HB 23-1236: Implementation Updates to the Behavioral Health Administration

• Transfers behavioral health entity licensing functions from the Department of Public Health and Environment to the Behavioral Health Administration by January 1, 2025, with licensing authority shifting from June 30, 2023 to September 30, 2023.

• Establishes the Behavioral Health Administration as a health oversight agency under federal HIPAA regulations and expands its authority over jail-based behavioral health services and competency restoration programs previously under other departments.

• Creates community-informed regional subcommittees within behavioral health administrative services organizations with nine members including individuals with lived behavioral health experience, school representatives, and criminal justice system representatives to provide local input on services.

• Establishes a statewide care coordination infrastructure and care navigation program to assist individuals in accessing substance use disorder treatment and other behavioral health services, with services available 24 hours a day.

• Adjusts appropriations by decreasing $2,250,400 from the behavioral health administration's jail-based services and increasing the same amount to the office of behavioral health's jail-based competency restoration program for fiscal year 2023-24.