F493317EDE31CFB3872586C7006220C6 Hearing Summary

Representative Cutter
and Representative Will introduced House Bill 21-1281, Community Behavioral
Health Disaster Program. The bill sponsors responded to questions from
the committee.



The bill creates the Community Behavioral Health Disaster Preparedness
and Response Program in the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment
(CDPHE).  The program is intended to enhance, support, and formalize
behavioral health disaster preparedness and response activities of community
behavioral health organizations.  The CDPHE must promulgate rules
as necessary to oversee the program; work with community behavioral health
organizations to create, define, and publish eligibility criteria to participate
in the program; and provide funding to community behavioral health organizations
to help improve emergency preparedness.



The bill also creates the Community Behavioral Health Disaster Preparedness
and Response Cash Fund.  The fund will contain any gifts, grants,
and donations, as well as any other moneys appropriated to the fund by
the General Assembly.  Any unexpended money at the end of the fiscal
year remains in the fund.

Frank Cornelia, Colorado Behavioral Healthcare Council, testified in support of the bill.

Mr. Cornelia, Mr. Olbrich, and Ms. VanDover responded to questions from the committee.

The bill sponsors and Mr. Carpenter responded to questions from the committee regarding Amendment L.002.

The bill sponsors and committee members made closing remarks on the bill.