Appropriates $56,665 and 0.5 FTE to the Department of Labor and Employment for fiscal year 2014-15 to implement the program; first grants awarded for 2015-16 academic year pending appropriations.