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< Back February 13, 2020 FROELICH’S BILL TO STREAMLINE RAPE KIT TRACKING AND BOLSTER RIGHTS OF SEXUAL ASSAULT SURVIVORS ADVANCES DENVER, CO — Representative Meg Froelich’s bill to improve how Colorado catalogues and maintains forensic medical evidence of sexual assault, known as rape kits, today was approved by the House Judiciary Committee. If enacted, the bill would begin the process of creating a rape kit tracking system, add victims’ rights provisions and give them more access to information about the status of their medical evidence. The Judiciary Committee approved the bill unanimously. “We need to do more to protect the rights of survivors of sexual assault,” said Rep. Froelich, D-Englewood. “That means improving the rape kit processing and tracking system and making sure that victims of heinous crimes have the resources they need to track the status of their investigation confidentially and efficiently. This bill keeps us moving down a path towards doing right by survivors, and I’m proud to see it move forward today.” HB20-1228 would require the Department of Public Safety to research the creation of a system to track forensic medical evidence related to sexual assault cases, known as rape kits. The bill directs the department to develop rules to implement a system that allows victims to access information related to the status of this medical evidence, which must be retained until the assailant may no longer be prosecuted for the crime. If a conviction or plea has not been entered in a case, the bill requires the entity holding the medical evidence to notify the victim prior to the medical evidence being destroyed and to maintain the medical evidence for an additional 10 years if the victim objects to its destruction. It also includes provisions related to the confidentiality of the information in this system and requires medical professionals collecting evidence related to a sexual assault to notify the victim of the contact information for the nearest sexual assault victim’s advocate. ### Previous Next

< Back August 6, 2019 COLORADO ERPO SPONSORS RESPOND TO TRUMP’S CALL FOR RED FLAG LAWS “There is much more they must do to protect our communities” (August 6) – In response to President Trump’s call for red flag laws in the wake of mass shootings in Texas and Ohio, the sponsors of Colorado’s Extreme Risk Protection Order law, Majority Leader Alec Garnett and Representative Tom Sullivan, issued the following statement: “Colorado is grieving with El Paso and Dayton after the tragedies this weekend. Colorado knows far too well the pain of mass shootings and the trauma that they inflict on victims and communities. It is time to take action to stop these senseless, deadly attacks. “We are glad to hear that there is increasing bipartisan support at the federal level for red flag laws. Here in Colorado we passed an Extreme Risk Protection Order law, a commonsense approach that is shown to save lives and prevent tragedies. We encourage other states to look to Colorado’s legislation as a model that increases public safety while protecting due process rights. The federal proposal is a good step but there is much more they must do to protect our communities from the scourge of gun violence.” Rep. Sullivan’s son Alex was murdered in the 2012 Aurora theater shooting on his twenty-seventh birthday. Rep. Sullivan wears Alex’s jacket every day and wore it during the course of the debate in the House. The state’s Extreme Risk Protection law, also known as the Deputy Zackari Parrish III Violence Protection Act, was signed by Gov. Polis on April 12 of this year and will provide a critical tool to help prevent gun violence and suicide and protect families and first responders. The legislation has been in the works for over a year and includes input from law enforcement, the mental health community, advocates for gun violence prevention and elected officials on both sides of the aisle. Through HB19-1177, family members or law enforcement can petition a judge for an Extreme Risk Protection Order (ERPO) for someone who is a significant risk to themselves or others. If approved, a temporary order would be placed for up to two weeks and the court would hold a hearing to determine whether there are sufficient grounds for an ERPO. During this hearing, respondents will be provided with legal counsel at no cost to ensure due process rights are protected. 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, the protection order may be approved for 364 days. The respondent can also request to have the order terminated at any point during that time period. Attorney General Phil Weiser submitted a letter and testified in support of the legislation. Members of law enforcement, gun owners, and survivors of gun violence testified for hours during House and Senate committee hearings in support of the bill. Seventeen states and the District of Columbia have enacted ERPO laws. Previous Next

