HB 22-1283 Summary

• Establishes emergency residential and in-home respite care services for children and families in up to seven regions of Colorado, beginning January 1, 2023, to address increased behavioral health needs caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

• Provides ongoing operational support beginning July 1, 2022, for psychiatric residential treatment facilities, qualified residential treatment programs, and therapeutic foster care providers serving youth across the state.

• Appropriates $11.6 million from the Behavioral and Mental Health Cash Fund for the Division of Child Welfare's respite and residential programs in fiscal year 2022-23.

• Authorizes $5 million for expansion of substance use residential treatment beds for adolescents and $2.5 million for crisis response system services through the Behavioral Health Administration.

• Directs the Department of Human Services to develop a neuro-psych facility with at least 16 beds for youth under 21 years old at Colorado Mental Health Institute at Fort Logan, with $35 million appropriated for capital construction in fiscal year 2022-23.