HB 19-1239: Every Person Counts In Colorado Act

• Creates a 2020 Census Outreach Grant Program within the Department of Local Affairs to provide grants to eligible recipients (local governments, nonprofits, tribal entities, and school districts) for census outreach targeting hard-to-count communities.

• Appropriates $6,000,000 for the 2019-20 fiscal year to support outreach, education, and promotion efforts focused on increasing self-response rates in hard-to-count populations including children under five, racial and ethnic minorities, immigrants, and rural communities.

• Establishes a five-member committee appointed by legislative leaders and the Secretary of State to review grant applications and recommend awards to the Department; grants must be awarded by November 1, 2019 and unspent funds must be returned by June 30, 2020.

• Requires grant recipients to submit reports documenting expenditures and outreach activities by December 1, 2020 and May 1, 2021; Department must report to Legislature on results by January 1, 2023.

• Directs the Department and Governor's Office to develop strategic action plans by May 1, 2026 and every ten years thereafter for future decennial census outreach; the grant program section repeals July 1, 2022.