Second Regular Session
Seventy-third General Assembly
STATE OF COLORADO
INTRODUCED
LLS NO. 22-0999.01 Nicole Myers x4326
SENATE BILL 22-211
Senate Committees House Committees
Health & Human Services
A BILL FOR AN ACT
C
ONCERNING THE REPURPOSING OF THE RIDGE VIEW CAMPUS INTO A101
SUPPORTIVE RESIDENTIAL COMMUNITY FOR PEOPLE102
EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS .103
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
.)
In 2001, the state began operating an academic model juvenile
facility on the parcel of real property formerly known as the Lowry
bombing range and currently referred to as the Ridge View campus. The
juvenile facility, known as the Ridge View Youth Services Center,
operated for 20 years at the Ridge View campus until the state closed the
SENATE SPONSORSHIP
Fields and Hinrichsen,
HOUSE SPONSORSHIP
Valdez A.,
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. facility in 2021. The bill requires that the Ridge View campus be
repurposed and converted into the Ridge View Supportive Residential
Community to provide transitional housing, a continuum of behavioral
health service treatment, medical care, vocational training, and skill
development for its residents and the general public.
The department of human services (department) is required to
transfer ownership of all or part of the Ridge View campus to the
department of personnel for use by the division of housing (division) for
the purposes of repurposing the Ridge View campus. The division, in
collaboration with the behavioral health administration and the
department of human services, is required to develop a feasible master
plan for the redevelopment and operations of the Ridge View campus and
is required to enter into one or more contracts with private contractors to
establish the Ridge View Supportive Residential Community at the Ridge
View campus.
The Ridge View Supportive Residential Community is required to
provide the following services and programs:
! A transitional housing program for individual adults with
case management, care coordination, and vocational and
housing placement assistance;
! A continuum of behavioral health services and treatment,
informed by American Society of Addiction Medicine
standards, available to people coming from the transitional
housing program and to the general public; and
! A federally qualified health clinic at which people have
access to medical treatments that help facilitate recovery,
including medical and dental care and a continuum of
behavioral health services. The health clinic and all
behavioral health services and treatment are required to be
accessible to people receiving other treatment at the Ridge
View Supportive Residential Community, people residing
in the transitional housing, and the general public.
The bill specifies eligibility criteria for the programs and services
that will be offered at the Ridge View Supportive Residential Community
and specifies how individuals may be referred to the community.
For the 2022-23 state fiscal year, the bill requires the general
