Second Regular Session
Seventy-third General Assembly
STATE OF COLORADO
INTRODUCED
LLS NO. 22-1000.01 Shelby Ross x4510
HOUSE BILL 22-1378
House Committees Senate Committees
Transportation & Local Government
A BILL FOR AN ACT
C
ONCERNING THE DENVER-METROPOLITAN REGIONAL NAVIGATION101
CAMPUS GRANT TO ADDRESS HOMELESSNESS .102
Bill Summary
(Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced and does
not reflect any amendments that may be subsequently adopted. If this bill
passes third reading in the house of introduction, a bill summary that
applies to the reengrossed version of this bill will be available at
http://leg.colorado.gov
.)
The bill directs the division of housing in the department of local
affairs (division) to award a grant to a local government in the Denver
metropolitan area or a community partner in conjunction with a local
government in order to build or acquire, and then facilitate, a regional
navigation campus to respond to and prevent homelessness.
The bill requires the division, in collaboration with the department
HOUSE SPONSORSHIP
Jodeh and Sullivan,
SENATE SPONSORSHIP
Coleman and Hansen,
Shading denotes HOUSE amendment. Double underlining denotes SENATE amendment.
Capital letters or bold & italic numbers indicate new material to be added to existing statute.
Dashes through the words indicate deletions from existing statute. of human services and the behavioral health administration in the
department of human services, to establish the application requirements,
review applications, select a grant recipient, and ensure the grant is only
awarded after a fair and rigorous open competition among eligible
applicants.
The bill creates the regional navigation campus cash fund and
requires the state treasurer to transfer $50 million from the economic
recovery and relief cash fund to the regional navigation campus cash fund
on July 1, 2022.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Colorado:1
SECTION 1. Legislative declaration. (1) The general assembly2
finds and declares that:3
(a) On March 11, 2021, the federal government enacted the4
"American Rescue Plan Act of 2021" (ARPA), Pub.L. 117-2, pursuant to5
which Colorado has received $3,828,761,790 from the federal6
coronavirus state fiscal recovery fund (SFRF) to be used for certain7
specified purposes;8
(b) These specified purposes include providing programs,9
services, or other assistance for populations disproportionately impacted10
by the COVID-19 pandemic. More specifically, federal regulations and11
United States treasury guidance construing the allocation of the SFRF12
identify a nonexclusive list of uses that address the disproportionate13
negative economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, including14
building stronger communities through investments in housing and15
neighborhoods. Services in this category alleviate the immediate16
economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on housing insecurity while17
addressing conditions that contributed to poor public health and economic18
outcomes during the pandemic, namely concentrated areas with limited19
economic opportunity and inadequate or poor-quality housing.20
HB22-1378-2- (c) Under these regulations, SFRF money may be used for1
programs or services that address housing insecurity, lack of affordable2
and workforce housing, or homelessness;3
(d) As the federal department of housing and urban development4
stated, the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated our nation's already5
severe housing affordability crisis;6
(e) Today, one in 5 renters are behind on rent and just over 107
million homeowners are behind on mortgage payments, and people of8
color face even greater hardship and are more likely to have deferred or9
missed payments, putting them at greater risk of eviction and foreclosure;10
(f) At the same time, our nation's homelessness crisis has11
worsened during the pandemic as people experiencing homelessness are12
highly vulnerable to COVID-19 transmission, illness, and severity due to13
their use of congregate shelters and their high prevalence of underlying14
health conditions;15
(g) Colorado is no exception, as COVID-19 has been hitting low-16
