CO HB1040

Adds Colorado Revised Statutes 17-1-115.9 to authorize the Department of Corrections to develop incentive plans for contracting mental health professionals to provide sex offender treatment and services in areas where providers are unavailable.

Department must monitor the number of inmates unable to receive required sex offender treatment or services due to lack of available providers and develop targeted incentive plans for each treatment type and geographic area with provider shortages.

Allowable incentives include increases in fees and travel reimbursements, bonuses, and other financial incentives to recruit contracted mental health professionals to serve difficult-to-reach areas.

Requires the Department to submit annual reports to the Joint Budget Committee by December 1, 2018, and each December 1 thereafter detailing statewide inmate treatment needs, unmet treatment demands, incentive plan descriptions, and effectiveness of offered incentives.

Takes effect August 8, 2018, unless subject to a referendum petition filed within ninety days of final adjournment, in which case it would require voter approval at the November 2018 general election.