< Back March 16, 2022 HOUSE ED COMMITTEE PASSES TWO BILLS TO PREPARE STUDENTS FOR SUCCESS DENVER, CO – The House Education Committee passed two bills that will prepare students for success. HB22-1248 passed by a vote of 6 to 3 and would extend the School Leadership Pilot Program indefinitely. HB22-1255, passed unanimously and would require higher education institutions to provide better support for students with disabilities. “We’re making sure some of the best educators in Colorado get the chance to impact students beyond their school district,” said Rep. Barbara McLachlan, D-Durango. “This bill continues a great program that identifies top-of-the-line principals in Colorado for mentorship programs with other principals and school districts. The results of this program have been great for boosting school culture and teacher collaboration and I’m very happy to continue such a popular program that has worked to prepare our students for success.” HB22-1248 , sponsored by Representative Barbara McLachlan and David Ortiz, would make permanent the School Leadership Pilot Program in the Department of Education. This popular program identifies dedicated and knowledgeable school principals as mentors and provides the opportunity for other principals to learn, observe and interact with those mentors to improve their leadership skills. This bill aims to continue the program because it successfully increases teacher collaboration, improves school culture and better prepares students for success. The first pilot program was implemented for two cohorts and served principals in more than 50 Colorado school districts. “There is no doubt that great principals equipped with leadership skills empower educators and improve learning outcomes for our students,” said David Ortiz D-Littleton . “Continuing the School Leadership Pilot Program is the right move for Colorado because more school districts and students will benefit from excellent leadership. We’re also focused on making it easier for all students, including students with a disability, to succeed in higher education. A new bill would allow experts in disability services in education to provide recommendations for real and impactful change for students with disabilities. Higher education needs to be more accessible and accommodating to everyone, and this bill points Colorado in the right direction.” HB22-1255 , sponsored by Representative David Ortiz, would create an advisory committee in the Department of Education that will develop a report with recommendations to improve outcomes for students with disabilities attending state institutions. The goal of this report is the develop a blueprint for making real and meaningful changes to better prepare students with disabilities for success, both in the classroom and after graduation. A 2019 study from the National Center for Education Statistics reported that 19.4% of undergraduate students have a disability. Also, higher education completion rates for students with a reported disability are significantly lower than students without reported disabilities. This bill aims to level the playing field to make it easier for students to succeed. Previous Next

Legislation would require jails to follow standards adopted by the Legislative Oversight Committee for Colorado Jail Standards < Back November 28, 2023 Interim Committee Approves Bill to Implement Statewide Jail Standards Legislation would require jails to follow standards adopted by the Legislative Oversight Committee for Colorado Jail Standards DENVER, CO – Today, the Legislative Oversight Committee for Colorado Jail Standards (Committee) voted to advance a bill that would help ensure individuals housed in jails across the state have a basic set of rights. Sponsored by Senator Rhonda Fields, D-Aurora, Senator James Coleman, D-Denver, Representative Judy Amabile, D-Boulder, and Representative Lorena Garcia, D-Unincorporated Adams County, Bill 1 would require jails to follow standards adopted today by the Committee that address and improve the rights of people incarcerated in jails, including access to health care, visitation, housing, discipline, and more. “In order to reduce recidivism and improve safety in our communities, certain quality standards must be met in Colorado’s jails,” said Fields. “With this bill, we are taking the first step towards implementing statewide jail standards and bolstering access to services that can better outcomes for incarcerated individuals. By involving a broad coalition on the Jail Standards Advisory Committee, we will develop a rounded approach to the continued improvement of incarcerated Coloradans’ rights.” “The conditions that incarcerated Coloradans experience in jail play a role in reducing recidivism and our overall public safety,” said Amabile. “Our 2022 legislation created an oversight committee to study possible changes we could make to