Proposition 119 – Fund Out-of-School Enrichment and Academic Programs by Increasing Marijuana Taxes and Reallocating State Funds

Prop 119 would create an independent state agency to establish and administer the Learning Enrichment and Academic Progress (LEAP) Program for out-of-school learning opportunities. LEAP would be funded through a 5% increase in the retail marijuana sales tax and by reallocating some of the Public School Lands income. Prop 119 would add article 86.1 to title 22 of the Colorado Revised Statutes and amend revenue and spending sections 36-1-116 and 39-28.8-202 through 39-28.8-204.

Children from ages 5 to 17 would be eligible. The program opportunities would vary widely, from academic tutoring to arts to presumably (non-credit) sports opportunities. The opportunities may not be part of the regular school day. Providers would be pre-certified by LEAP. Participating students would choose from activities offered by a list of approved providers. LEAP would prioritize financial aid for low-income students; such aid could fund transportation to the activity. The state agency’s board of directors would be appointed by the governor.

Recommendation: no/against

Outside of school hours, kids should be playing outside, learning about nature, reading books, conducting experiments and engaging intellectually with other people. Students who don’t have access to enrichment activities right now – like students who are babysat after school by a TV – but would take advantage of LEAP enrichment activities are the ones who would most benefit. Students from higher socioeconomic levels often participate in extracurricular activities because their families can afford the fees and have transportation and flexible childcare.

The idea of LEAP is meritorious. The implementation is problematic, and Prop 119 would create a huge funding bureaucracy.

LEAP would not be allowed to “supplant existing public or charitable funding for programs.” Publicly-funded programs have to follow state guidelines on content, administration and enrollment. The criteria to approve LEAP programs would be determined by the LEAP authority.

Financial aid ($1500/year) would be available for approved LEAP programs. Currently, fee-based enrichment programs are often encouraged to offer scholarships to be more accessible to low-income students. Under Prop 119, if a popular activity doesn’t want low-income kids, the executives would simply not apply to be on the approved list and might also feel less obligated to offer scholarships. After financial aid is distributed to LEAP programs for participating low-income students, the LEAP authority would distribute the rest of the financial aid to other, presumably non-needy, participating students.

To pay for LEAP, Prop 119 would increase marijuana taxes (which may lead to more black-market sales) and reallocate state funds that would take money away from public schools.

You don’t often hear about an organization retracting support for a ballot measure, but the Colorado Education Association did just that on Prop 119 after better understanding the LEAP program.

Website for the Yes side – Yes on Prop 119
https://leap4co.com/

Website for the No side – No on Prop 119
https://noonprop119.com/


Approved Ballot Language
Proposition 119 (Statutory)

SHALL STATE TAXES BE INCREASED $137,600,000 ANNUALLY ON RETAIL MARIJUANA SALES BY A CHANGE TO THE COLORADO REVISED STATUTES CONCERNING THE CREATION OF A PROGRAM TO PROVIDE OUT-OF-SCHOOL LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES FOR COLORADO CHILDREN AGED 5 TO 17, AND, IN CONNECTION THEREWITH, CREATING AN INDEPENDENT STATE AGENCY TO ADMINISTER THE PROGRAM FOR OUT-OF-SCHOOL LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES CHOSEN BY PARENTS; FUNDING THE PROGRAM BY INCREASING THE RETAIL MARIJUANA SALES TAX BY 5% BY 2024 AND REALLOCATING A PORTION OF THE PUBLIC SCHOOL LANDS INCOME; AUTHORIZING TRANSFERS AND REVENUE FOR PROGRAM FUNDING AS A VOTER-APPROVED REVENUE CHANGE; SPECIFYING THAT LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES INCLUDE TUTORING AND EXTRA INSTRUCTION IN SUBJECTS INCLUDING READING, MATH, SCIENCE, WRITING, MUSIC, AND ART, TARGETED SUPPORT FOR CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS AND LEARNING DISABILITIES, CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION TRAINING, AND OTHER ACADEMIC OR ENRICHMENT OPPORTUNITIES; AND PRIORITIZING PROGRAM FINANCIAL AID FOR LOW-INCOME STUDENTS?

YES/FOR ____
NO/AGAINST ____

Proposition 119 initiative language filed with the Secretary of State
https://www.sos.state.co.us/pubs/elections/Initiatives/titleBoard/filings/2021-2022/25Final.pdf