and extremely low-income individuals and families who were already17
severely cost-burdened especially hard, increasing their risk of18
experiencing homelessness or inability to resolve their homelessness;19
(h) In the Denver metropolitan area, shelters saw a 99% increase20
in people experiencing homelessness for the first time between January21
2020 and January 2021. The number of deaths due to overdose among22
people experiencing homelessness in Denver county increased by 34%23
from 2020 to 2021, highlighting the need for joint efforts to address24
substance use disorders among those experiencing homelessness.25
(i) There is currently a lack of both transitional and supportive26
housing and lack of access to specialty care, particularly for people with27
HB22-1378
-3- complex needs. Persons experiencing homelessness face many challenges1
in accessing long-term treatment of chronic illness and are far more likely2
to receive care in emergency departments. Without trained and dedicated3
providers or advocates, unhoused individuals often end up in a cycle of4
expensive treatment with little to no follow-up.5
(2) Therefore, the general assembly finds and declares it is within6
the interest of the state to create a regional campus for individuals7
experiencing homelessness to help alleviate the need that has been8
exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic.9
SECTION 2. In Colorado Revised Statutes, add 24-32-726 as10
follows:11
24-32-726. Denver-metropolitan regional navigation campus12
grant - regional navigation campus cash fund - creation - definitions.13
(1) A
S USED IN THIS SECTION, UNLESS THE CONTEXT OTHERWISE14
REQUIRES:15
(a) "C
OMMUNITY PARTNER" MEANS A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION16
THAT UNDERTAKES ANY OF THE ACTIVITIES DESCRIBED IN SUBSECTION (3)17
OF THIS SECTION.18
(b) "L
OCAL GOVERNMENT " MEANS THE CITY AND COUNTY OF19
D
ENVER, ADAMS COUNTY, ARAPAHOE COUNTY, JEFFERSON COUNTY,20
D
OUGLAS COUNTY, THE CITY AND COUNTY OF BROOMFIELD, OR THE21
D
ENVER REGIONAL COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENTS .22
(2) A
LOCAL GOVERNMENT OR LOCAL GOVERNMENTS APPLYING23
TOGETHER OR A COMMUNITY PARTNER IN CONJUNCTION WITH ONE OR24
MORE LOCAL GOVERNMENTS MAY SUBMIT AN APPLICATION FOR A GRANT25
TO THE DIVISION IN ACCORDANCE WITH POLICIES , PROCEDURES, AND26
GUIDELINES ADOPTED BY THE DIVISION IN ORDER TO BUILD OR ACQUIRE ,27
HB22-1378
-4- AND THEN FACILITATE, A REGIONAL NAVIGATION CAMPUS IN THE DENVER1
METROPOLITAN AREA TO RESPOND TO AND PREVENT HOMELESSNESS . THE2
DIVISION, IN COLLABORATION WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES3
AND THE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH ADMINISTRATION IN THE DEPARTMENT OF4
HUMAN SERVICES, SHALL ESTABLISH THE APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS ,5
WHICH MUST INCLUDE A PLAN BY WHICH THE APPLICANT INTENDS TO6
SUSTAIN FUNDING THE REGIONAL NAVIGATION CAMPUS AFTER THE GRANT7
PERIOD ENDS.8
(3) E
ACH APPLICANT SHALL DEMONSTRATE HOW THE APPLICANT9
PLANS TO BUILD OR ACQUIRE , AND THEN FACILITATE, A NAVIGATION10
CAMPUS THAT MAY INCLUDE , BUT IS NOT LIMITED TO, THE FOLLOWING:11
(a) S
ERVICES FOR BEHAVIORAL HEALTH , MENTAL HEALTH, AND12
SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS, INCLUDING A CONTINUUM OF BEHAVIORAL13
HEALTH SERVICES AND TREATMENT ;14
(b) M
EDICAL CARE, INCLUDING DENTAL CARE;15
(c) T
RANSITIONAL HOUSING;16
(d) P
ERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING ;17
(e) E
MERGENCY SHELTER;18
(f) R
ECOVERY-ORIENTED SERVICES AND CARE;19
(g) V
OCATIONAL REHABILITATION AND EMPLOYMENT SKILLS20
TRAINING WITH THE REQUISITE SUPPORTIVE SERVICES THAT SUPPORT21
THOSE INITIATIVES;22
(h) A
SSISTANCE ENROLLING ELIGIBLE INDIVIDUALS INTO PUBLIC23
ASSISTANCE BENEFITS PROGRAMS ; AND24
(i) O
THER SUPPORTIVE SERVICES INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO,25
TRANSPORTATION, CASE MANAGEMENT, LIFE SKILLS TRAINING, AND OTHER26
SUPPORTIVE SERVICES DESCRIBED IN 42 CFR 578.53 AND OTHERS27
HB22-1378
-5- DETERMINED BY THE DIVISION.1
(4) I
N SELECTING A GRANT RECIPIENT , THE DIVISION, IN2
COLLABORATION WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES AND THE3
