State authority supports disability programs and registration number sales

The authority awards contracts or grants for programs that help people with disabilities access benefits. The programs help people with disabilities access disability benefits, health care, and employment. The authority considers plans for assessing applicants, helping them navigate services, and measuring program results. A nonprofit must be based in Colorado and meet the board requirements in the law, or contract with an organization that does; a government agency must also have such a contract. The authority begins awarding contracts or grants on July 1, 2027. Each award may last up to three years, with yearly measures required for continued funding.

The authority reviews proposals for disability projects and may support parking education and professional training. Projects must benefit people with disabilities. Parking education may cover reserved parking for people whose disabilities affect mobility. The authority reviews project proposals when adequate funding is available. Projects must show they can become self-sustaining and meet the law's governance requirements. Parking education and training are optional and depend on adequate funding. Project grants and parking education may begin on or after July 1, 2027.

The Colorado Disability Opportunity Office selects valuable registration numbers for sale and runs a resale market; the state collects a royalty on resales. The sales cover valuable letter and number combinations for vehicle registration, including later resales. The Department of Revenue checks whether a number is already issued and may reject a number that is offensive or inappropriate. The royalty is 25% of the resale price and is added to regular registration fees and taxes. Sale revenue generally goes to an account in the disability support fund; the office may use some revenue to pay a contractor for services. The act generally takes effect upon passage; it gives no separate start date for these sales provisions.

The state treasurer transfers money from two disability-related funds to the general fund, and the law changes charges for plates in retired styles. These provisions concern the disability support fund, the disabled parking education and enforcement fund, and vehicle owners choosing plates in previously retired styles. For plates in retired styles, the one-time and annual $22.50 donations go to the authority, while separate $2.50 fees go to the disability support fund. The $21 million transfer comes from the disability support fund. The disabled parking fund transfer covers its unspent and uncommitted balance. The $21 million and disabled parking fund transfers occur on June 30, 2026. The retired-style plate charges apply on and after October 1, 2026.