C.R.S. § 26-1-801: Legislative declaration.

(1) The general assembly finds and declares that:

(a) In addition to near-term policy changes needed to stabilize the safety net, Colorado should develop a comprehensive, long-term plan to redesign the state's public benefits system to support cost mitigation, increased administrative efficiency, and the delivery of higher-quality services for individuals and families;

(b) To ensure effective change management and to minimize disruption to services for individuals and families, the approach to redesigning the safety net must occur within established timelines and include structured planning processes, intentional stakeholder engagement, and regular progress reports to the general assembly;

(c) It is necessary for the department of human services, the department of early childhood, and the department of health care policy and financing, in partnership with counties, front line workers, and other interested stakeholders, to conduct a structured, facilitated process in order to ensure that on or before July 1, 2028, Colorado will operate a redesigned public benefits delivery model consisting of no more than twelve cohorts of counties working together to administer public assistance programs; and

(d) Because access to public benefits is fundamental to the health, stability, and economic security of Colorado residents, the systems used to administer those benefits must be accessible, efficient, and reliable.

(2) The general assembly further finds and declares that:

(a) The state's current benefits technology infrastructure is fragmented, difficult to navigate, and imposes administrative burdens on applicants, recipients, and staff who determine applicant eligibility, which may limit access to services for eligible individuals and families;

(b) Modern, integrated technology systems are necessary to support efficient program administration, improve recipient experience, and ensure timely and effective delivery of benefits and services;

(c) Colorado has the opportunity to redesign its benefits technology infrastructure through the development of a state-owned, modular, and interoperable platform to improve coordination across programs and enhance service delivery; and

(d) Redesigning the state's benefits technology infrastructure is necessary to support effective program administration and service delivery under the redesigned public benefits delivery model. The redesign of the public benefits delivery model will be most effective when the state agencies responsible for benefits administration coordinate across programs, prioritize implementation of redesign efforts, and provide reports to the general assembly regarding progress toward these goals.

(3) Therefore, it is the intent of the general assembly that the following principles guide benefits technology redesign:

(a) The state should develop and maintain a state-owned benefits platform that supports modular design, interoperability, and long-term adaptability that enable the measurement of program outcomes and user experience;

(b) The state should develop and maintain a centralized system through which residents may access, apply for, and manage benefits across multiple programs in a manner that is accessible to individuals of all abilities, languages, and levels of digital access;

(c) The state should implement a whole-person approach to benefits administration by streamlining and integrating intake, eligibility, and enrollment processes to improve coordination and reduce administrative burden on applicants, recipients, and staff who determine applicant eligibility; and

(d) The state should ensure continuous improvement and responsiveness by adopting modern product management practices in its approach to benefits technology redesign, including ongoing user research, state-led prioritization of system requirements and enhancements, and iterative, agile development informed by performance metrics and user experience data.