CO HB1398

The Department of Human Services must use a competitive request-for-proposal process to select an entity to implement recommendations from the Respite Care Task Force; the contract ends 30 days after the fourth anniversary of receipt.

The selected entity must serve individuals with disabilities or chronic conditions across the lifespan, currently have a presence in Colorado, and may subcontract with community partners.

The entity must conduct a study demonstrating the economic impact of respite care, create an online inventory of training opportunities, develop a statewide training system, establish a website, and create a community outreach program.

The entity must work with the Department of Health Care Policy and Financing to standardize respite care options across all Medicaid waivers and streamline regulatory requirements for facility-based, short-term overnight respite care.

The bill appropriates $900,000 from the general fund for the 2016-17 fiscal year, with no more than three percent available for administrative costs; a Respite Care Task Force Fund is created to receive gifts, grants, and donations.