Rulemaking & Rules Advisory Council

Rulemaking at the Department of Early Childhood

In April 2022, Governor Polis signed HB22-1295, creating the Colorado Department of Early Childhood. This new department will coordinate a unified early childhood system and ensure the equitable distribution of resources and programming. In addition, the department will oversee the launch of universal preschool in 2023. The Executive Director will promulgate all rules for the Department of Early Childhood, and will be advised by the Rules Advisory Council (RAC). This 15-member Council will meet monthly to advise the CDEC Executive Director on the development of rules to guide the functions, programs and services that the new Department will oversee.

If you would like to receive rulemaking notices, please click here to sign up for email notifications. For questions, please contact CDEC_Rulemaking@state.co.us or Elena Kemp at: Elena.kemp@state.co.us.

The Colorado Office of Policy, Research, and Regulatory Reform (COPRRR) within the Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA) is currently conducting a sunset review on the Colorado Department of Early Childhood (CDEC), pursuant to section 26.5-1-105(1)(c), C.R.S. The purpose of this sunset review is to examine the structure, efficiency, and effectiveness of CDEC's rulemaking authority to determine if it should be continued in its current form, modified, or repealed. Click here to provide feedback directly to COPRRR, regarding this review.

(Click on the photos to enlarge or download the flowcharts)

CDEC Administrative Rules and Laws

For more information on the current laws, rules, and regulations in Colorado, please review the official state publications: Colorado Revised Statutes (Colorado Laws); and the Code of Colorado Regulations (Colorado Administrative Rules and Regulations).

Rules Advisory Council (RAC) Membership

The 15-member Rules Advisory Council (RAC) will advise the CDEC Executive Director on developing rules to guide the functions, programs and services that the new department will oversee. The advice given by the RAC should be in the interest of all Colorado children, families, and early childhood professionals, centering on equitable distribution of resources and programming so that all children and families can access the services and supports they need to thrive.

The legislation HB22-1295 outlined a number of membership requirements in the interest of broad representation across various sectors of the early childhood system, and to ensure equitable membership. The RAC must include:

Representatives from programmatically diverse communities, including school-based providers, private providers, and non-parental family, friend or neighbor (FFN) providers
At least two representatives of county departments in diverse geographic areas of the state with knowledge of child protection, CCCAP, and related fiscal matters
A representative of a foundation, business, or early childhood advocacy organization
A representative who is an expert in the funding for rules and federal regulations concerning early childhood and family support programs and services, including laws, rules and regulations pertaining to children with disabilities
A representative of institutions of higher education
An Early Childhood health care or mental health care professional

In addition at least eight members appointed to the RAC must bring one or more of the following perspectives:

Parents, families, or caregivers of children who are enrolled in early childhood services
Members of the early childhood workforce
Members of historically underserved and under-resourced communities

The RAC adopted Rules Advisory Council Bylaws to guide their work on September 15, 2022. In addition, members agreed to the RAC Membership Guidebook to ensure the RAC can operate efficiently and effectively.

Name	Organization	Contact Information	Term Expiration
Colleen Head Batchelor	The Resource Exchange	cheadbatchelor@tre.org	June 30, 2026
Amber Bilby, Chair	Amber's Kids	amberbilby@outlook.com	June 30, 2024
Scott Bright	ABC Child Development Centers	scott@scottbright.net	June 30, 2025
Amy Buford, Vice Chair	Weld RE-4 School District	amybuford@gmail.com	June 30, 2024
Megan Burch	Eagle County Government	megan.burch@eaglecounty.us	June 30, 2025
Nazia Hasan	Community First Foundation	nhasan@communityfirstfoundation.org	June 30, 2025
Priscilla M. Hopkins	Denver Public Schools	priscilla_hopkins@dpsk12.org	June 30, 2026
Cassandra P Johnson	Hope Center, Inc.	johnsoncass07@gmail.com	June 30, 2026
Rusha Lev	Denver Health	rushaplev@gmail.com	June 30, 2026
Maegan Lokteff, Ph.D.	Early Childhood Council Leadership Alliance	maegan@ecclacolorado.org	June 30, 2026
Marlayna Martinez	University of Colorado; Anschutz Medical Campus	marlayna.martinez@cuanschutz.edu	June 30, 2024
Heather O'Hayre	Larimer County Human Services	ohayrehj@co.larimer.co.us	June 30, 2024
Frank Reeves	Rural Alliance; Public Education and Business Coalition	frankreeves96@gmail.com	June 30, 2024
Karina Sofia Garcia Sastre	Self-Employed	ksgarcia99@gmail.com	June 30, 2025
T Vail Shoultz-McCole	Colorado Mesa University/Western Colorado Community College	vshoultz@coloradomesa.edu	June 30, 2025

RAC Meetings

Rules Advisory Council (RAC) meetings are open to the public. Information on future meetings will be posted on this page as it becomes available.

