HB 15-1233 Summary

• Creates a Respite Care Task Force within the Department of Human Services to study supply and demand for respite care services in Colorado, with members appointed by legislative leadership and the Governor by July 1, 2015.

• Task force membership includes 16 voting members representing hospice organizations, developmental disabilities advocates, respite care facility operators, seniors services, Alzheimer's research, brain injury representatives, rural respite care users, mental health organizations, chronic condition specialists, home health agencies, disabilities nonprofits, and state department representatives.

• Task force must conduct a data-driven study examining respite care access, service types in demand, cultural competency, caregiver availability and locations, funding mechanisms, and other relevant issues by January 31, 2016.

• Department of Human Services is authorized to contract for an external respite care study and must develop study criteria; results must be provided to the task force for inclusion in final report to legislative committees.

• Task force may seek gifts, grants, and donations for operational funding; moneys are credited to the Respite Care Task Force Fund and subject to annual General Assembly appropriation; the entire task force and fund authorization repeals July 1, 2016.