A Bill for an Act
Page 1, Line 101Concerning measures to incentivize jails to provide
Page 1, Line 102complementary behavioral health services to persons
Page 1, Line 103held in custody.
Bill Summary
(Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced and does not reflect any amendments that may be subsequently adopted. If this bill passes third reading in the house of introduction, a bill summary that applies to the reengrossed version of this bill will be available at http://leg.colorado.gov/.)
Legislative Oversight Committee Concerning the Treatment of Persons with Behavioral Health Disorders in the Criminal and Juvenile Justice Systems. Under existing law, the behavioral health administration (BHA) in the department of human services administers the jail-based behavioral health services program (program). The bill requires the BHA to, as part of the program, provide funding to jails to administer services that complement a person's primary course of treatment for a behavioral health disorder (complementary behavioral health services) to persons in custody in the jail. A jail shall use the funding to train jail staff to administer complementary behavioral health services and to provide complementary behavioral health services to persons in custody in the jail at no cost to the person.
The bill requires the general assembly to annually appropriate up to $50,000 for the administration of complementary behavioral health services as part of the program.
Page 2, Line 1Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Colorado:
Page 2, Line 2SECTION 1. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 27-60-106, amend (2)(b) and (2)(c); and add (2)(d) and (7) as follows:
Page 2, Line 327-60-106. Jail-based behavioral health services program - purpose - created - funding. (2) The purpose of the program is to:
Page 2, Line 4(b) Train jail staff on behavioral health disorders and best
Page 2, Line 5practices in working with individuals with mental health, substance use, and co-occurring disorders;
andPage 2, Line 6(c) Fund administrative costs to jails that implement the requirements outlined in subsection (3) of this section; and
Page 2, Line 7(d) Provide funding to jails to administer complementary
Page 2, Line 8behavioral health services to persons in custody in the jail, as described in subsection (7) of this section.
Page 2, Line 9(7) (a) Beginning July 1, 2025, as part of the program and
Page 2, Line 10subject to available appropriations, the BHA shall provide
Page 2, Line 11funding to jails to administer services that complement a
Page 2, Line 12person's primary course of treatment, including, but not limited
Page 2, Line 13to, motivational enhancement therapy, meditation, and auricular acudetox, to persons in custody in the jail.
Page 2, Line 14(b) A jail shall use the money received pursuant to this
Page 3, Line 1subsection (7) to train jail staff to administer complementary
Page 3, Line 2behavioral health services and to provide complementary
Page 3, Line 3behavioral health services to persons in custody in the jail at no
Page 3, Line 4cost to the person. The BHA must approve the complementary
Page 3, Line 5services that a jail intends to provide with the money before the jail may expend the money.
Page 3, Line 6(c) For state fiscal year 2025-26, and for each fiscal year
Page 3, Line 7thereafter, the general assembly shall appropriate up to an
Page 3, Line 8additional fifty thousand dollars to the program for the
Page 3, Line 9administration of complementary behavioral health services as described in this subsection (7).
Page 3, Line 10SECTION 2. Act subject to petition - effective date. This act
Page 3, Line 11takes effect at 12:01 a.m. on the day following the expiration of the
Page 3, Line 12ninety-day period after final adjournment of the general assembly; except
Page 3, Line 13that, if a referendum petition is filed pursuant to section 1 (3) of article V
Page 3, Line 14of the state constitution against this act or an item, section, or part of this
Page 3, Line 15act within such period, then the act, item, section, or part will not take
Page 3, Line 16effect unless approved by the people at the general election to be held in
Page 3, Line 17November 2026 and, in such case, will take effect on the date of the official declaration of the vote thereon by the governor.