NEXT RULES ADVISORY COUNCIL (RAC) MEETING
Thursday, June 8, 2023, at 1 p.m.
Zoom Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85944283394?pwd=U1Y0RUtSb0twUDhJRG1qRVRtQTU2dz09
Zoom Meeting ID: 859 4428 33944
Meeting Materials | UPK Rules | CCCAP Rules

PAST RAC MEETINGS
May 11, 2023
Meeting Materials | Meeting Recording | CCCAP Rules

April 13, 2023
Meeting Materials | Meeting Recording | ECC Rules | SRQIP Rules

March 9, 2023
Meeting Materials | Meeting Recording

February 9, 2023
Meeting Materials | Meeting Recording

January 12, 2023
Meeting Materials | Meeting Recording

December 8, 2022
Meeting Materials | Meeting Recording

November 17, 2022
Meeting Materials | Meeting Recording

October 13, 2022
Meeting Materials | Meeting Recording

September 15, 2022
Meeting Materials | Meeting Recording

September 1, 2022
Meeting Materials | Meeting Recording Part 1 and Part 2

August 18, 2022
Meeting Materials | Meeting Recording

RAC County Subcommittee Membership and Meetings

NEXT MEETING:
Monday, June 5, 2023, at 3 p.m.
Zoom Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87148469555?pwd=d2V0MDJ1YTJUU2hkVk5ubVBYVXRCZz09
Zoom Meeting ID: 871 4846 9555
Meeting Materials | UPK Rules | CCCAP Rules

For previous materials from 2023 Meetings, click here.
For previous materials from 2022 Meetings, click here.
For a list of members of the County Subcommittee, click here.

Public Rulemaking Hearings

NEXT PUBLIC RULEMAKING HEARING:
Friday, June 23, 2023, at 10 a.m.
Zoom Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZYtde-qqzsjEtwR0OG1VJu_Bc8JIChT2R5B
Zoom Meeting ID: 820 2625 0988
Hearing Materials Coming Soon!

PAST RULEMAKING HEARINGS
May 15, 2023
Hearing Materials | Hearing Recording | ECC Rules | SRQIP Rules | CCCAP Rules

April 28, 2023
Hearing Agenda | Hearing Materials | Hearing Recording | ECC Rules | SRQIP Rules

Written Comments, Testimony, and Resources

Written Comments and Public Testimony
Members of the public are encouraged to provide written comments and/or public testimony regarding any rule(s) under consideration by CDEC.

Please email CDEC_Rulemaking@state.co.us to share your written comments, ahead of the Rules Advisory Council Meetings or Public Rulemaking Hearings. All written comments will be posted publicly and shared with the Rules Advisory Council members and Executive Director ahead of the discussion on each rule. Please provide your written comments at least one day in advance of the meeting or hearing.

To provide public comments/testimony at the Rules Advisory Council meeting or the Public Rulemaking Hearing, please register here at least one day in advance of the meeting or hearing.

If you have any questions or have difficulty accessing the forms above, please contact CDEC_Rulemaking@state.co.us.

Cost-Benefit Analysis
A member of the public may contact the Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA) - Colorado Office of Policy Research and Regulatory Reform (COPRRR) to request a cost-benefit analysis (CBA) from CDEC for any proposed new or amended rule(s).

The Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies provides a mechanism for citizens to receive Notices of Proposed Rulemaking in their areas of interest. When you sign up to receive Regulatory Notices, you are provided with information on the proposed rules, its public hearing and an effortless way to request that the rulemaking agency complete a cost-benefit analysis of the new or amended rule(s).

Visit the DORA-COPRRR website for more information.

Accommodations
CDEC is committed to providing equal access to our meetings for all participants. If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation to attend a public rulemaking hearing, please contact Elena Kemp at Elena.kemp@state.co.us with your request by the close of business at least one week in advance of a meeting.

CDEC Departmental Regulatory Agenda

Pursuant to section 2-7-203(4), C.R.S., each department shall file a Regulatory Agenda with the staff of the legislative council, who distributes the Regulatory Agenda to the applicable committee of reference prior to any departmental presentations. Each department shall also post its Regulatory Agenda on its website, and submit its Regulatory Agenda to the Colorado Secretary of State for publication in the Colorado Register. Annual Departmental Regulatory Agendas are published in the November 10th issues of the Colorado Register.

The Colorado Department of Early Childhood (CDEC) filed and submitted its Regulatory Agenda to the staff of the legislative council, and the Colorado Secretary of State on November 1, 2022. Please review the CDEC 2023 Regulatory Agenda for more information on the rules CDEC is planning to consider for implementation during the 2023 calendar year.

Rulemaking at the Department of Early Childhood

Colorado Department of Early Childhood

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