The Boards and Commissions Division consists of three Type 1 Boards and a Type 2 Commission, transfer agencies.  The Division serves as a liaison with the Governor's Office of Boards and Commissions concerning recruitment, vacancies and appointments.  The Division houses two legal review units anf two programs for deaf and hard of hearing citizens. The Division also provides Department program areas with technical legal assistance as well as policy development and analysis.

 Boards and Commissions served by the Division:

Colorado Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (CCDHH):  The Commission, a Type 2 transfer agency, serves in an advisory capacity and liaisons between the deaf and hard of hearing community and the Executive, Legislative and Judicial branches to fulfill Colorado’s duty to provide equivalent access to governmental services and private entities. This duty requires state departments and agencies to provide auxiliary services, communication technology, and other resources to enable such access. The Commission facilitates and ensures access to general governmental services for the deaf and hard of hearing community while making government more efficient. The Commission is also responsible for managing four programs: the Telecommunications Equipment Distribution Program (TEDP) which provides telecommunications equipment for eligible citizens at no cost; the Legal Auxiliary Services Program which provides communication access via auxiliary services to the Colorado State Courts; the Education and Training Program which provides outreach services across that state in the areas of cultural awareness and communication accessibility and; the Grant Program which provides funding to organizations to address the needs of Colorado’s deaf and hard of hearing community.

Colorado Developmental Disability Council (CCDC):  CCDC, a Type 1 transfer agency, that coordinates services and serves as an advocate for individuals with developmental disabilities.  The Division assists the CCDC in satisfying its state and federal statutory requirements, including assisting the CCDC in the development and implementation of the State Plan for servicing persons with developmental disabilities.

Elder Abuse Task Force:  (Not a part of Boards & Commissions) The purpose of the task force is to study the problem of mistreatment and exploitation of at-risk elderly adults in Colorado and prepare recommendations for the consideration of the General Assembly. 
 

Juvenile Parole Board (JPB):  The Juvenile Parole Board is a Type 1 transfer agency, reviews all parole plans for juveniles commited to the Department's Division of Youth Corrections.  The JPB ensures that the Division of Youth Corrections has provided the juvenile sufficient transition services to support the juvenile's return to the community.  The JPB also ensures that the Division of Youth Corrections has adequately addressed the safety needs of community to which the youth will be returning.  The Division administers the Board's parole hearings and provides technical support and administrative services.

State Board of Human Services (SBHS):  The State Board of Human Services is a Type 1 transfer agency, has sole statutory authority for adopting agency rules except when statutes permit adoption by the Executive Director through Executive Director rule-making.  The SBHS provides cost of living adjustments to the Old Age Pension awards and serves in an advisory capacity to the Executive Director on policy matters.  The Division ensures that rulemaking is in compliance with the Colorado Administrative Procedure Act, serves as a liaison between the Board and other entities, and provides administrative support.  The Division also reviews and posts Agency Letters on the State Department website.  Agency Letter consists of Department policy, procedure or other information.  Agency Letters educate and inform stateholders of changes in State Department rules, statewide operating systems or allocation, and accounting standards.

Legal Reviews  Provided by the Division:

Child Abuse and Neglect Dispute Review Section (CANDRS):  This unit reviews appeals of county confirmed reports of child abuse or neglect to ensure that the report meets statutory requirements and is supported by a preponderance of the evidence.  CANDRS may modify or reverse county confirmations of child abuse or neglect based on a review of the county record or as the result of a mediation or dispute resolution with the person listed on the report as being responsible for child abuse or neglect.  The unit also corrdinates with County Department's and the Attorney General's Office in defending appeals filed pursuant tot he Colorado Administrative Procedure Act and modifies or reverses reports if so ordered in a Final Agency Decision.

Office of Appeals (OOA):  The unit serves as the Executive Director's designee for reviewing Initial Decisions entered as formal court records by Department of Personnel and Administration, Office of Administrative Courts.  The OOA prepares Final Agency Decisions which is a formal court document, as required by the Colorado Administrative Procedure Act.  OOA prepares and enters Final Agency Decisions for the following Department programs:

• Colorado Works

• Old Age Pension

• Aid to Need Disabled

• Food Stamps

• Low-Income Energy Assistance

• Child Care

• Child Abuse and Neglect reports

• Subsidized Adoptions

• Foster Care

• Day Care Licensing

• Alcohol and Drug Abuse Division counselor certification actions

OOA also provides due process reviews for Department programs to enforce and protect an individuals rights during the legal process.  This occurs in instances where the Department has elected to have a due process review or because the statutes require or permit an appeal process which is not governed by the Colorado Administrative Procedure Act.  Initial Decisions issued by the Office of Appeals serve as the enforceable and final action of the administrative hearing process and is subject to review only by the State District Court.

Legal and Policy Analysis:

The Division provides technical legal assistance, including statutory, regulatory, case law and policy research, analysis and development, for Department program areas.  The Division also assists Department program areas with determining when assistance from the Attorney General's Office is needed.