BEHAVIORAL HEALTH ADMINISTRATION IN THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN4
SERVICES, SHALL CONSIDER:5
(a) A
N APPLICANT'S COMMITMENT TO REGIONAL AND6
TRANSFORMATIONAL PROJECTS THAT ADDRESSES HOMELESSNESS ;7
(b) A
N APPLICANT'S COMMITMENT TO PROVIDING WRAPAROUND8
SERVICES FOR THE RESIDENTS AT THE SUPPORTIVE RESIDENTIAL CAMPUS ;9
(c) T
HE IMPACT OF THE PROPOSED NAVIGATION CAMPUS IN THE10
COMMUNITY WHERE IT WILL BE LOCATED AND IN THE11
D
ENVER-METROPOLITAN REGION AS A WHOLE ; AND12
(d) T
HE ABILITY OF THE APPLICANT TO MANAGE THE LOCATION13
AND DETERMINE LONG-TERM OPERATIONAL COSTS AND SUSTAINABILITY .14
(5) I
N ADOPTING POLICIES, PROCEDURES, AND GUIDELINES, THE15
DIVISION SHALL COLLABORATE WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN16
SERVICES AND THE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH ADMINISTRATION IN THE17
DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES TO CREATE A PROCESS THAT ENSURES18
THE GRANT IS ONLY AWARDED AFTER A FAIR AND RIGOROUS OPEN19
COMPETITION AMONG ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS . THE DIVISION SHALL REVIEW20
APPLICATIONS AND SELECT THE GRANT RECIPIENT IN COLLABORATION21
WITH PARTNERING AGENCIES.22
(6) T
HE DIVISION, GRANT RECIPIENT, OR ANY OTHER PERSON WHO23
RECEIVES MONEY FROM THE DIVISION PURSUANT TO THIS SECTION SHALL24
COMPLY WITH THE COMPLIANCE , REPORTING, RECORD-KEEPING, AND25
PROGRAM EVALUATION REQUIREMENTS ESTABLISHED BY THE OFFICE OF26
STATE PLANNING AND BUDGETING AND THE STATE CONTROLLER IN27
HB22-1378
-6- ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 24-75-226 (5).1
(7) O
N JULY 1, 2022, THE STATE TREASURER SHALL TRANSFER2
FIFTY MILLION DOLLARS FROM THE ECONOMIC RECOVERY AND RELIEF3
CASH FUND, CREATED IN SECTION 24-75-228, THAT ORIGINATES FROM THE4
MONEY THE STATE RECEIVED FROM THE FEDERAL CORONAVIRUS STATE5
FISCAL RECOVERY FUND, TO THE REGIONAL NAVIGATION CAMPUS CASH6
FUND FOR THE PURPOSES OF THIS SECTION. THE DIVISION MAY EXPEND UP7
TO TEN PERCENT OF THE MONEY APPROPRIATED OR TRANSFERRED TO THE8
FUND TO PAY FOR ITS DIRECT AND INDIRECT COSTS IN ADMINISTERING THE9
GRANT. ALL ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS MUST BE PAID OUT OF THE MONEY10
TRANSFERRED TO THE FUND PURSUANT TO THIS SUBSECTION (7).11
(8) (a) T
HE REGIONAL NAVIGATION CAMPUS CASH FUND , REFERRED12
TO IN THIS SECTION AS THE "FUND", IS CREATED IN THE STATE TREASURY.13
T
HE FUND CONSISTS OF MONEY TRANSFERRED TO THE FUND PURSUANT TO14
SUBSECTION (7) OF THIS SECTION AND ANY OTHER MONEY THAT THE15
GENERAL ASSEMBLY MAY APPROPRIATE OR TRANSFER TO THE FUND .16
(b) T
HE STATE TREASURER SHALL CREDIT ALL INTEREST AND17
INCOME DERIVED FROM THE DEPOSIT AND INVESTMENT OF MONEY IN THE18
FUND TO THE FUND . EXCEPT AS OTHERWISE REQUIRED BY THIS19
SUBSECTION (8)(b), ALL MONEY NOT EXPENDED OR ENCUMBERED , AND20
ALL INTEREST EARNED ON THE INVESTMENT OR DEPOSIT OF MONEY IN THE21
FUND, REMAINS IN THE FUND AND DOES NOT REVERT TO THE GENERAL22
FUND OR ANY OTHER FUND AT THE END OF ANY FISCAL YEAR . THE MONEY23
IN THE FUND IS CONTINUOUSLY APPROPRIATED TO THE DEPARTMENT OF24
LOCAL AFFAIRS FOR USE BY THE DIVISION FOR THE PURPOSES OF THIS25
SECTION.26
(c) T
HE GRANT RECIPIENT SHALL EXPEND OR OBLIGATE ANY27
HB22-1378
-7- MONEY RECEIVED PURSUANT TO THIS SECTION NO LATER THAN DECEMBER1
30,
2024. ANY MONEY THE GRANT RECIPIENT OBLIGATES MUST BE2
EXPENDED NO LATER THAN DECEMBER 30, 2026.3
SECTION 3. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 24-75-402, amend4
(5)(tt) and (5)(uu); and add (5)(vv) as follows:5
24-75-402. Cash funds - limit on uncommitted reserves -6
reduction in the amount of fees - exclusions - repeal.7
(5) Notwithstanding any provision of this section to the contrary, the8
following cash funds are excluded from the limitations specified in this9
section:10
(tt) The community impact cash fund created in section 25-7-12911
(1); and
12
(uu) The 988 crisis hotline cash fund created in section 27-64-104;13
AND14
(vv) T
HE REGIONAL NAVIGATION CAMPUS CASH FUND CREATED IN15
SECTION 24-32-726.16
SECTION 4. Safety clause. The general assembly hereby finds,17
determines, and declares that this act is necessary for the immediate18
preservation of the public peace, health, or safety.19
HB22-1378
-8-