Our Work During the 2024 Session 

HOUSE

HB 24-1002

Concerning the Enactment of the “Social Work Licensure Compact”

House Bill 24-1002 would enact the “Social Work Compact” which would allow social workers to provide care in States that have signed onto the Compact, thereby eliminating the need to obtain multiple-state licensure and allow for the use of Telehealth across member States for increased access to mental health services. Enacting the Compact will create better access to services and address areas that have mental health provider shortages.

Envision:You’s Action: Issued a policy statement in support

Status of the bill: Passed, signed by Governor Polis (6/3/24)

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HB 24-1003

Concerning Measures Related to Harm Reduction for Students

House Bill 24-1003 extends a prior bill that allowed nonpublic school boards, state charter schools and school districts to provide opiate antagonists and non-laboratory synthetic opiate detection tests to students in Colorado. This bill will allow opiate antagonists and non-laboratory additive/synthetic opiate detection tests to be present on school buses and provides civil and criminal immunity to any school staff or person that administers an opiate antagonist or distributes a non-laboratory additive/synthetic opiate detection test.

Envision:You’s Action: Issued a policy statement in support

Status of the bill: Passed, signed by Governor Polis (4/22/24)

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HB 24-1015

Concerning Suicide Prevention Education in the Workplace

House Bill 24-1015 aims to provide resources and educational materials for suicide prevention in the workplace. Access to materials will come from educational posters and notices regarding suicide prevention which will include an overview of suicide prevention training programs, educational materials on the need to reduce access to lethal means, information on 988 and a QR code linked to a website for additional resources.

Envision:You’s Action: Issued a policy statement in support

Status of the bill: Failed in House Committee of Appropriations

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HB 24-1028

Concerning the Authorization for a Municipality to Allow for the Operation of an Overdose Prevention Center within its Jurisdiction

House Bill 24-1028 authorizes municipalities to determine whether they want to operate overdose prevention centers to save lives of persons at risk of preventable overdoses. An overdose prevention center is designed to provide a safely monitored space for individuals to use previously obtained controlled substances under the supervision of health-care professionals, access to sterile consumption equipment, tools to test substances for the presence of fentanyl, and access to counseling, referrals to substance use disorder treatment, and other harm reduction services.

Envision:You’s Action: Issued a policy statement in support and testified in front of Senate Committee on Health and Human Services

Status of the bill: Postponed indefinitely

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HB 24-1037

Concerning Reducing the Harm Caused by Substance Use Disorders

House Bill 24-1037 proposes essential amendments including reaffirming and clarify civil immunity to individuals furnishing, administering, or distributing opioid antagonists in good faith, providing exemptions for possession of drug paraphernalia obtained from harm reduction programs, and allowing clean syringe exchange programs to purchase additional drug testing equipment. The bill also authorizes clean syringe exchange programs to provide drug testing services and excludes injuries involving drug possession or paraphernalia from mandatory reporting requirements for physicians.

Envision:You’s Action: Issued a policy statement in support

Status of the bill: Passed, signed by Governor Polis (6/6/24)

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HB 24-1039

Concerning Non-Legal Name Changes for Students in Schools

House Bill 24-1039 mandates that public and charter schools honor a student’s chosen name upon request, without requiring a court-ordered name or gender change. Further, this bill effectively calls out the discriminatory nature of not using one’s chosen name. Knowingly using a name other than the student’s chosen name is discriminatory, and a student who is subject to discrimination may file a report with the school. Schools must also implement a written policy outlining how the school will honor these students’ requests, including how to change student records accordingly.

Envision: You’s Action: Issued a policy statement in support and testified in front of House Education Committee

Status of the bill: Passed, signed by Governor Polis (4/29/24)

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HB 24-1040

Concerning a Study of the Status of Gender-Affirming Health-Care Providers

House Bill 24-1040 would require the Department of Public Health and Environment to conduct a study, identifying the following: (1) the number of health-care providers and facilities in each region of Colorado, (2) the current resources available to Colorado providers and facilities who offer gender-affirming care, (3) any threats gender-affirming healthcare providers have received, (4) the number of patients seeking gender-affirming healthcare in each region of Colorado, (5) the ratio of patients to provider in each region of Colorado, (6) the types of services patients seek, (6) the prevalence and impact of non prescribed treatments, and (7) insurance availability for various types of treatment.

