< Back May 18, 2022 JOINT RELEASE: SIGNED! BILLS TO INCREASE ACCESS TO BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND SAVE PEOPLE MONEY ON HEALTH CARE Legislation significantly boosts number of inpatient beds for adults and youth, increases access to care for families and saves Coloradans money on prescription drugs DENVER, CO – Two critical bills from the legislature’s behavioral health package were signed into law today. They invest nearly $120 million to increase residential treatment options in Colorado and expand access to behavioral health care for youth and families. Governor Polis also signed legislation that will reduce the cost of prescription drugs and save Coloradans money on health care. Adult Inpatient and Residential Behavioral Health Care: HB22-1303 , sponsored by Representatives Judy Amabile and Shane Sandridge and Senators Faith Winter and Jim Smallwood, invests $65 million to expand inpatient and residential treatment options. “Colorado needs more residential treatment options to ensure that people have access to the care they need, and that’s what the bill signed into law today will do,” said Rep. Judy Amabile, D-Boulder. “Too many people are waiting for treatment and seeing their conditions worsen because there isn’t a treatment bed available for them. The legislation signed today will fund new beds across the state for people struggling with serious mental illness.” “Far too many of our neighbors are struggling to access the health care they need, and we must increase our capacity to support folks who require urgent, immediate care,” said Senator Faith Winter, D-Westminster . “These new laws will provide additional inpatient and residential treatment beds for individuals in need, and help people save money and improve certainty for folks who rely on lifesaving prescription drugs, which will make a world of difference and allow more Coloradans to access the care they desperately need.” Currently, Colorado does not have enough residential treatment beds to treat individuals with serious mental illness, including individuals with co-occuring conditions or in need of civil commitment. The law supports the addition of 16 beds at the Colorado Mental Health Institute at Fort Logan and 125 residential treatment beds across the state. These beds will be available for adults with urgent behavioral health needs who need clinical support to become stabilized. They will provide integrated care to flexibly serve all populations, including individuals involved in the criminal justice system and those awaiting competency restoration services. “The legislation Governor Polis signed today will save Coloradans money on prescription drugs by requiring insurance companies and prescription drug benefit managers to pass on savings from manufacturer rebates to consumers,” said Rep. Iman Jodeh, D-Aurora. “No one should have to choose between life saving medication and paying for everyday necessities. This new law will protect consumers and help ensure that cost isn’t a barrier to the treatment patients need.” Saving Coloradans Money on Prescription Drugs: HB22-1370 , sponsored by Representatives Emily Sirota and Iman Jodeh and Senators Faith Winter and Janet Buckner, makes prescription drugs and health care more affordable and dependable. The bill ensures doctors are in charge of a patient’s treatment instead of insurance companies by limiting when a patient has to try and fail a treatment that their insurance company prefers before they can get what their doctor recommends. The bill ensures that patients know what they’ll be expected to pay for prescription drugs by requiring that 25 percent of health plans have a set dollar amount for co-pays instead of unpredictable percentage-based coinsurance. “This legislation prevents people from seeing their health coverage change when they are in the middle of lifesaving treatment and will help ensure patients have access to the medications they need,” said Rep. Emily Sirota, D-Denver. “We’ve taken historic action in recent years to bring down the cost of health insurance and save people money on health care, and I’m proud to see us take this important step forward today to save people even more on their prescription drugs.” The bill will save Coloradans money on prescription drugs by requiring insurance companies to pass along the savings from manufacturers’ rebates. The bill also bans health insurance companies from raising the out-of-pocket costs of someone’s prescription medications in the middle of their coverage and prohibits companies from dropping coverage of a medication a patient needs midway through the patients’ coverage. “Kids and families all across Colorado deserve access to quality behavioral health care, but our current system isn’t getting them the care