BIPARTISAN BILL TO BOOST BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES PASSES COMMITTEE

DENVER, CO – The House Public & Behavioral Health & Human Services Committee today passed bipartisan legislation sponsored by Representative Mary Young and Rod Pelton that would require crisis facilities to provide behavioral health and substance use disorder services to individuals in crisis. HB22-1214 passed by a vote of 11-1.

“We’re working towards building a healthier Colorado and that begins with improving access to behavioral health services,” said Rep. Mary Young D-Greeley. “No one should be denied access to critical behavioral health services while experiencing a crisis. This bill aims to break down barriers to accessing behavioral health crisis services for youth, individuals with disabilities and those seeking the resources they need for substance use disorder."

The bill would require crisis system facilities and programs, including crisis walk-in centers and mobile crisis programs, to provide mental health and substance use disorder services to patients experiencing a mental health crisis, including for children and youth.

Over the last decade, youth suicide has increased an astonishing 51 percent, as youth behavioral health has reached a crisis level. If passed, this bill would make it easier for mobile crisis programs and crisis walk-in centers to provide crisis services and behavioral health to all individuals in crisis.