standards in Colorado jails. The bill we advanced today extends the oversight committee’s role in continuing to revise jail standards and involving behavioral health professionals, law enforcement agencies, and county representatives to implement these new standards.” “Too often differences in Colorado jail standards result in a lack of appropriate care,” said Coleman. “By requiring jails to comply with statewide standards established by the Legislative Oversight Committee, we can better ensure that individuals' needs are being met and we can improve outcomes for those incarcerated in Colorado jails. I look forward to the work ahead to implement statewide standards and build on our progress of creating a more just criminal justice system.” “Coloradans who are in custody should not be subject to unsafe conditions,” said Garcia. “The Legislative Oversight Committee for Colorado Jail Standards recommends new jail standards based on data and insight from criminal justice professionals to ensure that basic needs are met and dignity preserved. Our bill facilitates the implementation of these changes, creating a safer environment in jails and better outcomes for incarcerated Coloradans that reduce recidivism and cycles of incarceration.” The bill creates a Jail Standards Advisory Committee composed of sheriffs, county commissioners, the state public defender, and advocates. The Advisory Committee would be charged with conducting jail assessments to ensure compliance with the standards, establishing assessment standards and procedures, and submitting an annual report and recommendations to the Legislative Oversight Committee. The Attorney General’s office would conduct jail assessments in partnership with the Advisory Committee, and could conduct investigations regarding potential violations of the standards. Under the bill, the Division of Criminal Justice in the Department of Public Safety is required to create a list of funding assistance and resources for jails to offset the costs of complying with the new standards. Previous Next

< Back December 21, 2020 JOINT RELEASE: GENERAL ASSEMBLY DELAYS 2021 SESSION  DENVER, CO — House and Senate Democratic leadership today announced a plan for the beginning of the First Regular Session of the Seventy-third General Assembly. The General Assembly will convene on January 13 and meet for as little time as is necessary to address urgent business and attend to certain constitutional and statutory obligations such as swearing in new members. The General Assembly will then go into a temporary recess, with the aim of returning to the Capitol tentatively on February 16 to continue the legislative session when the peak of the pandemic will hopefully have subsided. However, if an emergency arises that requires immediate legislative attention, the General Assembly maintains its commitment to responding with resolve in whatever format deemed necessary, including temporarily coming back into session to pass urgent legislation. After making this announcement, Democratic leadership released the following statements: “From the very beginning, we’ve worked hard to find ways to protect the health and safety of the public, legislative staff, and lawmakers while allowing for public participation,” said Speaker-designate Alec Garnett, D-Denver . “Recessing until mid-February will place us farther out from the holiday spike in COVID cases and will allow the bulk of our legislative work to take place when we hope it is safer and more Coloradans will have received the COVID vaccine. We’ll continue to look at the data and listen to public health experts to guide our decisions. When we return, we’ll take up the people’s work and pass laws to build back a stronger Colorado.” “It is extremely important that as we navigate returning for legislative session, we weigh the safety concerns for people’s health alongside the many changing factors that will guide our decision making,” said Senate President Leroy Garcia, D-Pueblo . “Last month, with a great deal of planning and coordination, we were able to convene a highly-effective special session aimed at alleviating Colorado’s most immediate needs going into the winter season. Now as we approach our regular session, we are committed to acting with the same precision and forethought – diligently prioritizing what matters most to our state and completing mission critical work before temporarily exiting the building. That’s why we have decided to delay our official legislative session until safer conditions in the state become more clear.” “With the first vaccines being distributed in our state, the end of this pandemic is finally in sight– but it’s time for Colorado to be more vigilant, not less,” said House Majority Leader Daneya Esgar, D-Pueblo . “Delaying our legislative session is a responsible and science-driven choice that will protect the health and safety of the public while ensuring that we’ll be able to get