assembly to appropriate money from the economic recovery and relief
cash fund to the division for the repurposing of the Ridge View campus
and authorizes the division to use up to 10% of the amount appropriated
for its administrative costs in connection with the repurposing of the
Ridge View campus. The bill requires the division to comply with
specified reporting requirements.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Colorado:1
SB22-211-2- SECTION 1. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 24-32-703, add (7.5)1
as follows:2
24-32-703. Definitions. As used in this part 7, unless the context3
otherwise requires:4
(7.5) "R
IDGE VIEW CAMPUS" MEANS THE REAL PROPERTY5
FORMERLY KNOWN AS THE LOWRY BOMBING RANGE THAT WAS6
REDEVELOPED BY THE STATE IN 2001 AND THAT HOUSED THE RIDGE VIEW7
Y
OUTH SERVICES CENTER UNTIL 2021.8
SECTION 2. In Colorado Revised Statutes, add 24-32-726 as9
follows:10
24-32-726. Ridge View Supportive Residential Community at11
the Ridge View campus - report - legislative declaration.12
(1) Legislative declaration. (a) T
HE GENERAL ASSEMBLY HEREBY FINDS ,13
DETERMINES, AND DECLARES THAT:14
(I) A
S THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN15
DEVELOPMENT STATED AFTER THE PASSAGE OF THE "AMERICAN RESCUE16
P
LAN ACT OF 2021", THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC HAS EXACERBATED OUR17
NATION'S ALREADY SEVERE HOUSING AFFORDABILITY CRISIS ;18
(II) T
ODAY, ONE IN FIVE RENTERS IS BEHIND ON RENT AND JUST19
OVER TEN MILLION HOME OWNERS ARE BEHIND ON MORTGAGE PAYMENTS ;20
(III) P
EOPLE OF COLOR FACE EVEN GREATER HARDSHIPS AND ARE21
MORE LIKELY TO HAVE DEFERRED OR MISSED PAYMENTS , PUTTING THEM22
AT A GREATER RISK OF EVICTION AND FORECLOSURE ;23
(IV) A
T THE SAME TIME, OUR NATION'S HOMELESSNESS CRISIS HAS24
WORSENED DURING THE PANDEMIC , AS PEOPLE EXPERIENCING25
HOMELESSNESS ARE HIGHLY VULNERABLE TO COVID-19 TRANSMISSION,26
ILLNESS, AND SEVERITY DUE TO THEIR USE OF CONGREGATE SHELTERS AND27
SB22-211
-3- THEIR HIGH PREVALENCE OF UNDERLYING HEALTH CONDITIONS ;1
(V) C
OLORADO IS NO EXCEPTION, AS THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC2
HAS HIT LOW- AND EXTREMELY LOW-INCOME INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES3
WHO WERE ALREADY SEVERELY COST -BURDENED, INCREASING THEIR RISK4
OF EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS OR INABILITY TO RESOLVE THEIR5
HOMELESSNESS;6
(VI) I
N THE DENVER METRO AREA ALONE , SHELTERS SAW A7
NINETY-NINE PERCENT INCREASE IN PEOPLE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS8
FOR THE FIRST TIME FROM JANUARY 2020 TO JANUARY 2021; AND9
(VII) T
HE NUMBER OF DEATHS DUE TO OVERDOSE AMONG PEOPLE10
EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS IN THE CITY AND COUNTY OF DENVER11
INCREASED BY THIRTY-FOUR PERCENT FROM 2020 TO 2021.12
(b) T
HE GENERAL ASSEMBLY FURTHER FINDS AND DECLARES THAT :13
(I) T
HE RIDGE VIEW CAMPUS, THAT FORMERLY OPERATED AS THE14
R
IDGE VIEW YOUTH SERVICES CENTER, IS NO LONGER BEING USED AS OF15
J
ULY 1, 2021, AND THE STATE HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO REPURPOSE THE16
