(1) As defined in subsection (2) of this section, an unaccompanied homeless youth is a "qualified person", as defined in section 23-7-102, for purposes of determining his or her own domicile pursuant to the provisions of section 23-7-103.

(2) (a) As used in this section, unless the context otherwise requires, "unaccompanied homeless youth" means an individual who has not attained twenty-two years of age and who has been verified by a person described in subsection (2)(b) of this section as either:

(I) An unaccompanied youth who is a homeless child or youth, as those terms are defined in section 725 of the federal "McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act", 42 U.S.C. sec. 11434a; or

(II) An unaccompanied youth, at risk of homelessness, and self-supporting. The Colorado commission on higher education shall include in its tuition classification policies a definition of "unaccompanied youth, at risk of homelessness, and self-supporting".

(b) The following persons may verify that a youth is an unaccompanied homeless youth as defined in paragraph (a) of this subsection (2):

(I) A local educational agency homeless liaison, designated pursuant to section 722 (g)(1)(J)(ii) of the federal "McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act", 42 U.S.C. sec. 11432;

(II) The director of a program funded under the federal "Runaway and Homeless Youth Act", 42 U.S.C. sec. 5701 et seq., or a designee of the director;

(III) The director of a program funded under subtitle B of Title IV of the federal "McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act", 42 U.S.C. sec. 11371 et seq., relating to emergency shelter grants, or a designee of the director; or

(IV) A financial aid administrator at an institution.