our work done on behalf of the people of Colorado. This pandemic has exposed and heightened many existing inequities in our economy, and we’ll come back in February ready to work towards ensuring every Coloradan has a fair shot at success.” “The first batch of COVID-19 vaccines are currently being administered in Colorado, which is promising news for the future, but the pandemic is far from over,” said Senate Majority Leader Steve Fenberg, D-Boulder . “As our state works to administer the vaccine over the next several months, we must remain cautious and do everything we can to limit large gatherings and potential super spreader events. With that in mind, we have decided that the most responsible way to ensure the health of the public as well as our legislative staff is to delay session until we can more safely reconvene. We will continue to closely monitor public health data in the coming weeks and months as we eagerly await our return to the Capitol. In the meantime, we are firmly committed to crafting the most effective legislation we can to support hardworking Coloradans in their recovery.” On January 13, space inside the Capitol will be limited to ensure social distancing. Most ceremonial activities will be postponed to a later date, and few guests are expected in the building. Earlier this year, the Colorado Supreme Court agreed with the General Assembly’s position that Joint Rule 44 allows the legislature to pause its work during a declared public health emergency and return at a later date without those days during the recess counting towards the 120-day limit. While the General Assembly is in a temporary recess, the Joint Budget Committee will continue to meet, with virtual participation continuing for those hearings. Additional year-round committees may also meet during this time. Given the new timeline, deadlines for members to finalize and introduce their bills will be pushed back. Previous Next

< Back April 21, 2021 WEISSMAN: PAST CRIMINAL RECORDS SHOULD NOT DENY A SECOND CHANCE Record sealing bill addresses collateral consequences from punishments that have never truly ended DENVER, CO– The House Judiciary Committee today passed legislation sponsored by Representative Mike Weissman that would expand access to the ability to seal records for people arrested for or convicted of low-level offenses. This allows Coloradans to move on with their lives, breaks down barriers to employment and housing, and strengthens public safety by lowering the chances of someone reoffending. “Record sealing gives people who have served their time a second chance to thrive, while reducing the chances that they will reoffend,” said Rep. Mike Weissman, D-Aurora. “One’s punishment should end when their sentence does, but in practice, criminal records lead to a lifetime of collateral consequences, staying with the offender even as they work to rebuild their lives. The crimes covered under this bill are low-level, and many are for drug offenses that, after the end of marijuana prohibition, aren’t even crimes any more. Redemption and the belief in second chances are fundamental American values, and it’s time our criminal record laws uphold these values, as well.” Two years ago the legislature passed HB19-1275, a bill that created a process for people convicted of low level offenses to petition the court to have their record sealed, by a vote of 91-6 across both chambers. Under HB21-1214, certain records for low-level drug offenses would be automatically sealed. The bill does not change the offenses eligible to be considered by a court for discretionary sealing of non-drug offenses and would still not apply to serious offenses, child abuse, or driving under the influence, among other exceptions in current law. It requires waiting periods of up to ten years depending on the offenses being considered by a court for sealing. With the exception of a life sentence, punishment in our criminal legal system is meant to be finite–meaning it ends. However, a criminal record follows a defendant for the rest of their lives, often impacting opportunities for housing or employment, even for minor offenses. Criminal records make it harder for people to re-integrate into their communities and create barriers to secure housing and employment. When record sealing is based on a petition system, the burden falls on the individual to be aware of their eligibility and to navigate a time-consuming and costly process to secure relief. Previous Next