CAMPUS TO ENSURE THAT IT CONTINUES TO SUPPORT COLORADANS MOST17
IN NEED;18
(II) C
ONVERTING THE RIDGE VIEW CAMPUS INTO A19
RECOVERY-ORIENTED COMMUNITY FOR INDIVIDUAL ADULTS WITHOUT20
STABLE HOUSING WHO WISH TO FOCUS ON RECOVERY FROM A SUBSTANCE21
USE DISORDER WILL PROVIDE LOW-BARRIER ACCESS TO COMPREHENSIVE22
CARE AND TREATMENTS AND WILL ALLOW PEOPLE TO RECOVER AND HEAL23
IN A SAFE AND STABLE ENVIRONMENT ;24
(III) T
HE RIDGE VIEW SUPPORTIVE RESIDENTIAL COMMUNITY AT25
THE RIDGE VIEW CAMPUS WILL INCLUDE MULTIPLE COMPONENTS TO26
PROVIDE COMPREHENSIVE SUPPORT ACROSS A CONTINUUM OF SUBSTANCE27
SB22-211
-4- USE RECOVERY TREATMENTS AND PROGRAMMING , AND THE GOAL WILL BE1
TO HAVE INDIVIDUALS LEAVE THE RIDGE VIEW SUPPORTIVE RESIDENTIAL2
C
OMMUNITY IN ACTIVE RECOVERY AND IMPROVED HEALTH SO THEY CAN3
TRANSITION TO STABLE HOUSING AND COMMUNITY -BASED SUPPORTS, AS4
WELL AS EMPLOYMENT WHERE POSSIBLE ; AND5
(IV) P
ROVIDING SUPPORT AND PROGRAMMING PURSUANT TO THIS6
SECTION AT THE RIDGE VIEW SUPPORTIVE RESIDENTIAL COMMUNITY IS7
AN IMPORTANT GOVERNMENT SERVICE .8
(2) Administration. (a) B
EGINNING JULY 1, 2022, THE RIDGE9
V
IEW CAMPUS IS DESIGNATED AS A SUPPORTIVE RESIDENTIAL COMMUNITY10
FOR PEOPLE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS THAT SHALL BE KNOWN AS THE11
R
IDGE VIEW SUPPORTIVE RESIDENTIAL COMMUNITY. THE PURPOSE OF12
THE RIDGE VIEW SUPPORTIVE RESIDENTIAL COMMUNITY IS TO PROVIDE13
TRANSITIONAL HOUSING, A CONTINUUM OF BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES14
AND TREATMENT, MEDICAL CARE, VOCATIONAL TRAINING, AND SKILL15
DEVELOPMENT FOR THE RESIDENTS AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC . THE16
DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES SHALL TRANSFER OWNERSHIP OF ALL17
OR PART OF THE RIDGE VIEW CAMPUS TO THE DEPARTMENT OF PERSONNEL18
FOR USE BY THE DIVISION OF HOUSING FOR THE PURPOSES OF THIS SECTION.19
T
HE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES MAY RETAIN OWNERSHIP OF ANY20
VACANT PORTION OF THE RIDGE VIEW CAMPUS THAT IS NOT REQUIRED FOR21
THE PURPOSES SPECIFIED IN THIS SECTION AND USE, OR ALLOW ANOTHER22
STATE AGENCY TO USE, ANY SUCH PORTION OF THE RIDGE VIEW CAMPUS23
FOR ANY OTHER LAWFUL PURPOSE .24
(b) T
HE DIVISION, IN COLLABORATION WITH THE BEHAVIORAL25
HEALTH ADMINISTRATION, CREATED IN PART 2 OF ARTICLE 60 OF TITLE 27,26
AND THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES , SHALL DEVELOP A FEASIBLE27
SB22-211
-5- MASTER PLAN FOR THE REDEVELOPMENT OF THE RIDGE VIEW CAMPUS1
INTO THE RIDGE VIEW SUPPORTIVE RESIDENTIAL COMMUNITY AND THE2
OPERATION OF THE COMMUNITY AND SHALL ENTER INTO ONE OR MORE3
CONTRACTS WITH PRIVATE CONTRACTORS TO ESTABLISH THE COMMUNITY .4
T
HE CONTRACTOR OR CONTRACTORS SELECTED BY THE DIVISION MUST BE5
EXPERIENCED IN PROVIDING STATEWIDE INTEGRATED HOUSING , HEALTH6
CARE, RECOVERY TREATMENT, AND SUPPORTIVE SERVICE PROGRAMS FOR7
PEOPLE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS OR SIMILAR POPULATIONS .8
(c) T
HE RIDGE VIEW SUPPORTIVE RESIDENTIAL COMMUNITY9
SHALL PROVIDE FOOD AND ROOM AND BOARD TO EACH INDIVIDUAL WHILE10
