House Committee of Reference Report

Committee on Health & Human Services

All text that will be removed from the bill will be indicated by strikethrough as follows:

This is text that is removed from law.

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February 24, 2026

After consideration on the merits, the Committee recommends the following:

HB26-1063   be amended as follows, and as so amended, be referred to the Committee on Appropriations with favorable recommendation:

Page 1, Line 1Amend printed bill, strike everything below the enacting clause and

Page 1, Line 2substitute:

Page 1, Line 3"SECTION 1.  In Colorado Revised Statutes, 25-3.5-103, amend

Page 1, Line 4(11.4)(c) as follows:

Page 1, Line 525-3.5-103.  Definitions.

Page 1, Line 6As used in this article 3.5, unless the context otherwise requires:

Page 1, Line 7(11.4) (c)  "Secure transportation" does not include urgent

Page 1, Line 8transportation services provided by law enforcement or personnel

Page 1, Line 9employed by or contracted with a law enforcement agency to individuals

Page 1, Line 10experiencing a behavioral health crisis; except that any member of a

Page 1, Line 11co-responder team who is not law enforcement or personnel employed by

Page 1, Line 12or contracted with a law enforcement agency and who holds a valid

Page 1, Line 13license for secure transportation by the county in which the secure

Page 1, Line 14transportation originates department, in a vehicle with a valid permit

Page 1, Line 15issued by the county in which the secure transportation originates

Page 1, Line 16department, and which meets the minimum requirements for secure

Page 1, Line 17transportation established by rule pursuant to section 25-3.5-311 may

Page 1, Line 18provide urgent secure transportation services.

Page 1, Line 19SECTION 2.  In Colorado Revised Statutes, 25-3.5-309, amend

Page 1, Line 20(1) and (4) as follows:

Page 1, Line 2125-3.5-309.  Secure transportation - license required - fees -

Page 1, Line 22exceptions.

Page 1, Line 23(1) (a)  After January 1, 2023 January 1, 2027, an entity shall not

Page 1, Line 24provide public or private secure transportation services, as defined in

Page 1, Line 25section 25-3.5-103 (11.4), in this state unless that the entity holds a valid

Page 1, Line 26license issued by the board of county commissioners of the county in

Page 1, Line 27which the secure transportation service is based department; except that

Page 2, Line 1entities described in subsection (2) of this section may provide secure

Page 2, Line 2transportation services.

Page 2, Line 3(b)  Licenses, permits, and renewals issued pursuant to this section

Page 2, Line 4and section 25-3.5-310 require a fee in an amount to be determined by the

Page 2, Line 5board of county commissioners of the county in which the secure

Page 2, Line 6transportation service is based department to reflect the direct and

Page 2, Line 7indirect costs incurred by the county department in implementing

Page 2, Line 8licenses for secure transportation.

Page 2, Line 9(4)  Each vehicle operated by a secure transportation licensee must

Page 2, Line 10be issued a separate permit by the board of county commissioners of the

Page 2, Line 11county in which the secure transportation service is based department

Page 2, Line 12upon positive review pursuant to section 25-3.5-310.

Page 2, Line 13SECTION 3.  In Colorado Revised Statutes, 25-3.5-310, amend

Page 2, Line 14(1) and (2); and add (4) as follows:

Page 2, Line 1525-3.5-310.  Secure transportation - issuance of licenses and

Page 2, Line 16permits - term - requirements.

Page 2, Line 17(1) (a)  After receipt of an original application for a license to

Page 2, Line 18provide public or private secure transportation services, the board of

Page 2, Line 19county commissioners of the county in which the secure transportation

Page 2, Line 20service is based department shall review the application, the applicant's

Page 2, Line 21record, and the applicant's equipment, as well as the applicant's training

Page 2, Line 22and operating procedures. In order to be approved for a license, the

Page 2, Line 23applicant must provide evidence that the applicant's equipment and

Page 2, Line 24training and operating procedures meet or exceed the minimum

Page 2, Line 25requirements established by the state board of health pursuant to section

Page 2, Line 2625-3.5-311. The board of county commissioners of any county may

Page 2, Line 27impose, by resolution, additional requirements for secure transportation

Page 2, Line 28that is based in that county.