Legislation to increase access to educator pathways and boost student success and wellbeing goes into effect on August 6. < Back July 24, 2025 JOINT RELEASE: Bills to Address Teacher Shortage, Create Universal Dyslexia Screenings & Implement Trauma-Informed Practices in Schools Go Into Effect DENVER, CO – Legislation to increase access to educator pathways and boost student success and wellbeing goes into effect on August 6. SB25-154 , sponsored by Senator Cathy Kipp, D-Fort Collins, and Rep. Eliza Hamrick, D-Centennial, will address Colorado’s teacher shortage by expanding access to educator pathways. “As a former school board member and district volunteer, I know that students and educators, especially in rural communities, are hurting as a result of a shortage of teachers,” said Kipp. “This law will give aspiring educators more opportunities to pursue a career in teaching, helping students and teachers alike succeed in Colorado schools.” "In Colorado, we're focused on addressing the educator shortage and intervening early to provide students with the support they need to succeed in the classroom," said Hamrick. "Our law, going into effect soon, will create more pathways for educators to teach in areas facing more severe shortages, such as special education and early childhood education. Additionally, the implementation of universal dyslexia screening in Colorado schools will help ensure our elementary students receive the support, resources and tools they need to thrive." SB25-154 , also sponsored by Rep. Matt Soper, R-Delta, will amend and clarify assessment requirements for currently licensed educators to obtain endorsements in early childhood special education, elementary education, early childhood education, and special education. This law will also allow candidates to demonstrate their qualifications in multiple ways. Additionally, SB25-154 will permit currently licensed teachers to teach subjects that may face even steeper shortages, like special education, without extensive barriers. To expand opportunities for low-income students to pursue a career in education, the law will also open more pathways for students to attend state universities that offer certain courses at a community college tuition rate. SB25-200 is also sponsored by Reps. Hamrick and Soper as well as Senators Chris Kolker, D-Centennial, and Kyle Mullica, D-Thornton. This new law will require schools to either adopt a universal dyslexia screening tool or develop a process to identify students in early elementary grades who exhibit characteristics of dyslexia by the 2027-2028 school year, adding to existing reading interventions in the Colorado READ Act . If evidence of a reading deficiency is assessed, then teachers are required to discuss this with parents. The law also allows schools to implement individualized readiness plans for students with a reading deficiency. “Supporting students with dyslexia requires a different approach than supporting those with general reading challenges – they need specific tools to succeed,” said Kolker. “The vast majority of other states already require universal dyslexia screenings, and with this law, Colorado is stepping up. Early intervention is everything, and every child deserves the opportunity to succeed with the right information and support.” “My ‘why’ for this bill is my amazing daughter, who has dyslexia,” said Mullica. “Even as a family actively involved in her education, we struggled to get her the support she needed to thrive. The screenings schools currently use for reading challenges don’t go far enough, and one-size-fits-all interventions simply don’t work. By implementing universal, early dyslexia screenings through this law, we can ensure that no child – regardless of their background or circumstance – falls through the cracks.” According to the Colorado Department of Education, dyslexia affects about 15 to 20 percent of the population, making it the most commonly diagnosed learning disability. Early intervention for dyslexia significantly improves educational outcomes. Before this law, Colorado was one of only seven states that did not mandate screenings for dyslexia. Finally, SB25-027 , sponsored by Senator Janice Marchman, D-Loveland, Rep. Junie Joseph, D-Boulder, and Rep. Ryan Gonzalez, R-Greeley, establishes a work group in the Office of School Safety within the Department of Public Safety (DPS) to develop recommendations on the use of trauma-informed practices in conducting school safety drills. "Every child deserves a supportive learning environment, especially when facing adversity," said Marchman. "This law ensures school safety drills prioritize student well-being while respecting and maintaining local control. By incorporating trauma-informed practices, we are creating a safer, more supportive space for all students to learn and thrive." "A supportive, comfortable learning environment plays a big role in how our students engage and participate in the classroom," said Joseph. "Our law aims to make safety drills in schools less stressful for students and teachers by using trauma-informed practices." Trauma-informed practices equip school personnel with knowledge and strategies to make school safety drills less traumatic and anxiety-inducing for students. The work group will meet throughout 2025 and 2026 and will be required to submit a report to the legislature containing their findings and recommendations by June 30, 2026. Previous Next

