SB 21-129 Summary

• Establishes a veteran suicide prevention pilot program administered by the state department of human services to provide no-cost, stigma-free behavioral health treatment for veterans and their families.

• Program initially serves 700 veterans in El Paso County, with authority to expand to serve more veterans or other areas of the state subject to available appropriations.

• Requires the pilot program to provide single point of contact for scheduling, treat conditions contributing to suicidal ideation including PTSD, depression, military sexual trauma, and substance use disorder, and develop individualized treatment plans for each veteran.

• Appropriates $1,660,000 from the general fund to the department of human services office of behavioral health for the 2021-22 fiscal year to implement the program.

• Program automatically repeals on June 30, 2025, with the department required to submit annual reports and a final recommendation on whether the program should be continued.