Works Program Reserves & Cost of Living Adjustment

      Joint Budget Committee. Where current law requires, the bill now permits counties to offer households that demonstrate good cause an extension of Colorado works program (works program) assistance beyond the 60-month lifetime maximum.

     The bill suspends the works program basic cash assistance grant cost of living adjustment during the 2026-27 and 2027-28 state fiscal years.

     Current law establishes minimum reserve balances for the total statewide county TANF reserve and the Colorado long-term works reserve (reserves). The bill removes those reserve minimums. The bill eliminates a requirement for each reserve to replenish money in the other under certain conditions and for the general assembly to effectively backfill the balances of both reserves if their balances fall below specified minimums.

(Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)