Establish Behavioral Health Administration

The act addresses multiple recommendations from the Colorado behavioral health task force (task force), created in 2019, related to the creation of a behavioral health administration (BHA). The BHA would be a single state agency to lead, promote, and administer the state's behavioral health priorities.

The act requires the department of human services (department) to submit a plan for the creation of the BHA on or before November 1, 2021, to the joint budget committee and to the department's committees of reference. The act outlines what the plan must, at a minimum, include. The essential duties of the BHA, once established, are set forth.

A timeline is described for the establishment of the BHA in the department and for a future determination of the state department in which the BHA will exist, if different than the department of human services.

(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)