they need,” said Senator Janet Buckner, D-Aurora. “I am proud to champion these bills that will improve access to behavioral health care for youth in Colorado, lower the cost and improve access to lifesaving prescription drugs, and help make sure that every family in our state is able to receive the vital care they need to thrive.” Youth and Family Residential Behavioral Health Care: HB22-1283 sponsored by Representatives Dafna Michaelson Jenet and Mary Bradfield and Senators Janet Buckner and Kevin Priola, will make it easier for families and youth to access residential and outpatient care in Colorado. “Colorado is facing a youth mental health crisis; we made expanding access to care for youth and families one of the major focuses of our behavioral health package this year,” said Rep. Dafna Michaelson Jenet, D-Commerce City. “Too many families can’t find options for treatment in Colorado so they are forced to send their kids out of state. I’m proud Colorado is making a historic investment to substantially increase our ability to care for our kids and provide the care they need to thrive.” Right now, Colorado does not have adequate capacity to serve children and youth with complex behavioral health needs. As a result, too many children are sent out-of-state to access treatment, far away from their families and support network. This bill will invest $54M to support intensive youth and family residential and outpatient care, ensuring that children, youth, and families can access behavioral health treatment and services they need right here in Colorado. Previous Next

< Back May 13, 2021 HOUSE MOVES TO RESTRICT LAW ENFORCEMENT’S USE OF KETAMINE DENVER, CO– The House today advanced Representatives Leslie Herod and Yadira Caraveo’s bill to define the appropriate use of ketamine in law enforcement interactions. The bill passed on second reading. “For too long, ketamine has been misused during law enforcement interactions and outside of medical settings, and it has had dangerous, even deadly, consequences for Coloradans,” said Rep. Leslie Herod, D-Denver . “This bill represents a bold step forward in our efforts to improve policing in our state and ensure all Coloradans feel safe and protected by law enforcement.” “Ketamine is not a drug that should be used lightly or without being able to verify basic medical information like a patient’s weight, medical history, and other relevant factors.” said Doctor Rep. Yadira Caraveo, D-Thornton. “Colorado has already lost far too many lives due to the misuse of this powerful drug. My hope is that by passing this bill we’ll prevent the type of tragedy that took the life of Elijah McClain and so many more from ever happening again.” HB21-1251 limits the use of ketamine to subdue an individual in pre-hospital settings. The federal government has scheduled ketamine as a controlled substance due to its associated risk factors, and emergency medical service providers, here referred to as ‘paramedics,’ must seek waivers to administer ketamine since the drug is outside of their standard scope of practice. Studies show that rates of intubation for people injected with ketamine in a prehospital setting are dramatically higher than when it’s administered in an emergency department. The bill prohibits law enforcement from compelling, directing or unduly influencing a paramedic to chemically incapacitate someone by administering ketamine. For a paramedic to administer ketamine in a prehospital setting with law enforcement present, the paramedic must weigh an individual to ensure accurate dosage and if that’s not possible, at least two people present at the scene must agree with their weight estimation. The paramedic must be trained in the administration of ketamine and must attempt to obtain verbal authorization from a medical director before administering it. Lastly, there must be equipment on site to immediately monitor the person’s vital signs and provide urgent transport to a hospital. Among other changes, the bill requires a law enforcement officer to intervene and report to the POST board if they see another officer using ketamine on someone, which under the bill would constitute excessive use of force and could lead to permanent revocation of an officer’s POST certification if the incident results in death. Absent a justifiable medical emergency, a paramedic would be prohibited from using ketamine to sedate someone to aid in their arrest or restraint for alleged or suspected criminal conduct Previous Next

