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The health care system frequently distinguishes between physical and behavioral health.  Physical health refers to the condition of the body. Behavioral health refers to the condition of cognitive processing systems.  Behavioral health services include, among others: individual and group therapy; psychiatric care; assertive community treatment; substance use disorder services; and prevention and early intervention activities.

This committee was created pursuant to Article 1.9 of Title 18, Colorado Revised Statutes.  The purpose of this committee is to oversee an advisory task force that studies and makes recommendations concerning the treatment of persons with mental health disorders who are involved in the criminal and juvenile justice systems in Colorado.

The Colorado General Assembly considered many bills related to public health this legislative session over multiple subject matters including mental health, environmental health, and health in the education system.

Submitted herewith is the final report of the Legislative Oversight Committee for the Treatment of Persons with Behavioral Health Disorders in the Criminal and Juvenile Justice System. This committee was created pursuant to Article 98 of Title 37, Colorado Revised Statutes. The purpose of this committee is to oversee an advisory task force that studies and makes recommendations concerning persons with behavioral health disorders who are justice-involved.

This issue brief provides information about Community-Centered Boards (CCBs) and recent legislation enacted to promote CCB transparency.

Federal, state, and local entities work to deliver programs and initiatives to increase food security and accessibility for Coloradans. This issue brief provides an overview of key programs and efforts within the state, including beneficiaries, operations, and funding.

The General Assembly addressed a number of bills related to human services and various children and domestic matters, including the establishment and preservation of “family time” and improving services offered to children and youth.

The General Assembly considered several measures during the 2021 legislative session related to human services, including behavioral health and long-term care.

During the 2021 legislative session, the General Assembly considered several measures related to children and domestic matters, including foster care, child care, and child welfare.

During the 2022 legislative session, the General Assembly considered numerous bills related to public health, including bills related to service providers and equipment, rare diseases, environmental quality, and data collection.

During the 2022 legislative session, the General Assembly considered measures related to behavioral health, including several bills recommended by Behavioral Health Transformational Task Force to address gaps in the continuum of care using federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds, as well as bills addressing the establishment of the Behavioral Health Administration, youth and students, mental health holds, and crisis system facilities.

The opioid epidemic, the COVID-19 pandemic, and the rise of homelessness strained Colorado’s behavioral health system.  This memorandum covers the actions the Colorado General Assembly has taken to strengthen Colorado’s behavioral health care system, including creating the Behavioral Health Administration, strengthening the behavioral health care workforce, increasing rural health care access, and treating and preventing substance abuse issues.

Report No. 2018-TE4

**A more recent evaluation has been completed for the XYZ tax credit. Access the more recent evaluation report @ https://leg.colorado.gov/publications/home-modification-tax-credit.

During the 2022 legislative session, the General Assembly considered measures related to human services, including bills concerning seniors and protected persons, assistance programs, and repurposing the Ridge View campus.

Behavioral health continued to be a focus of the General Assembly in 2023.  Several bills addressing behavioral health services, mental health providers, step therapy requirements for mental health drugs, substance use, and disordered eating were considered during the legislative session.

During the 2017 legislative session, the General Assembly considered numerous measures on child welfare, domestic violence and crimes against children, the juvenile justice system, public school safety, and child care. The bills described in this document passed and became law, unless otherwise noted.

During the 2018 legislative session, the General Assembly considered measures related to child welfare and foster care, youth mental health and suicide prevention, child abuse prevention, the juvenile justice system, and other aspects of family law. The bills described in this document passed and became law, unless otherwise noted.

During the 2020 session, the General Assembly considered bills related to early childhood education; child welfare investigations; appropriating federal CARES Act funding; and other human services programs.

The Interim Committee on Opiod and other Substance Use Disorders was created pursuant to Section 10-22.3-101.  

Submitted herewith is the final report of the Child Welfare System Interim Study Committee. The committee was created pursuant to Interim Committee Request Letter 2023-01. The purpose of this committee is to take a holistic look at Colorado’s child welfare system to address the major factors facing the system in order to better serve the state’s children and families.

Procedures for Demographic Notes Form

The quality of child care and early childhood education (ECE) are key concerns for parents and policymakers alike.  Whether daycare, preschool, or another setting, child care and ECE allow parents to remain in the workforce and improve the school readiness of children.  This issue brief provides an overview of the financial assistance available to families needing child care, briefly describes the licensing of child care centers, and explains where to find child care quality ratings.

During the 2022 legislative session, the General Assembly considered numerous bills related to child & domestic matters.  

2014 Summary of Major Human Services Legislation