HB 24-1355: Bridges Wraparound Care Program

• Creates the Bridges Wraparound Care Program within the Office of Bridges of Colorado to serve individuals found incompetent to proceed by connecting them to community-based mental health and social services instead of inpatient competency restoration.

• Establishes wraparound care coordinators in each judicial district to develop individualized care plans addressing mental health, housing, employment, substance use treatment, and other social determinants of health for eligible individuals.

• Requires judicial districts to develop referral processes by specific deadlines (April 1, 2025 for some districts; October 1, 2025 for others; July 1, 2026 for remaining districts) to identify and divert eligible defendants from competency proceedings when district attorney consents.

• Mandates dismissal of charges within 182 days if defendant successfully completes the wraparound care program; allows up to 91-day extension if defendant remains engaged but non-compliant.

• Appropriates $1,430,325 to the judicial department for 2024-25 fiscal year to support court administration, trial courts, and behavioral health liaison positions with approximately 13.5 additional FTE.