HB 22-1375 Summary

• Creates the Timothy Montoya Task Force to prevent children from running away from out-of-home placements, analyze root causes, and develop consistent response protocols.

• Task force includes 30+ members representing state agencies, county departments, foster parents, youth with lived experience, law enforcement, nonprofits, and families affected by runaways.

• Requires contracted institution of higher education to conduct research and focus groups with children in placement, young adults who aged out, and placement providers to inform task force work.

• Task force must submit first-year status report by October 1, 2023, and final report with recommendations by October 1, 2024; task force automatically repeals June 30, 2025.

• Appropriates $99,500 from the general fund to the Office of the Child Protection Ombudsman for fiscal year 2022-23 to support task force operations.