Last week
SB-207
, the bill that would strengthen Colorado's crisis system and end the use of jails for M1s, passed out of Senate Judiciary on a 5-0 vote. The bill now heads to Senate Appropriations for a fiscal review and to have the resources that were set aside by the JBC officially included in the bill. SB-207 is not on the calendar yet and will likely take a back seat to debate over the long bill this week and next, but we wanted you to prepare for a possible action alert headed your way soon. Please contact Lesa Moseley, LesaM@jcmh.org or Harriet Hall, Harriet@jcmh.org if you have any questions.
Attached are the two one-pagers, one from the Commission on Criminal Juvenile Justice (CCJJ) and one from Colorado Department of Human Services (CDHS). Below are the brief talking points and below that are the Senate Appropriations Committee members.
SB17-207 Talk-Points for Appropriations Committee:
·
SB-207 is the result of recommendations from
CCJJ
and the
Mental Health Holds Taskforce
to equip communities with crisis resources to end the use of jails for emergency mental health holds.
·
The JBC has already set aside the funding for this bill - $7.1M from the Marijuana Cash Tax Fund (MCTF).
·
The fiscal note parallels the Governor's budget requests to enhance crisis services in rural and frontier areas of the state.
Senate Appropriations Committee Members:
·
Kevin Lundberg (R, SD-15. Counties: Larimer)
·
Kent Lambert (R, SD-9. Counties: El-Paso)
·
Leroy Garcia (D, SD-3. Counties: Pueblo)
·
Bob Gardner (R, SD-12. Counties: El Paso)
·
Andy Kerr (D, SD-22. Counties: Jefferson)
·
Dominick Moreno (D, SD-21. Counties: Adams)
·
Jerry Sonnenberg (R, SD-1. Counties: Cheyenne, Elbert, Kit Carson, Lincoln, Logan, Morgan, Phillips, Sedgwick, Washington, Weld, Yuma)
CBHC has informed us that SB207 hearing will be TOMORROW, March 22nd around 1:30 p.m. in the Senate Judiciary Committee. Consider giving Senator Daniel Kagan a call if you're in his district. (SD26-a small sliver of Jefferson County) 303-866-4846 or
repkagan@gmail.com
We want to let you know about the introduction of SB17-207,
Concerning Strengthening Colorado's Statewide Response to Behavioral Health Crisis. The bill would strengthen crisis response and end the use of jails for M-1 holds. The bill clarifies the legislative intent for establishing a crisis system as the intended comprehensive, appropriate, and preferred response to behavioral health crises in Colorado. By clarifying the role of the crisis system and making necessary enhancements, the bill prepares Colorado to end the use of jails and correctional facilities as placement options for individuals placed on emergency mental health (M-1) holds and enhances the ability of communities to respond to behavioral health crisis. The statewide framework strengthens community partnerships and ensures that first responders are equipped with a variety of adequate options for addressing behavioral health crises in the community.
We will be tracking this bill and keeping you informed, as it goes thru the legislative process. In the coming days and weeks we will let you know when or if we need you to make any phone calls to legislators. CBHC has provided us with additional information (see link below) regarding the bill, plus links to SB17-207, Legislative Fact Sheet One-Pager, and The Denver Post article released on March 7th. Please familiarize yourself with this information and contact Harriet Hall at
harriet@jcmh.org or me, Lesa Moseley at
lesam@jcmh.org with any questions.
