2CBC81EA0A6C57F3872588310077678D Hearing Summary

Senator Lee and Senator Simpson, co-prime bill sponsors, presented House Bill 22-1278, which creates the Behavioral Health Administration (BHA) in the Department of Human Services and charges it with creating a coordinated, cohesive, and effective behavioral health system in Colorado. Any state agency that administers a behavioral health program is required to collaborate with the BHA.

Committee members asked questions of the bill sponsors.

Committee members discussed a fact sheet distributed to the committee (Attachment E).

Executive Director Kim Bimestefer, representing the Colorado Department of Health Care Policy and Financing, testified in support of the bill.

Dr. Morgan Medlock, representing the Behavioral Health Administration, testified in support of the bill.

Committee members asked questions of the panel.

Mr. Rudolph Gonzales, representing Servicios de La Raza, testified in support of the bill.

Frank Cornelia, representing the Colorado Behavioral Healthcare Council, testified to amend the bill.

Committee members asked questions of the panel.

Daniel Darting, representing the Colorado Providers Association and the Colorado Behavorial Healthcare Council , testified in support of the bill.

Mr. Harry Budisidharta, representing the Asian Pacific Development Center, testified to amend the bill.

Commissioner Tamara Pogue, representing Colorado Counties Inc., testified in support of the bill.

Commissioner Hilary Cooper, representing Counties and Commissioners Acting Together, testified in support of the bill.

Commissioner Wendy Buxton Andrade, representing Colorado Counties Inc., testified in support of the bill.

Committee members asked questions of the panel.

Representative Debbie Stafford, representing Aurora Mental Health Center, testified in support of the bill.

Ms. Natalie Seils, representing self, testified to amend the bill.

Elizabeth Newman, representing the Colorado Coalition Against Sexual Assault, testified to amend the bill.

Dr. Elizabeth Hickman, representing the Centennial Mental Health Center, testified to amend the bill.

Committee members made comments to the panel.

Commissioner Byron Pelton, representing Colorado Counties Inc, testified in support of the bill.

Committee members asked questions of the panel.

Ms. Breeah Kinsella, representing Colorado Providers Association, testified in support of the bill.

Ms. Francesca Maes, representing the Colorado Cross-Disability Coalition, testified in support of the bill.

Dr. Casey Wolfington, representing Eagle Valley Behavorial Health, testified in support of the bill.

James Riesberg, representing North Range Behavioral Health, testified in support of the bill.

Mr. Paul Reich, representing the Center for Mental Health, testified in support of the bill.

Dr. Vincent Atchity, representing Mental Health Colorado, testified in support of the bill.

Bill sponsors provided closing remarks.