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February 23, 2022 HB 22-1221
Legislative Council Staff
Nonpartisan Services for Colorado’s Legislature
Fiscal Note
Drafting Number:
Prime Sponsors:
LLS 22-0366
Rep. Michaelson Jenet
Sen. Fields
Date:
Bill Status:
Fiscal Analyst:
February 23, 2022
House HHS
Erin Reynolds | 303-866-4146
Erin.Reynolds@state.co.us
Bill Topic: COUNTY CORONER & MORTUARY MENTAL HEALTH PROGRAM
Summary of
Fiscal Impact:
☒ State Revenue
☒ State Expenditure
☐ State Transfer
☒ TABOR Refund
☒ Local Government
☐ Statutory Public Entity
The bill creates the County Coroner and Mortuary Mental Health and Wellness
Program in the Behavioral Health Administration to provide mental health services to
county coroner offices, funeral directors, and mortuary science practitioners where
existing health insurance plans do not include coverage. From FY 2022-23 to
FY 2029-30, the bill increases state expenditures and may increase state revenue.
Appropriation
Summary:
For FY 2022-23, the bill requires an appropriation of $197,214 to the Department of
Human Services
Fiscal Note
Status:
The fiscal note reflects the introduced bill.
Table 1
State Fiscal Impacts Under HB 22-1221
Budget Year
FY 2022-23
Out Year
FY 2023-24
Revenue
- -
Expenditures General Fund $197,214 $261,664
Centrally Appropriated $16,829 $17,449
Total Expenditures $214,043 $279,113
Total FTE 1.0 FTE 1.0 FTE
Transfers - -
Other Budget Impacts General Fund Reserve $29,582 $39,250
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February 23, 2022 HB 22-1221
Summary of Legislation
By January 31, 2023, the bill requires the Behavioral Health Administration (BHA) to administer or
contract for the administration of the County Coroner and Mortuary Mental Health and Wellness
Program. The program will provide mental health and wellness services to county coroners and their
staff, volunteers as determined by a county coroner, funeral directors, and mortuary science
practitioners where existing health insurance does not include these services, or where the person has
no health insurance. Funeral directors and mortuary science practitioners that request to participate
in the program must have their employer pay the actual costs of services if not covered by the
employer health insurance plan. The BHA may conduct rulemaking as necessary.
The BHA is required to provide program information to eligible individuals by April 1, 2023. The
program repeals on September 1, 2029, pending a sunset review.
State Revenue
State revenue to the BHA will increase to the extent that funeral directors and mortuary science
practitioners participate in the program and pay for services. The revenue amount has not been
estimated. This revenue is subject to TABOR.
State Expenditures
The bill increases state expenditures in the Department of Human Services by $214,043 in FY 2022-23
and $279,113 in FY 2023-24 from the General Fund. Expenditures are shown in Table 2 and detailed
below.
Table 2
Expenditures Under HB 22-1221
FY 2022-23 FY 2023-24
Department of Human Services
Personal Services $75,914 $82,814
Operating Expenses $1,350 $1,350
Capital Outlay Costs $6,200
Contract Program Services $63,750 $127,500
Marketing, Education, and Outreach $50,000 $50,000
Centrally Appropriated Costs
1
$16,829 $17,449
Total Cost $214,043 $279,113
Total FTE 1.0 FTE 1.0 FTE
1
Centrally appropriated costs are not included in the bill's appropriation.
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February 23, 2022 HB 22-1221
Department of Human Services —Behavioral Health Administration. The bill increases
expenditures in the BHA to procure and provide mental health services for eligible individuals
Data and assumptions. There are approximately 100 mortuaries, crematoriums, and funeral
homes in the state licensed by the Department of Regulatory Agencies, and 63 county coroner
offices. Assuming staffing varies at each organization, from at least 3 up to 15 employees,
eligibility is estimated at between 492 and 2,460 individuals. In 2019, 19.2 percent of Colorado
adults received mental health treatment. Applying that percentage to this population, the
program would serve between 94 and 472 individuals per year.
Staff and contractor. Staff includes 0.5 FTE Program Management and 0.5 FTE Contracts
Administrator. The BHA will create a competitive solicitation process to procure a contract
administrator to coordinate access to a licensed mental health professional at an assumed rate of
$85,000 per year, plus 50 percent of salary for fringe and overhead costs. The mental health
professional will provide the required trauma-based services to county coroners and their staff,
funeral homes and their staff, and local volunteers. First year contract costs are prorated for a
half-year impact. First year staffing costs assume a July 1 start date and have been prorated for
the General Fund pay date shift.
Marketing campaign. Marketing costs, estimated at $50,000 annually, are based on past
marketing, media, and education campaigns initiated by the Office of Behavioral Health.
Department of Regulatory Agencies. The department will provide education and outreach to
mortuaries, crematoriums and funeral home licensees within existing resources.
Centrally appropriated costs. Pursuant to a Joint Budget Committee policy, certain costs associated
with this bill are addressed through the annual budget process and centrally appropriated in the Long
Bill or supplemental appropriations bills, rather than in this bill. These costs, which include employee
insurance and supplemental employee retirement payments, are shown in Table 2.
Other Budget Impacts
General Fund reserve. Under current law, an amount equal to 15 percent of General Fund
appropriations must be set aside in the General Fund statutory reserve beginning in FY 2022-23. Based
on this fiscal note, the bill is expected to increase the amount of General Fund held in reserve by the
amounts shown in Table 1, which will decrease the amount of General Fund available for other
purposes.
Local Government
County coroner office staff, who are eligible to receive services under the program, may have an
increase in workload to communicate staff and volunteer eligibility with the BHA.
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February 23, 2022 HB 22-1221
Effective Date
The bill takes effect upon signature of the Governor, or upon becoming law without his signature.
State Appropriations
For FY 2022-23, the Behavioral Health Administration in the Department of Human Services requires
a General Fund appropriation of $197,214 with 1.0 FTE
State and Local Government Contacts
Counties County Coroners
Human Services Information Technology
Law Personnel
Public Health and Environment Regulatory Agencies
Treasury
The revenue and expenditure impacts in this fiscal note represent changes from current law under the bill for each
fiscal year. For additional information about fiscal notes, please visit: leg.colorado.gov/fiscalnotes.