Envision: You’s Action: Issued a policy statement in support and testified in front of the House Health and Human Services Committee

Status of the bill: Postponed indefinitely

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HB 24-1066

Concerning Methods to Prevent Workplace Violence in Certain Health-Care Settings

House Bill 24-1066 is comprised of the Violence Prevention in Health-Care Settings Act and the Behavioral Health Settings Act. Both Acts aim to prevent workplace violence toward any and all healthcare workers through comprehensive training of all staff members in violence predicting behaviors, de-escalation techniques, how to interact with patients and clients with specific health conditions, trauma-informed care, and other strategies to prevent harm. Through this bill, a workplace violence prevention committee will be formed to document and review incidents of workplace violence and to develop and routinely review a prevention plan for their facility. This committee is tasked with adopting, implementing, enforcing, and updating the training plan as necessary.

Envision You’s Action: Issued a policy statement in support and testified in front of the House Health and Human Services Committee

Status of the bill: Failed in House Committee of Appropriations

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HB 24-1322

Concerning the Department of Health Care Policy and Financing Conducting a Feasibility Study to Determine Whether to Seek Federal Authorization to Provide Services that Address Medicaid Members’ Health-Related Social Needs

House Bill 24-1322 outlines a comprehensive plan to explore the feasibility of providing nutrition and housing services to address health-related social needs (HRSN) of Medicaid members in Colorado. This bill directs the Department of Health Care Policy and Financing to conduct a study to determine costs, implementation factors, affected populations, funding mechanisms, and timelines for federal authorization. Additionally, the study will explore integrating HRSN services with existing housing-related and nutrition-related services.

Envision: You’s Action: Issued a policy statement in support

Status of the bill: Passed, signed by Governor Polis (5/31/24)

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HB 24-1355

Concerning Reducing the Competency Wait List, and, in Connection Therewith, Creating a Wraparound Care Program

House Bill 24-1355 will provide wraparound care services as an alternative intervention for Coloradans that are on the waiting list for determining competency to stand trial. Individuals will be referred to the program and assessed using a standard criteria to ensure they are a good fit for the wraparound program. The wraparound program can entail housing, mental health services, substance use services, and other social services. After a review hearing at 182 days, the individual may have all charges dismissed after completing the program; therefore, keeping the individual out of the criminal legal system.

Envision:You’s Action: Issued a policy statement in support

Status of the bill: Passed, signed by Governor Polis (6/6/24)

SENATE​

SB 24-001

Concerning Continuation of the Youth Mental Health Services Program

Senate Bill 24-001 would enable the indefinite continuation of the I Matter Program, offering up to six free therapy sessions with licensed clinicians in all 64 Colorado counties for youth under the age of 18 (or 21 and younger if that youth is receiving special education services). Participating clinicians are reimbursed by the program for the free sessions they provide. This initiative has already been successfully renewed once, with HB22-1243, which allowed the program to serve even more Colorado youth in need of mental health services. With the passing of SB24-001, the need to renew on an annual basis would no longer be the case.

Envision:You’s Action: Issued a policy statement in support and testified in front of the Senate Health and Human Services Committee and the House Health and Human Services Commitee

Status of the bill: Passed, signed by Governor Polis (6/4/24)

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SB 24-007

Concerning Creating a Behavioral Health First Aid Training Program in the Office of Suicide Prevention

Senate Bill 24-007 provides funding for the Behavioral Health First Aid program which will train educators and school staff, nonprofit employees, faith-based community members, first responders, and military personnel to recognize the warning signs of mental illness and substance use for all ages. Evaluations will be conducted on the training outcomes and reported to the Office of Suicide Prevention with recommendations on training improvements.

Envision: You’s Action: Issued a policy statement in support

Status of the bill: Passed, signed by Governor Polis (6/5/24)

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SB 24-055

Concerning Supporting the Behavioral Health Care of Individuals Involved in Agriculture

Senate Bill 24-055 aims to increase interdepartmental relationships between the Behavioral Health Administration, the Department of Agriculture, rural community leaders, agricultural communities, behavioral healthcare providers, and non-profit organizations serving our state’s rural and agricultural communities. Additionally, SB24-055 would create an agricultural behavioral health community of practice with a work group within the BHA consisting of at least seven members.

