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Package includes measures to provide emergency rental assistance, food assistance and to attract federal funding for local economic development for chip manufacturing
DENVER, CO – The House advanced the FY 2022-2023 Budget Supplemental Package today on a preliminary vote. The package of bills includes wildfire mitigation efforts, startup funding for Colorado’s voter-passed universal school meals program and behavioral health care support for youth. Other top priorities in the package include resources for renters facing eviction, and an innovative investment to attract federal funding for economic development and local chip manufacturing.
“From increasing wildfire mitigation to investing in our kids, this supplemental package ensures our state government continues to provide the services communities depend upon,” said JBC Vice Chair Shannon Bird, D-Westminster. “Additional priorities in this package include bills that would help support our health care system and bolster a stronger economy by creating new chip manufacturing jobs. We will continue to govern responsibly as we craft a balanced budget that strengthens our economy so more hardworking families can afford to not just get by, but thrive.”
“As this year’s supplemental package moves through the House, we’re focused on making Colorado more affordable and uplifting all families,” said JBC member Emily Sirota, D-Denver. “I’m proud that our supplemental package makes critical investments to help renters facing eviction, ensure our kids can receive healthy lunches at school and address the needs of Coloradans.”
SB23-139 COSWAP Fire Mitigation
Wildfires across the state are becoming increasingly dangerous and destructive. Colorado Democrats have made significant strides toward improving our wildfire mitigation and recovery efforts–and this year we are just as committed to investing in this critical prevention area. This bill will allow for further wildfire mitigation efforts through the Colorado Strategic Wildfire Action Plan (COSWAP) and appropriates $10 million to the Wildfire Mitigation Capacity Development Fund to boost statewide capabilities.
SB23-115 Healthy Meals for All Public School Students
When families and children succeed, we all succeed. Sometimes school lunch is the only food Colorado kids receive throughout the day–and we need to make sure it's available to them. This bill appropriates nearly $200,000 to activate the implementation of the voter-approved Colorado Proposition FF by funding staffing for the Department of Education.
SB23-124 Emergency Rental Assistance Funding
Making Colorado more affordable for everyone is a top priority among Colorado Democrats. Pandemic pressures, inflation costs and rising rents have caused eviction filings to climb in our state. In order to prioritize those facing housing insecurity, this bill provides $8 million to the Colorado Emergency Rental Assistance Program to support the current beneficiaries of the program and provide immediate relief for those facing eviction.
SB23-116 Support for Local Manufacturing and Economic Development
Attracting top-tier businesses to our state strengthens our economy and showcases Colorado as an innovation hub. This bill invests $5 million to ensure Colorado can compete for federal funding available to states through the CHIPS and Science Act, helping cement Colorado’s place as a leader in the semiconductor industry. This bill works to attract institutions, manufacturers and their supply chains within the semiconductor industry to start or maintain their business in rural and underserved communities outside of the Denver area.
SB23-119 Children’s Behavioral Health Services
Colorado Democrats have worked hard to improve access to behavioral health care for everyone. This includes tackling the mental health crisis that is drastically impacting our youth. The bill includes $3 million for the Children and Youth Mental Health Treatment Act (CYMHTA) to address the program’s growing caseload. CYMHTA allows families to access behavioral health treatment services for their children and acts as an alternative to child welfare involvement when a dependency and neglect action isn't warranted.
SB23-138 Financing for Denver Health
Denver Health plays an important role in ensuring the health, safety and well-being of our neighbors and community members. Denver Health is also a safety net provider that serves a higher share of Medicaid and uninsured patients than any other metro hospital. As they wrestle with unique fiscal challenges, this bill provides $5 million in addition to $1.4 million appropriated through SB23-117 for a total of $6.4 million in support for Denver Health.