{"data":{"id":"us-co/c.r.s.-8-83-507","jurisdiction":"us-co","citation":"C.R.S. § 8-83-507","heading":"Hiring preference - coal transition workers - definitions.","body":"(1) As used in this section, unless the context otherwise requires:\n\n(a) \"Coal transition community\" means a Colorado municipality, county, or region where a coal transition facility or a center for the manufacturing or transportation supply chain of a coal transition facility was or is located.\n\n(b) \"Coal transition worker\" means an individual who works or has worked in a Colorado coal transition facility or in the manufacturing or transportation supply chain of a coal transition facility.\n\n(c) \"Covered business\" means a business entity operating in a coal transition community that is engaged in the business of constructing or operating railroads, utilities, energy generation facilities, or advanced manufacturing facilities. A \"covered business\" does not include the state government or a local government.\n\n(d) \"Hiring preference\" means a first and preferred opportunity for available employment in a coal transition community.\n\n(e) \"Qualified coal transition worker\" means a coal transition worker who meets the qualifications for an employment position with a covered business.\n\n(2) (a) On and after January 1, 2027, a covered business shall provide a hiring preference for a qualified coal transition worker to a prospective new employee.\n\n(b) A covered business may hire an individual who is not a qualified coal transition worker only if:\n\n(I) A qualified coal transition worker did not apply to be employed by a covered business;\n\n(II) Each qualified coal transition worker to whom the covered business extends an offer of employment declines the offer; or\n\n(III) A qualified coal transition worker's qualifications did not meet the qualifications of other candidates for the same job.\n\n(3) A covered business shall consult with the just transition office, operators of existing coal-fueled generation facilities scheduled for retirement, and organizations representing qualified coal transition workers to identify qualified coal transition workers.\n\n(4) If a qualified coal transition worker applies for employment with a covered business, then a covered business shall report annually to the just transition office the following information regarding the prior year:\n\n(a) The title of any position filled by a qualified coal transition worker;\n\n(b) The number of qualified coal transition workers who filled positions at the covered business;\n\n(c) The number of individuals who are not qualified coal transition workers who filled positions at the covered business; and\n\n(d) Efforts undertaken by the covered business to recruit qualified coal transition workers.\n\n(5) A covered business shall make good faith efforts to comply with this section.\n\n(6) The executive director or their designee shall develop policies and procedures for the implementation of this section.\n\n(7) A hiring preference does not apply if a covered business places an existing employee in another employment position with the covered business or to the extent that a hiring preference conflicts with the terms of a collective bargaining agreement that applies to the relationship between a covered business and its employees.","path":["Title 8 - LABOR AND INDUSTRY","Article 83 - Workforce Development","Part 5 - JUST TRANSITION SUPPORT FOR COAL-RELATED JOBS"],"source_url":"https://olls.info/crs/crs2026-title-08.htm","current_through":"Colorado Revised Statutes 2026","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-09-14T18:37:45Z","sha256":"622b5a7427c9290c4356fd99842a0063b5134fa3818da5f410bf05a8d527e2c8","source_id":"us-co","stale":false,"prev":"us-co/c.r.s.-8-83-506","next":"us-co/c.r.s.-8-83-601"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}