SB 18-251 Summary

• Establishes a statewide behavioral health court liaison program within the Office of the State Court Administrator to bridge criminal justice and community behavioral health systems across Colorado.

• Requires dedication of local behavioral health professionals as court liaisons in each judicial district to facilitate communication between judges, district attorneys, defense attorneys, and behavioral health providers.

• Court liaisons must screen defendants for behavioral health conditions, access treatment history, identify available community services, and provide consultation on competency evaluations, restoration services, and treatment options.

• Allocates $1,997,112 to the judicial department for the 2018-19 fiscal year (based on 0.9 FTE) to implement the program, with funding distributed to judicial districts based on case volume, geographical complexity, and density of need.

• Requires the State Court Administrator to establish program procedures by October 1, 2018, and submit annual reports to the Joint Budget Committee beginning October 1, 2019, documenting cases identified with behavioral health conditions and program outcomes.