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Senate committee advances bill to modernize Tony Grama Youth Services grant program
Summary
The Senate Health and Human Services Committee heard testimony supporting Senate Bill 197 to streamline the Tony Grama Youth Services (TGYS) grant program, adopt administrative changes and broaden access for smaller community organizations; two technical amendments were adopted and the bill was sent to the Appropriations Committee.
Senate Bill 197 to modernize the Tony Grama Youth Services program advanced from the Senate Health and Human Services Committee after testimony from statewide youth-serving organizations and two committee amendments were adopted.
The bill’s sponsor described the measure as “not a big or complicated thing” but as a move to “modernize this 30‑year‑old program and grow its capacities,” noting the proposal consolidates funding streams, streamlines reporting, removes matching requirements for mentoring programs and transfers administrative responsibilities from a volunteer board to TGYS staff within the Colorado Department of Human Services.
Witnesses from Big Brothers Big Sisters of Colorado, Kemp Foundation (Fostering Healthy Futures), Parent Possible, Colorado Alliance of Boys and Girls Clubs, Colorado Children’s Campaign, and several rural club leaders told the committee the program currently funds prevention and intervention services statewide and that simplifying application and reporting would enable smaller grassroots organizations to apply and partner as intermediaries.
Alicia Cook, CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Colorado, testified TGYS “is one of the few grants that provides the level of youth violence prevention services so needed right now,” and that the bill would reduce administrative barriers for smaller community groups. Michelle Salas Holin described how TGYS funding allowed the Kemp Foundation’s program to expand as an intermediary and reach more than 1,000 youth this year. Multiple speakers emphasized the role of intermediary organizations in helping very small nonprofits apply for and administer evidence‑based programs.
Colorado Department of Human Services officials described the bill as aligning TGYS operations with current departmental practice and said the department could absorb the proposed changes without a fiscal impact. Program staff said TGYS currently funds mentoring, out‑of‑school time, home visiting and other prevention strategies and that the proposed statutory changes would clarify board membership and streamline the board’s programmatic duties.
The committee adopted two technical amendments (L001 and L002) that the sponsor described as cleanup and clarification language, with one amendment stressing evidence‑based or evidence‑informed program requirements. After the amendment phase, the sponsor wrapped up and asked the committee to advance the bill. The committee voted to send Senate Bill 197 to the Appropriations Committee for further consideration.
Why it matters: TGYS has operated for more than three decades and is a dedicated state funding source for community‑based prevention programs. Supporters told the committee that simplifying rules and allowing intermediary organizations to manage grants will increase equity and access for small and rural providers, while opponents (none in committee testimony objected to the bill) could still raise concerns about oversight of funds as the measure advances.
What’s next: The bill was sent to the Senate Appropriations Committee for fiscal review.
