SB 22-226 Summary

• Creates Health-Care Workforce Resilience and Retention Program with $2 million appropriation to support worker well-being through peer support services, training programs, and resilience coaching in collaboration with health-care providers.

• Establishes Practice-Based Health Education Grant Program with $20 million appropriation to expand clinical training opportunities for health profession students at Colorado schools and ACGME-accredited residency programs.

• Funds in-demand short-term health-care credentials program ("Care Forward Colorado") with $26 million to support tuition and fees for nursing aide, emergency medical technician, and allied health students through community colleges for fiscal years 2022-26.

• Expands school nurse grant program with $3 million appropriation for local education providers to hire school nurses, prioritizing rural and Title I-eligible schools.

• Appropriates $10 million for recruitment and re-engagement of health-care workers with current or expired licenses and provides $35 million total to the Department of Public Health and Environment from the Economic Recovery and Relief Cash Fund.