HB23-1249 Summary

• Directs Colorado to serve young children through community-based collaborative management programs rather than the juvenile justice system, with a focus on children under 13 years old.

• Requires the Department of Human Services to collect and report detailed data on youth served, including demographics, referral sources, and outcomes for children involved in both the collaborative management system and juvenile justice system.

• Appropriates $3,422,450 for state fiscal year 2023-24, including $2 million to help counties establish or join local collaborative management programs and $1.165 million for existing programs.

• Establishes new funding mechanism and performance-based incentives to expand local collaborative management programs, with annual appropriations starting July 1, 2023.

• Requires district attorneys to annually report statistics on children ages 10-12 offered diversion programs, participation rates, and data on children simultaneously receiving human services.