Page 2, Line 29(b)  If an applicant is approved pursuant to subsection (1)(a) of this

Page 2, Line 30section, the board of county commissioners of the county in which the

Page 2, Line 31secure transportation service is based department shall issue a license,

Page 2, Line 32valid for three years, to the applicant to provide secure transportation

Page 2, Line 33services. The board of county commissioners of the county in which the

Page 2, Line 34secure transportation service is based department shall also issue a

Page 2, Line 35permit, valid for twelve months after the date of issuance, for each

Page 2, Line 36vehicle used by the licensee if the vehicles and equipment meet or exceed

Page 2, Line 37the minimum requirements established by the state board of health

Page 2, Line 38pursuant to section 25-3.5-311.

Page 2, Line 39(2)  Any license or permit issued pursuant to this section, unless

Page 2, Line 40revoked by the board of county commissioners of the county in which the

Page 2, Line 41secure transportation service is based department, may be renewed by

Page 2, Line 42filing an application, as applicable for an original license or permit.

Page 2, Line 43Applications for permit renewal must be filed annually, but not less than

Page 3, Line 1thirty days before the date the permit expires.

Page 3, Line 2(4)  The department shall publish a list of approved secure

Page 3, Line 3transportation providers on the department's website and

Page 3, Line 4update the list of providers on a monthly basis.

Page 3, Line 5SECTION 4.  In Colorado Revised Statutes, 25-3.5-311, amend

Page 3, Line 6(1) introductory portion and (1)(b) as follows:

Page 3, Line 725-3.5-311.  Secure transportation - rules.

Page 3, Line 8(1)  On or before July 1, 2022, The state board of health shall

Page 3, Line 9adopt rules establishing the minimum requirements for secure

Page 3, Line 10transportation services licensing, including, but not limited to:

Page 3, Line 11(b)  Staff training requirements, including verbal de-escalation and

Page 3, Line 12trauma-informed care, as well as cultural competencies related to

Page 3, Line 13supporting persons with physical or cognitive disabilities. Staff

Page 3, Line 14training requirements shall be established by the state board

Page 3, Line 15of health and not by individual counties.

Page 3, Line 16SECTION 5.  Act subject to petition - effective date. Section

Page 3, Line 1725-3.5-309 (1)(a), Colorado Revised Statutes, as amended in section 2 of

Page 3, Line 18this act, takes effect January 1, 2027, and the remainder of this act takes

Page 3, Line 19effect at 12:01 a.m. on the day following the expiration of the ninety-day

Page 3, Line 20period after final adjournment of the general assembly (August 12, 2026,

Page 3, Line 21if adjournment sine die is on May 13, 2026); except that, if a referendum

Page 3, Line 22petition is filed pursuant to section 1 (3) of article V of the state

Page 3, Line 23constitution against this act or an item, section, or part of this act within

Page 3, Line 24such period, then the act, item, section, or part will not take effect unless

Page 3, Line 25approved by the people at the general election to be held in November

Page 3, Line 262026 and, in such case, will take effect on the date of the official

Page 3, Line 27declaration of the vote thereon by the governor; except that section

Page 3, Line 2825-3.5-309 (1)(a), Colorado Revised Statutes, as amended in section 2 of

Page 3, Line 29this act, takes effect January 1, 2027, or on the date of the official

Page 3, Line 30declaration of the vote thereon by the governor, whichever is later.".

Page 3, Line 31Page 1, line 102, strike "reimbursing".

Page 3, Line 32Page 1, strike line 103.

Page 3, Line 33Page 1, line 104, strike "treatment and".