Envision: You’s Action: Issued a policy statement in support

Status of the bill: Passed, signed by Governor Polis (6/6/24)

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SB 24-057

Concerning Creating a Program to Prevent Suicide in the Agricultural Workforce

Senate Bill 24-057 would provide support through public awareness campaigns, contracting with a nationally known non-profit organization to offer a free crisis support hotline, coordinating suicide prevention and crisis management across state agencies, developing a mental wellness program for agricultural workers who have been affected by a natural disaster such as drought, and collaborating with the Behavioral Health Administration to ensure that agricultural workers calling 988, the national suicide prevention hotline, are being adequately cared for. SB24-057 would also collect data to evaluate the efficacy of the program and inform potential future policy.

Envision: You’s Action: Issued a policy statement in support

Status of the bill: Failed in Senate Committee of Appropriations

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SB 24-059

Concerning Establishing a Children's Behavioral Health Statewide System of Care

Senate Bill 24-059 proposes a system of care which would include a single point of access, addressing the behavioral health needs of children and youth in Colorado, irrespective of payer, insurance, or income. The system of care will cater to individuals up to twenty-one years of age who are dealing with mental health disorders, substance use disorders, co-occurring behavioral health disorders, or intellectual and developmental disabilities. Additionally, it must incorporate crucial elements such as statewide behavioral health standardized screening and assessment, trauma-informed mobile crisis response and stabilization services, tiered care coordination for varying levels of need, and parent and youth peer support.

Envision: You’s Action: Issued a policy statement in support; testified in front of the Senate Health and Human Services Committee

Status of the bill: Postponed indefinitely

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SB 24-115

Concerning Requirement to Practice as a Mental Health Professional

Senate Bill 24-115 removes the requirement for mental health professionals to provide clients with detailed explanations of the levels of regulation and the differences between licensure, registration, and certification. This bill also introduces changes to the licensure and registration processes for various mental health professions, including psychologists, social workers, marriage and family therapists, licensed professional counselors, and addiction counselors. These changes include removing the requirement for an individual to take and pass the board of social work examiners’ masters examination in order to obtain licensure.

Envision: You’s Action: Issued a policy statement in support

Status of the bill: Passed, signed by Governor Polis (5/22/24)

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SB 24-117

Concerning Protections for Individuals with an Eating Disorder and, in Connection Therewith, Requiring an Eating Disorder Treatment and Recovery Facility to Hold an Appropriate Designation and Requiring the Behavioral Health Administration to Regulate the Use of Involuntary Feeding Tubes

Senate Bill 24-117 requires the behavioral health administration (BHA) to require all eating disorder treatment and recovery facilities (treatment facility) to hold an appropriate designation based on the level of care the treatment facility provides. Licensed clinicians who are not facility-based and offer behavioral health therapy on an outpatient basis are not required to hold a designation. The bill directs the state board of human services to promulgate rules for treatment facilities. The bill requires the BHA to promulgate rules concerning involuntary feeding tubes for individuals with an eating disorder. Additionally, it will create parameters around culturally responsive and affirming care for individuals with disordered eating.

Envision: You’s Action: Issued a policy statement in support; testified in front of the Senate Health and Human Services Committee

Status of the bill: Passed, signed by Governor Polis (6/6/24)

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SB 24-181

Concerning the Creation of the Colorado Impact and Recovery Enterprise

Senate Bill 24-181 creates the Alcohol Impact and Recovery Enterprise within the Department of Revenue. The enterprise is authorized to collect fees from self-distributing alcohol manufacturers and wholesalers in Colorado, and subsequently use the fees collected for alcohol and related substance use disorder prevention, early intervention, treatment, harm reduction, and recovery services and programs in communities throughout the state. The bill establishes guidelines in developing an enterprise board, consisting of those with professional and personal lived experience, as well as outlines the necessary steps to implement the aforementioned grant programs.

Envision: You’s Action: Issued a policy statement in support; testified in front of the Senate Finance Committee

Status of the bill: Postponed indefinitely

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SC 24-003

Submitting to the Registered Electors of the State of Colorado an Amendment to the Colorado Constitution Removed the Ban on Same-Sex Marriage

Colorado Senate Concurrent Resolution 24-003 would allow the voters of Colorado to decide whether or not to remove the language from our state constitution that prohibits same-sex marriage. Currently, language defines marriage as valid only if between one man and one woman, a provision in our state constitution that is no longer enforceable due to the 2015 US Supreme Court ruling in Obergefell v. Hodges. SCR24-003 will add a ballot measure to the November 2024 ballot for voters to decide the repeal of this provision and removal of this language from our state constitution.

Envision: You’s Action: Issued a policy statement in support

Status of the bill: Signed by the Speaker of the House (5/17/24)