House and Senate Democratic leadership today outlined some of the shared legislative priorities ahead of the 2025 legislative session. The 75th General Assembly begins on Wednesday, January 8, 2025. < Back January 7, 2025 JOINT RELEASE: Democratic Lawmakers Outline 2025 Legislative Priorities DENVER, CO – House and Senate Democratic leadership today outlined some of the shared legislative priorities ahead of the 2025 legislative session. The 75th General Assembly begins on Wednesday, January 8, 2025. “It’s clear Coloradans trust Democrats because we have governed responsibly and delivered results on the issues that matter most, like making our state more affordable, protecting your rights and freedoms and prioritizing working families,” said House Speaker Julie McCluskie, D-Dillon. “From lowering the cost of housing and health insurance to investing in public education and supporting Colorado agriculture, we’re focused on making our state a more affordable, safer place to call home. As we enter another legislative session, I am excited for Democrats and Republicans to find common ground once again and move Colorado forward.” “As I step into the role of Senate President, I’m focused on making Colorado a place where everyone has the opportunity to thrive – where anyone can work hard, afford basic necessities like a safe place to live and high-quality health care, and earn a good life,” said Senate President-designee James Coleman, D-Denver. “I am committed to working with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to deliver results for Coloradans. We’re prioritizing solutions to lower the cost of living, protect our freedoms including reproductive health care and voting rights, and ensure safe, thriving communities.” “I’m excited to get to work to lower costs for families, make our communities safer, and protect the Colorado Way of Life as the Trump Administration threatens to undermine our rights and freedoms,” said Majority Leader Monica Duran, D-Wheat Ridge. “With a tight budget year ahead, we will be focused on protecting our most vulnerable and preserving the important investments we’ve made in health care, education and public safety. We will fight back against attacks on abortion rights, attempts to roll back protections that support our immigrant communities as well as clean water and air, eliminate health care coverage for Coloradans or repeal life-saving gun violence prevention legislation.” “Colorado Democrats are ready and excited to get back to work and tackle the issues that matter most to Coloradans,” said Senate Majority Leader Robert Rodriguez, D-Denver. “Coming hot off the heels of the November election, we’re prepared to deliver results that Coloradans expect: more affordable and safer communities, access to high-quality health care, and support for the middle class. Additionally, we stand ready to be responsible and reactive to federal decisions that could erode our freedoms and threaten the Colorado we know and love.” From investing in public schools , reducing gun violence and cutting taxes to reducing the cost of housing , behavioral health care , higher education and child care, Colorado Democrats have delivered on the issues that matter most to Coloradans and working families. Ahead of the 2025 legislative session, Democratic lawmakers are preparing to build upon their efforts to make Colorado more affordable and safer, and meet the challenges of the Trump administration head on to protect shared freedoms, values and the Colorado way of life. Previous Next

The House today passed the “Freedom to Read Act” by a vote of 42-22. < Back April 14, 2025 House Passes “Freedom to Read Act” DENVER, CO – The House today passed the “Freedom to Read Act” by a vote of 42-22. SB25-063 would create safeguards against book bans in public school libraries. “Knowledge is power, and our bill preserves access to age-appropriate literature in Colorado public schools,” said Rep. Jenny Willford, D-Northglenn. “This legislation creates a standard process to evaluate a book’s inclusion or removal from a library – further shielding our public school libraries from D.C. culture wars and political fights. Schools are for learning, and our students deserve access to age-appropriate books that encourage them to think more broadly and critically about the world.” “Free societies don’t ban books. This bill maintains access to a wide range of literature, including books that share the experiences and voices of marginalized communities,” said Rep. Lorena García, D-Unincorporated Adams County. “Books offer a window to the world where students can explore new places, discover different cultures and dive deep into a new experience. The freedom to read is a cornerstone to a strong democracy, and we’re making sure our students have access to age-appropriate literature.” SB25-063 would create safeguards against book bans in public schools by requiring local school boards to establish a standard policy on the acquisition, use and removal of library resources. The policy would ensure that any removal or restriction of a library resource follows a clear, fair and consistent process. Without a policy in place, a local school board or the Charter School Institute could not remove a library resource from its collection. SB25-063 would also prevent discriminatory policies and protect librarians from retaliation. Previous Next