< Back April 29, 2019 HOUSE APPROVES EXPANSION OF RURAL BROADBAND INFRASTRUCTURE House Democrats have long been working to expand rural broadband access (Apr. 29) – The House approved Rep. Dylan Roberts’ bill to expand the broadband infrastructure in Colorado, especially in rural areas. In parts of rural Colorado, broadband services are inadequate and in some instances nonexistent. “Access to the internet is an indispensable part of our lives and it’s important we create equity between the rural and urban areas,” said Rep. Roberts, D-Avon. “Improving broadband infrastructure will help close the digital divide in communities from the Eastern Plains to the Western Slope. We can save millions of dollars on new infrastructure if we allow electrical easement holders to deliver internet services to communities through already-existing transmission corridors. That’s what this bill allows.” Rep. Roberts is the Chair of the Rural Affairs and Agriculture committee and the Capital Development committee. This bill allows electrical easement holders to lease existing fiber resources on these easements for the purpose of delivering broadband internet services to communities. It will allow the utilization of dark fiber by providers to connect areas without having to spend money on costly new infrastructure or easement negotiation. Similar legislation has been passed in Indiana, Missouri and Tennessee. SB19-107 passed the Senate on a 35-0 vote and passed the House today with a bipartisan vote of 62-2. It now heads back to the Senate for approval of amendments. The Senate co-prime sponsor is Sen. Kerry Donovan, D-Vail. Previous Next

Majority Leader Monica Duran, D-Wheat Ridge, today released the following statement in response to Majority Leader Dominick Moreno’s departure from the Colorado General Assembly: < Back August 4, 2023 Majority Leader Duran’s Statement on Departure of Senate Majority Leader Moreno DENVER, CO – Majority Leader Monica Duran, D-Wheat Ridge, today released the following statement in response to Majority Leader Dominick Moreno’s departure from the Colorado General Assembly: “Over the years Majority Leader Moreno’s dedication to his community has been unwavering at the Capitol. His steadfast leadership combined with his ability to bridge compromise was invaluable during his time at the legislature. “As Majority Leaders, our roles require us to be excellent relationship builders as we work to understand each and every member in our chamber. From experience, I can say Majority Leader Moreno is an expert in connecting with people and always works to find solutions. “Though he will be missed, especially by the Colorado Democratic Latino Caucus, I want to thank Majority Leader Moreno for his contributions to our state and wish him well in his new role in Denver.” Previous Next

The House today passed legislation on a preliminary vote to close tax loopholes that allow businesses to deduct meal and drink expenses from their taxable income in order to expand access to healthy foods in lower-income and under-served communities and help small food retailers and small family farms. < Back March 17, 2023 Bill to Boost Food Assistance by Closing Tax Loopholes Advances DENVER, CO - The House today passed legislation on a preliminary vote to close tax loopholes that allow businesses to deduct meal and drink expenses from their taxable income in order to expand access to healthy foods in lower-income and under-served communities and help small food retailers and small family farms. “Hardworking Coloradans don’t get to deduct the cost of their meals from their taxes, and when rising costs are impacting everyone we need to take a hard look at loopholes in our tax laws,” said Rep. Mike Weissman, D-Aurora. “About 33% of Coloradans do not have reliable access to nutritious food, which leads to chronic health issues and expensive health care bills. This bill will boost small food producers, local farmers and food assistance to support everyday Coloradans by closing a loophole only available to a select few.” Currently, Colorado taxpayers collectively cover the cost of the “business meals deduction” because state tax deductions are linked to federal tax deductions. HB23-1008 would “decouple” from these federal income tax deductions, ending the resulting state tax loophole that allows corporations to deduct business meal expenses from their taxes. Ending these tax deductions would support efforts to reduce food insecurity for hard-working Coloradans and fund a tax credit to help our local farmers and food retailers access necessary equipment and better access market opportunities. This bill builds off bipartisan legislation passed by the General Assembly in 2022 to save Coloradans money on healthy foods. The fund created by the 2022 legislation supports programs including the Community Nutrition Incentive Program, which assists