HB 22-1281 Summary

• Establishes the Community Behavioral Health-Care Continuum Gap Grant Program to provide grants to local governments, community-based organizations, and nonprofits for behavioral health services along the care continuum, with $75 million allocated for this program.

• Authorizes two types of grants: Community Investment Grants ($35 million) for evidence-based services including prevention, treatment, crisis services, and recovery; and Children, Youth, and Family Services Grants ($40 million) to expand services and establish care access points in each region.

• Creates a Substance Use Workforce Stability Grant Program with $15 million to support direct care staff at treatment and recovery providers through salary increases, bonuses, and retention tactics for providers serving voluntary and civil clients.

• Requires grant applicants to use a behavioral health-care services assessment tool to identify local gaps, demonstrate community collaboration, and contribute matching funds or in-kind resources (waivable for grants under $50,000).

• Establishes spending deadlines requiring grant recipients to obligate funds by December 31, 2024, and expend obligated funds by December 31, 2026, with sunset provisions repealing both programs effective 2027.