SB25-004 builds on past legislation to prevent gun violence and save lives < Back April 6, 2026 Signed! Bill to Expand and Improve Colorado’s Red Flag Law SB25-004 builds on past legislation to prevent gun violence and save lives DENVER, CO – Today Governor Polis signed into law legislation to expand Colorado’s existing “Red Flag” law and proactively de-escalate violent situations and save lives. SB26-004 , sponsored by Senators Tom Sullivan, D-Centennial, and Julie Gonzales, D-Denver, and Representatives Meg Froelich, D-Englewood, and Jenny Willford, D-Northglenn, expands the list of community members eligible to petition for an Extreme Risk Protection Order (ERPO) to include health care and education institutions. “In Colorado, our ‘Red Flag’ law has already helped prevent gun violence, but we can strengthen it to give more people the opportunity to save lives,” said Sullivan. “Adding health care and education facilities to the list of qualified petitioners for an ERPO helps ensure that trusted community members are able to reach those who are a danger to themselves or others sooner and stop more violence before it occurs.” “Our law will help prevent gun crimes and suicides to save countless Colorado lives while safeguarding people’s rights through a proven process,” said Froelich. “Colorado Democrats created our Red Flag law in 2019 to keep guns out of the hands of dangerous individuals. We’re strengthening this gun violence prevention law to save more lives and make Colorado a safer place to live for all.” “Colorado’s ‘Red Flag’ law exists to prevent gun violence so that families have the freedom to go to school, church, and the grocery store without fear,” said Gonzales. “Strengthening this already highly effective law will allow us to stop preventable acts of gun violence and save more Coloradans' lives.” “This new law refines Colorado’s Red Flag law to expand the use of this life-saving tool,” said Willford. “Co-responders often have the most direct contact and information about someone who is experiencing a crisis, and allowing them to file an ERPO petition means that the judicial system can make a more informed decision to remove access to firearms from an individual in crisis. Colorado’s Red Flag law saves lives, and our law makes it an even stronger tool to prevent gun violence.” SB26-004 adds co-responders and entities that employ or contract with specified community members to the list of those who may petition the court for an ERPO. It also adds health care facilities, behavioral health treatment facilities, K-12 schools, and higher education institutions as institutional petitioners that may petition a court for an ERPO. Passed in 2019, Colorado Democrats’ original ERPO legislation allows qualified individuals to petition a judge to temporarily remove a firearm from a potentially dangerous individual and interrupt gun violence before it has a chance to occur. In 2023, lawmakers passed legislation to expand the list of qualified individuals eligible to petition for an ERPO to include DAs and other law enforcement officials, licensed health care professionals, educators, and mental health professionals. In 2024, the most recent data available , there were 164 ERPO petitions filed in Colorado. Previous Next

< Back March 3, 2022 JUDICIARY PASSES BILL TO PREVENT IDENTITY-BASED CRIMES DENVER, CO – The House Judiciary Committee today passed legislation sponsored by Representatives Jennifer Bacon and Dafna Michaelson Jenet to prevent identity-based crimes and build safer Colorado communities. The bill is part of the public safety package. “We've seen a scary increase in threats and crimes targeting specific communities, and this cannot continue,” said Rep. Dafna Michaelson Jenet, D-Commerce City. “Improving public safety is a top priority, and identity-based crimes have no place in Colorado. Our legislation will help law enforcement develop the tools and strategies they need to prevent and solve serious crimes that impact our entire community’s sense of safety.” “Crimes that target specific communities cannot be tolerated,” said Rep. Jennifer Bacon, D-Denver. “We need new strategies and resources to counter violent threats that make entire communities feel unsafe. The legislation we are advancing will focus on preventing and intervening in identity-based violence by developing new capabilities and collaboration with community organizations and law enforcement.” HB22-1234 , which passed by a vote of 7-4, creates