women, children, and older Coloradans in subscribing to weekly produce deliveries from a local farm; the Double Up Food Bucks Program, which doubles the value of SNAP benefits in participating markets and stores for fruits and vegetables; and the Community Food Access program, which allows more small retailers to acquire equipment to store and sell produce and supports small family farms in connecting their crops to market demand. HB23-1008 supports and extends these efforts by creating an income tax credit for small food retailers and small family farms and Community Food Access Program consortium participants to cover 75% of the cost of new systems, equipment, and food distribution costs. Partnerships between Colorado farms and food producers boosts revenue and cycles money into local economies. Previous Next

< Back May 11, 2021 JODEH CONTINUES EFFORTS TO ADVANCE HEALTH CARE EQUITY House gives preliminary approval to Reps. Jodeh’s bill to protect the lowest income Coloradans from predatory medical debt collection and help them obtain necessary emergency medical care DENVER, CO– The House today advanced Rep. Iman Jodeh’s bill to take several steps to help low income and uninsured Coloradans access the emergency health care they need. The bill passed on second reading. “No Coloradan should go bankrupt because of the cost of medical care,” said Rep. Iman Jodeh, D-Aurora . “15 percent of all Coloradans and 1 in 4 Coloradans from communities of color are struggling with medical debt in collections, which can have devastating long-term impacts on the financial well-being of a family. We can’t accept the status quo of Black, Brown and low-income families being held back for generations because of crippling medical debt. We need affordable care and greater patient protections in the billing process now .” HB21-1198 makes several improvements to Colorado’s Hospital Financial Assistance Law to ensure hospitals screen patients for potential financial assistance through a variety of programs, make it more difficult for a patient to be sent to collection actions, and sets an enforceable standard for discounted care. The bill will crack down on predatory billing practices, help low-income Coloradans avoid crippling medical debt, and ensure all patients have access to information about their rights when accessing emergency care. Previous Next

< Back April 18, 2022 GOV. POLIS, STATE LEGISLATORS, COMMUNITY MEMBERS & CABINET MEMBERS DISCUSS TRANSFORMATIVE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH LEGISLATION, VISIT INNOVATIVE COMMUNITY HEALTH CLINIC Polis Administration in partnership with state legislature continues to take bold steps to improve access to and delivery of quality behavioral health care services across Colorado DENVER — Today, Colorado Governor Jared Polis joined Rep. Serena Gonzales-Guiterrez, Senator Chris Kolker, Rep. Perry Will, Senator Faith Winter, Rep. Judy Amabile, cabinet members, and community leaders to discuss comprehensive legislation to elevate Colorado’s behavioral health system and address Colorado’s most pressing needs made possible by historic funding from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). Governor Polis and the group then visited the Tepeyac Community Health Center in Denver and participated in a roundtable discussion about Colorado’s successful and continued integration of physical and behavioral health care to support efficient, streamlined health care services for Coloradans. “We are saving Coloradans money on behavioral health care and improving access to quality services to ensure every Coloradan can thrive,” said Governor Polis. “I was proud to visit the innovative Tepeyac Community Health Center and see firsthand the transformative impact of our investment in providing high-quality, accessible, and affordable care that Coloradans deserve.” A bipartisan bill sponsored by Representatives Gonzales-Gutierrez and Naquetta Ricks ( Community Behavioral Health Continuum of Care Gap Grants: HB22-1281 ) will ensure Coloradans across the state — including children, youth and families — have access to the behavioral health care they need. This bill will invest $90 million in grant funds for local governments and nonprofit organizations to implement innovative, community-based programs with the goal of filling regional gaps across the continuum of care and transforming behavioral health outcomes for families, children and youth living in Colorado. The bill passed the House Public and Behavioral Health Committee unanimously earlier this week. “This year, we are making the single largest investment in our state’s history, nearly $450 million, to expand access to behavioral health care,” said Rep. Serena Gonzales-Gutierrez, D-Denver. “The Tepeyac Community Health Center in Denver shows first hand how our transformational investments will allow more Coloradans to access the care they need to thrive. Our package of behavioral