HB19-1252 Summary

• Requires the Colorado higher education council to create and implement a plan by January 1, 2021 to award college credit for work-related experience from the past ten years, including industry credentials, technical certificates, internships, apprenticeships, and pre-apprenticeship programs.

• Mandates the plan prioritize fastest-growing industries identified in the Colorado Talent Pipeline Report and expand to all career and technical education programs by January 1, 2022.

• Requires state institutions of higher education to evaluate whether postsecondary education was acquired through work experience, award appropriate academic credit, and accept/transfer credits as courses with guaranteed-transfer designation beginning January 1, 2023.

• Specifies the council must consult with state higher education representatives, the Colorado Workforce Development Council, and representatives from growing industries when developing the plan.

• Requires annual reporting to legislative education committees starting March 1, 2023 on student credit transfers, demographics, implementation challenges, and recommended statutory changes, with reporting requirement repealing July 1, 2028.