a grant program to prevent identity-based violence. The grants will focus on building strong communities and preventing acts of violence that target a specific population of people, and on building awareness of these crimes to prevent them from happening in the first place. The bill positions law enforcement to develop the strategies needed to solve serious crimes that have widespread ramifications on a community’s sense of safety. This could include projects that strengthen local collaboration and capabilities to prevent and intervene in identity-based violence. The bill is supported by the Department of Public Safety, One Colorado, the Counter Terrorism Education Learning Lab, the Center on Colfax, and Out Boulder County. Previous Next

< Back February 15, 2019 SULLIVAN, GARNETT INTRODUCE LIFE-SAVING EXTREME RISK PROTECTION ORDER BILL Bill named in honor of Douglas County Deputy Sheriff Zackari Parrish III (Feb 14) – Today, Rep. Tom Sullivan and Majority Leader Alec Garnett were joined by survivors of gun violence, law enforcement officers and state legislators to unveil new legislation to prevent gun violence and protect first responders. “This is why I’m here – I’m here to help save lives and to make sure what happened to my family and my son doesn’t happen to others,” said Rep. Tom Sullivan, D-Centennial. “This Extreme Risk Protection Order bill is about saving lives. I wear my son Alex’s jacket every single day I come to the state capitol. Watching your child’s body drop into the ground is as bad as it gets. And I’m going to do everything I can to make sure that none of you have to do that. I don’t care what party you belong to, I’m going to everything I can until this jacket falls off of me.” Rep. Sullivan’s son Alex was murdered in the Aurora theater shooting on his twenty-seventh birthday. “When an individual is in crisis, loved ones and law enforcement are often the first to see signs that they pose a threat to themselves or others. Extreme Risk Protection Orders can save lives by creating a way for family members and law enforcement to act before warning signs escalate into tragedies,” said Rep. Garnett, D-Denver. “This bill has some of the strongest due process provisions of any ERPO bill in the country. Coloradans refuse to maintain the status quo and refuse to simply live with the consequences of doing nothing to address the epidemic of gun violence.” This bill will give law enforcement another tool to help keep our communities safe.Through this bill, family or law enforcement can petition a judge for an Extreme Risk Protection Order for someone who is exhibiting violent or dangerous behavior. If approved, a temporary order would be placed for up to two weeks. After that, family or law enforcement could petition the judge for a full Extreme Risk Protection Order. If the judge determines, by a clear and convincing evidence standard, that the respondent poses a significant risk of causing personal injury to themselves or others, they could approve the protection order for up to 364 days. During this hearing, respondents will be provided legal counsel at no cost. The respondent can also request to have the order terminated at any point during the 364-day time period. The bill, which was introduced during the 2018 legislative session and which passed the House, is once again named in honor of Douglas County Deputy Sheriff Zackari Parrish III, who was killed in the line of duty last New Year’s Eve by an individual in the middle of a mental health crisis. Deputy Parrish was just twenty-nine years old. Law enforcement officials, including Deputy Parrish’s sheriff, Tony Spurlock, and Boulder County Sheriff Joe Pelle, spoke in favor of the bill at a press conference today. Pelle’s son Jeff is a Douglas County sheriff’s deputy who was also seriously injured responding to the same call with Deputy Parrish. Senators Lois Court, D-Denver, and Brittany Pettersen, D-Lakewood, also spoke at today’s press conference, sharing a statement from Deputy Parrish’s parents Zack and Cris Parrish to remind us all of the need for this life-saving legislation: “It is incumbent upon us to support the Zack S. Parrish, III Law, a measure which will limit the accessibility that a mentally and/or emotionally ill person would have to obtain such weaponry. This is not about taking gun rights away from anyone; it is about protecting our first responders, families, and the community at large, thus reducing these tragedies in the future,” the Parrish family urged. Kaylee Tyner, a senior at Columbine High School spoke at the press conference and led a moment of silence in honor of the one year anniversary of the Parkland High School shooting. Thirteen states have enacted bipartisan ERPO laws (California, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont and Washington). At least 29 other states and Washington, D.C. have considered ERPO laws. Jane Dougherty of Littleton whose sister Mary Sherlach was killed in the 2012 school shooting in Newtown, Conn. And who has been a leader on gun violence prevention efforts here in Colorado and in the capitol also spoke at today’s press conference. Colorado lost over eleven-hundred people to suicide in 2017. Studies show that access to a gun in a home triples the risk of death by suicide. Indiana’s firearm suicide rate decreased by nearly eight percent in the ten years after their Extreme Risk Protection Order (ERPO) legislation was enacted. The text of HB19-1177 can be found here. Watch Rep. Sullivan’s remarks here. Previous Next

< Back February 16, 2022 BIPARTISAN BILL TO BOOST TEACHER WORKFORCE PASSES HOUSE DENVER, CO – The House today passed bipartisan legislation to address the teacher workforce shortage and prepare Colorado students for success. HB22-1057, sponsored by Representatives, Barabra McLauchlan and Mary Bradfield, would waive limitations on the number of days retired teachers can work as substitute teachers when there is a critical substitute teacher shortage. The bill passed by a vote of 63 to 1. “The passage of this bill means we’re one step closer to addressing the critical substitute teacher storage and preparing our students for success,” said Rep. Barbara McLachlan D-Durango. “Pandemic pressures have been incredibly tough on teachers in our rural and underserved communities, this bipartisan legislation would temporarily waive PERA limitations on qualified, retired teachers and allow them to return to the classroom without fear of losing their benefits. We’re serious about using every tool at our disposal to prepare our students for success and move Colorado forward.” If passed, HB22-1057 would temporarily waive the limitations set by the public employees' retirement association (PERA) regarding the number of days qualified service retirees can substitute teach. Under current limitations, if retired teachers work over the number of allotted days, their PERA benefits are reduced. The bill temporarily lifts the waiver until July 1st, 2025. Additionally, qualified service retirees can teach in any school district while there is a critical substitute teacher shortage in Colorado. Colorado is facing a significant teacher shortage. During the 2020-2021 school year nearly 13% of teacher positions were filled through a shortage mechanism and more than 200 positions went completely unfilled statewide. This bill aims to incentivize retired teachers to help with shortages by making it possible for them to substitute teach without the fear of losing their PERA benefits. Previous Next

< Back March 10, 2020 REP. SINGER’S HELPING THE HELPER BILL PASSES COMMITTEE UNANIMOUSLY Legislation would provide benefits to workers who have experienced a traumatic event in the workplace DENVER, CO– The House Committee on Business Affairs and Labor today passed Representative Jonathan Singer’s legislation to provide worker’s compensation for employees who have experienced visual and audible psychological trauma. The committee approved the bill unanimously “911 dispatchers and operators expose themselves to trauma from hearing some of the most violent and tragic situations imaginable, and they do it for the sake of helping us and our communities,” said Rep. Singer, D-Longmont. “PTSD can be a life-altering diagnosis. With this legislation, we can give the brave men and women who help us during crises the time they need to heal and get back to their life-saving work.” SB20-026 would provide worker’s compensation for criminal justice employees who were exposed to death while they were working if they were diagnosed by a licensed psychiatrist or psychologist with PTSD. Under the bill, workers who experience either a visual or audible exposure to death or serious bodily injury, or the immediate aftermath of these events would be eligible for worker’s compensation. The eligibility also extends to workers who were repeatedly exposed to these qualifying events. The bill passed the Senate with a vote of 30-2. Previous Next