health legislation, crafted over the course of many months with experts across the state, will boost access to care, substance use disorder treatment, residential and outpatient services, and save Coloradans money on behavioral health care.” “As someone who has experienced mental health challenges myself, I know how difficult it can be to seek out treatment and get the care you need,” said Senator Chris Kolker (D-Centennial), member of the Behavioral Health Transformational Task Force. “I was lucky because I was able to get help, but too many Coloradans can’t say the same. I’m proud to be working to help more people with mental health conditions and substance use disorders get the care they need and deserve. We have a lot more work to do, but this package of transformational bills represents an important first step toward expanding access to critical care, ending the stigma around behavioral health, and saving more lives.” Senator Kolker is the sponsor of the bipartisan and Senate passed Behavioral Health Services for Children: SB22-147 which is also sponsored by Senator Jerry Sonnenberg and Representatives. Mary Young and Rod Pelton. The bill aims to improve access to behavioral health care services for youth and families. The bill directs $4.6 million for the Colorado Pediatric Psychiatry Consultation and Access Program, $5 million for the Behavioral Health Care Professional Matching Grant Program, and $1.5 million for the School-based Health Center Grant Program. Additional Behavioral Health Legislation moving through the legislature: Youth and Family Residential Care: HB22-1283 sponsored by Representative 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. 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. The bill passed the House Public and Behavioral Health & Human Services Committee unanimously. Adult Inpatient and Residential 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 for individuals with serious mental illness or substance use disorders, including individuals with co-occuring conditions or in need of civil commitment. The bill supports the addition of 16 beds at the Colorado Mental Health Institute at Fort Logan and 125 residential treatment beds across the state. HB22-1303 passed the House Public and Behavioral Health & Human Services Committee by a vote of 9 to 1. Integrating Primary Care and Behavioral Health Care: HB22-1302 , sponsored by Representatives Chris Kennedy and Perry Will and Senators Sonya Jaquez Lewis and Kevin Priola, invests $35 million to improve behavioral health outcomes by better integrating physical and behavioral health care. The bill will provide grants to primary care practices to integrate behavioral health care into their clinical models, helping Coloradans access whole person care and early behavioral health interventions before a crisis. The transformational investment will increase access to mental health and substance use disorder screening and treatment and help coordinate referrals to other levels of care. HB22-1302 passed the House Public and Behavioral Health & Human Services Committee by a vote of 10 to 1. Behavioral Health Care Workforce Development: SB22-181 , sponsored by Senators. Jeff Bridges and Cleave Simpson and Representatives. Lisa Cutterand Tonya Van Beber , directs the Behavioral Health Administration (BHA) to invest $72 million to bolster and stabilize the state’s behavioral health care workforce, which will help more Coloradans access the critical care they need to thrive. Investments in Statewide Care Coordination Infrastructure: SB22-177 , sponsored by Senators Brittany Pettersen and Bob Rankin and Representatives. Brianna Titone and Mary Bradfield , invests $12.2 million to improve Colorado’s statewide care coordination infrastructure to better serve Coloradans seeking behavioral health care. The bill also seeks to cut red tape associated with provider enrollment and credentialing for navigators and care coordination providers, so they can spend less time on paperwork and more time helping Coloradans in need. Behavioral Health Care for Colorado Native American Tribes: SB22-148 , which has passed the Senate and is sponsored by Senator Kerry Donovan and Representative Barbara McLachlan , provides $5 million to Colorado land-based Tribes to support building or renovating a tribal behavioral health facility for inpatient services and transitional housing. The package of legislation is based on the Behavioral Health Transformational Task Force recommendations to increase access to affordable care, bolster the behavioral health care workforce, expand residential care for youth and families, and increase support for pediatricians and school counseling programs. The Polis Administration continues to take bold steps to increase access to affordable, high-quality behavioral health care across Colorado, and to create an efficient behavioral health care system that Coloradans deserve. Previous Next