HB 22-1243 Summary

• Creates a School Security Disbursement Program Cash Fund with $6,000,000 appropriated for fiscal year 2022-23 to the Department of Public Safety's Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management for school security improvements.

• Appropriates $2,000,000 from the Behavioral and Mental Health Cash Fund to the Department of Education for a behavioral health care professional matching grant program to increase funding for school health professionals providing mental health services to students.

• Appropriates $6,000,000 from the Behavioral and Mental Health Cash Fund to the Department of Human Services to expand the temporary youth mental health services program for school-based behavioral health services.

• Uses federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds received by Colorado ($3.8 billion) to support these school safety and behavioral health initiatives as allowable pandemic response expenditures.

• Sunsets the School Security Disbursement Program Cash Fund on July 1, 2024, and repeals the Temporary Youth Mental Health Services Program provisions on June 30, 2024, with unexpended funds reverting to the General Fund.