< Back March 17, 2022 DEFEATED: GOP ANTI-SCIENCE IVERMECTIN COVID MISINFORMATION BILL DENVER, CO – Democrats on the House Health and Insurance Committee today defeated a dangerous and misguided bill sponsored by Representative Stephanie Luck that recklessly promotes the use of ineffective and unapproved drugs like hydroxychloroquine and ivermectin to treat or prevent COVID-19. “Other than for a few specific reasons, Ivermectin is meant for animals, and I would know since I’m a veterinarian,” said Rep. Karen McCormick, D-Longmont. “GOP politicians urged on by former President Trump have spread dangerous misinformation about unproven COVID treatments and encouraged the use of these drugs, leading to many overdoses. At the same time, they sowed doubt about COVID vaccines, which are proven to be highly effective and which save lives. Their rhetoric based on unscientific claims and misinformation has endangered people’s lives, and I hope this is the last year we see this misguided bill.” HB22-1015 promotes the practice of prescribing hydroxychloroquine and ivermectin off-label for the treatment or prevention of COVID-19. The World Health Organization has warned against using hydroxychloroquine to treat COVID-19, and the FDA has been vocal about the dangers of using ivermectin , especially veterinary ivermectin, which is intended for livestock. The use of these drugs can cause adverse effects in patients, and they have been proven to be ineffective in treating COVID-19. In the fall of 2021, poison control centers reported seeing a surge in ivermectin overdose calls linked to COVID misinformation. People have been hospitalized after taking ivermectin, even after receiving a prescription . The bill would waive liability for doctors whose patients experience adverse health impacts as a result of being prescribed Ivermectin off label. The bill failed on a party line vote of 4 to 7. Previous Next

< Back June 28, 2021 OVER $100M FOR BEHAVIORAL HEALTH, NEW SUPPORT PROGRAMS SIGNED INTO LAW DENVER, CO– Governor Polis today signed four bills into law that will infuse $114 million in state and federal funds into the state’s behavioral health system, prevent substance use disorders, create the 9-8-8 suicide prevention hotline in Colorado and incorporate behavioral health into the state’s response to disasters, such as wildfires, floods or shootings. “As we listened to communities across Colorado about how we could most effectively direct American Rescue Plan Act funds, we consistently heard that we need to fix our state’s behavioral health system,” said Rep. Dafna Michaelson Jenet, D-Commerce City. “SB21-137 sets aside over half a billion dollars to put Colorado on track to make the transformational changes we need to significantly improve access to behavioral health care. At the same time, we’re directing $114 million, right away, to providers, nonprofits and local governments to address Colorado’s behavioral health emergency.” SB21-137 , sponsored by Representatives Dafna Michaelson Jenet and Chis Kennedy, will immediately deploy $114 million in state and federal stimulus funds to various behavioral health grant programs to assist providers, nonprofits and local governments address substance abuse, maternal and child health, and other behavioral health prevention and treatment programs around the state. To help address Colorado’s youth mental health crisis, the law requires CDHS to develop a program to provide emergency resources to licensed providers who face barriers in providing treatment and services to youth whose behavioral health needs require them to be in a residential facility. The bill creates the behavioral health cash fund and sets aside $450 million to be allocated through an interim process that will gather input from experts and craft recommendations. “The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated Colorado’s mental health crisis, and we’re seeing far more fatal drug overdoses and significantly increased demand for behavioral health services in our state,” said Rep. Chris Kennedy, D-Lakewood. “The bills Governor Polis signed today will immediately boost our state’s mental health system, prevent people from developing a substance use disorder and help Colorado build back stronger through historic investments that will substantially expand our mental health treatment capacity.” “Preventing substance use disorders will save lives and help our communities recover from the pandemic,” said Rep. Leslie Herod, D-Denver. “This has been a deadly year for drug overdoses in our state. Coloradans need more options to reduce opioid use when other treatments may help. With the governor signing HB21-1276 today, we’ll continue critical efforts to improve benzodiazepine prescribing practices, and insurance plans will have to cover more options for pain treatment that will reduce opioid use and prevent substance use disorders.” Governor Polis also signed HB21-1276 , sponsored by Representatives Chris Kennedy and Leslie Herod, which seeks to prevent substance use disorder by increasing access to non-opioid and atypical opioid treatments. It also continues prescribing limits on opioids and puts in place a process to lower new prescriptions for benzodiazepine. In 2020, fatal drug overdoses increased by 59 percent in Colorado. “Colorado is seeing a rise in suicide deaths, and some parts of our state have the highest youth suicide rates in the