A Bill for an Act
Page 1, Line 101Concerning creating the youth prevention mental health
Page 1, Line 102pilot program to provide students access to an online
Page 1, Line 103behavioral health prevention tool.
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.)
The bill creates the youth prevention mental health pilot program (pilot program) in the behavioral health administration (BHA) to provide 42,000 students access to an electronic multicomponent behavioral health prevention tool (prevention tool).
No later than January 1, 2026, the bill requires the BHA to enter into a contract with a third party to administer the pilot program. The third party must have the capability to provide access to a prevention tool that includes access to online behavioral health educational resources, peer-to-peer support services, and online private counseling sessions with a behavioral health professional.
The pilot program repeals on June 30, 2027.
Page 2, Line 1Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Colorado:
Page 2, Line 2SECTION 1. In Colorado Revised Statutes, add 27-50-806 as follows:
Page 2, Line 327-50-806. Youth prevention mental health pilot program -
Page 2, Line 4created - appropriation - report - rules - repeal. (1) (a) There is
Page 2, Line 5created in the behavioral health administration a youth
Page 2, Line 6prevention mental health pilot program to provide forty-two
Page 2, Line 7thousand students access to an electronic multicomponent behavioral health prevention tool.
Page 2, Line 8(b) The pilot program must include students from at least one urban county, one rural county, and one suburban county.
Page 2, Line 9(c) Subject to available appropriations, the BHA may
Page 2, Line 10expand the pilot program to serve more than forty-two thousand students or to other areas of the state.
Page 2, Line 11(2) No later than January 1, 2026, the BHA shall enter
Page 2, Line 12into a contract with a third party to administer the pilot
Page 2, Line 13program and shall comply with the "Procurement Code",
Page 2, Line 14articles 101 to 112 of title 24, in selecting and contracting with the administrator.
Page 2, Line 15(3) The third party selected pursuant to subsection (2) of
Page 2, Line 16this section must have the capability to provide access to an
Page 2, Line 17electronic multicomponent behavioral health prevention tool that includes:
Page 3, Line 1(a) Access to online behavioral health educational resources;
Page 3, Line 2(b) Peer-to-peer support services, including a pre-moderated online peer chat space; and
Page 3, Line 3(c) Online private counseling sessions with a behavioral health professional licensed in Colorado.
Page 3, Line 4(4) The BHA shall adopt rules necessary for implementing
Page 3, Line 5this section, including establishing additional qualifications
Page 3, Line 6for a third party to ensure efficient and effective
Page 3, Line 7administration of the pilot program and a process for selecting a third party to administer the pilot program.
Page 3, Line 8(5) In its 2027 annual report to the committees of
Page 3, Line 9reference made pursuant to section 2-7-203, the BHA shall
Page 3, Line 10include information concerning the pilot program and whether
Page 3, Line 11any changes should be made to the pilot program that would
Page 3, Line 12increase its effectiveness and shall include a recommendation
Page 3, Line 13of whether the pilot program should be continued. At a minimum, the report must include:
Page 3, Line 14(a) The total number of pilot program participants who
Page 3, Line 15were provided access to the electronic multicomponent tool through the pilot program;
Page 3, Line 16(b) The total number of pilot program participants who utilized the electronic multicomponent tool;
Page 3, Line 17(c) The total and average number of hours pilot program participants utilized the electronic multicomponent tool;
Page 3, Line 18(d) The total number of pilot program participants and
Page 4, Line 1the hours of direct professional support services provided through the pilot program;
Page 4, Line 2(e) The total number of pilot program participant
Page 4, Line 3referrals to crisis services that occurred through the pilot program; and
Page 4, Line 4(f) User satisfaction with the electronic multicomponent tool and other services offered through the pilot program.
Page 4, Line 5(6) This section is repealed, effective June 30, 2027.
Page 4, Line 6SECTION 2. Act subject to petition - effective date. This act
Page 4, Line 7takes effect at 12:01 a.m. on the day following the expiration of the
Page 4, Line 8ninety-day period after final adjournment of the general assembly; except
Page 4, Line 9that, if a referendum petition is filed pursuant to section 1 (3) of article V
Page 4, Line 10of the state constitution against this act or an item, section, or part of this
Page 4, Line 11act within such period, then the act, item, section, or part will not take
Page 4, Line 12effect unless approved by the people at the general election to be held in
Page 4, Line 13November 2026 and, in such case, will take effect on the date of the official declaration of the vote thereon by the governor.