country,” said Rep. Lisa Cutter, D-Jefferson County. “One of my priorities this session was to improve crisis support services in Colorado. The two laws Governor Polis signed today will ensure people can get the support they need in the aftertermath of a disaster or tragedy or when they are in crisis.” SB21-154 , sponsored by Representatives Lisa Cutter and Matt Soper, implements the 988 national suicide prevention lifeline network in Colorado. By calling this number, individuals will be provided with crisis outreach, stabilization, and acute care that aims to prevent suicide deaths. The law aims to establish the new hotline by July 2022. HB21-1281 , sponsored by Representative Lisa Cutter and Perry Will, creates the Community Behavioral Health Disaster Preparedness and Response Program in the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE). The program is intended to enhance, support, and formalize behavioral health disaster preparedness and response activities of community behavioral health organizations. The intent of disaster response is to promote individual, family, and community resilience and it helps affected individuals return to a pre-disaster level of activity as quickly as possible. Disaster response methods include triage, basic support, psychological first aid, and making appropriate professional referrals in the community. Community mental health centers are already operating a number of programs that would fall within the scope of this fund, especially as they relate to COVID-19, but funding for these programs is often fragmented. The bill would provide funding to community behavioral health organizations for the disaster response services they provide. Previous Next

< Back April 30, 2019 HOUSE APPROVES PAID FAMILY LEAVE BILL (Apr. 30) – The House gave final approval to Rep. Matt Gray and Rep. Monica Duran’s bill, SB19-188 Family Medical Leave Insurance Program (FAMLI), that will ensure a seamless implementation of the best possible FAMLI policy for Coloradans. The plan creates an outline and execution schedule that lays the groundwork for the implementation of a strong, robust paid family leave policy for Colorado workers and businesses by 2024. “We’ve got consensus across all political spectrums that paid leave should be a reality,” said Rep. Matt Gray. “This is the biggest next step we can take and look forward to taking bigger ones in the future that will help make life better for the majority of workers in our state who don’t have access to paid leave.” “I escaped domestic violence and battled homelessness to keep my son safe but I lost a job and home, and in that moment I made a promise to myself that if I was ever in position to make a difference and be a voice for others, I would,” said Rep. Duran, D-Wheat Ridge. “This bill will help offer safe leave. Whether you’re a server, a nurse, a fast food worker, or a lawyer, you should have access to paid leave. Over 90 percent of Coloradans don’t have access to leave to care for a sick loved one or a newborn.” The implementation plan is comprised of a number of analyses that will ensure the program is administered efficiently, effectively, and fiscally responsible, including: A family and medical leave implementation task force, which will be appointed by July 1, 2019 . A report prepared for the taskforce with results from a third-party study and recommendations from experts in the field by October 1, 2019 . An independent actuarial analysis completed by December 1, 2019 . The implementation plan also requires an analysis of the feasibility of contracting with a third party to administer parts of the program as an alternative to administration by the state. The plan does not change the timeline for when Coloradans can start receiving benefits from the program. These analyses will assist in the preparation of legislation in the 2020 legislative session establishing paid family leave in Colorado. Following the establishment of the program, education and outreach will begin on January 1, 2022, the funding stream will be established on January 1, 2023 and benefits will be provided beginning on January 1, 2024. The bill does require that the General Assembly grant permission for implementation of the program by legislation. Eighty eight percent of Coloradans do not have access to paid family leave, and even unpaid leave under the federal Family and Medical Leave Act is inaccessible for 64 percent of working people. That means most Coloradans do not have time off to recover from a serious illness, to care for a sick family member or to welcome the birth of a child. They are often forced to choose between their jobs or taking care of sick loved one. SB19-188 passed by a vote of 40-24. It goes back to the Senate for approval of amendments. Previous Next