RESIDING AT THE COMMUNITY AT NO COST TO THE INDIVIDUAL .11
(3) Transitional housing program. (a) T
HE RIDGE VIEW12
S
UPPORTIVE RESIDENTIAL COMMUNITY SHALL PROVIDE TRANSITIONAL13
HOUSING FOR INDIVIDUAL ADULTS FOR UP TO TWO YEARS WITH CASE14
MANAGEMENT, CARE COORDINATION, AND VOCATIONAL AND HOUSING15
PLACEMENT ASSISTANCE . IN ALIGNMENT WITH BEST PRACTICES , THE16
TRANSITIONAL HOUSING PROGRAM SHALL PROVIDE CASE MANAGERS AND17
PEER SUPPORTS AT AN AVERAGE RATIO OF ONE CASE MANAGER FOR EVERY18
FIFTEEN TRANSITIONAL HOUSING RESIDENTS .19
(b) T
HE TRANSITIONAL HOUSING PROGRAM SHALL :20
(I) F
OCUS ON PERSON-CENTERED GOAL PLANNING AND CARE21
COORDINATION;22
(II) C
ONNECT INDIVIDUALS TO PERMANENT HOUSING OPTIONS IN23
THEIR COMMUNITY OF CHOICE;24
(III) P
ROVIDE EMPLOYMENT ASSISTANCE SUCH AS VOCATIONAL25
EDUCATION AND INDIVIDUAL PLACEMENT AND SUPPORT ; AND26
(IV) C
ONNECT INDIVIDUALS TO SAFETY -NET PROGRAMS FOR27
SB22-211
-6- WHICH THEY ARE ELIGIBLE, SUCH AS SNAP, MEDICAID, SSI, SSDI, TANF,1
AND UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE BENEFITS .2
(4) Substance use recovery treatment and services. T
HE RIDGE3
V
IEW SUPPORTIVE RESIDENTIAL COMMUNITY SHALL PROVIDE A4
CONTINUUM OF CARE INFORMED BY AMERICAN SOCIETY OF ADDICTION5
M
EDICINE STANDARDS, WHICH SHALL BE AVAILABLE TO PEOPLE COMING6
FROM THE TRANSITIONAL HOUSING PROGRAM AND TO THE GENERAL7
PUBLIC DEEMED TO BE IN MEDICAL NEED OF THE CARE .8
(5) Federally qualified health clinic. T
HE RIDGE VIEW9
S
UPPORTIVE RESIDENTIAL COMMUNITY SHALL PROVIDE A HEALTH CLINIC10
AT WHICH PEOPLE HAVE ACCESS TO MEDICAL TREATMENTS THAT HELP11
FACILITATE RECOVERY, INCLUDING MEDICAL AND DENTAL CARE AND A12
CONTINUUM OF BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES . THE HEALTH CLINIC AND13
ALL TREATMENT SERVICES PROVIDED BY THE CLINIC SHALL BE ACCESSIBLE14
TO PEOPLE IN THE TRANSITIONAL HOUSING PROGRAM AND TO MEMBERS OF15
THE GENERAL PUBLIC DEEMED TO BE IN MEDICAL NEED OF THE16
TREATMENT.17
(6) Eligibility. (a) T
O BE ELIGIBLE TO RESIDE IN AND RECEIVE18
SERVICES AT THE TRANSITIONAL HOUSING PROGRAM , AN INDIVIDUAL MUST19
BE:20
(I) E
XPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS OR BE AT RISK OF EXPERIENCING21
HOMELESSNESS;22
(II) C
HOOSING TO FOCUS ON RECOVERY VOLUNTARILY ; AND23
(III) I
N A POSITION WHERE IT IS MEDICALLY SAFE FOR THE24
INDIVIDUAL TO BE IN TRANSITIONAL HOUSING .25
(b) T
HE RIDGE VIEW SUPPORTIVE RESIDENTIAL COMMUNITY26
SHALL PRIORITIZE ACCESS FOR INDIVIDUALS BASED ON NEED , THE LENGTH27
SB22-211
-7- OF TIME THE INDIVIDUAL HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS , WITH1
PRIORITY FOR INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING HOMELESS FOR2
THE LONGEST PERIOD, AND THE FREQUENCY WITH WHICH THE INDIVIDUAL3
USES PUBLIC SYSTEMS, WITH PRIORITY FOR INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE THE4
MOST FREQUENT USERS OF SUCH SYSTEMS .5
(7) Referral coordination. T
HE ORGANIZATION OR6
ORGANIZATIONS THAT ADMINISTER THE RIDGE VIEW SUPPORTIVE7
R
ESIDENTIAL COMMUNITY SHALL WORK WITH LOCAL PROVIDERS ACROSS8
THE STATE TO SET UP A REFERRAL SYSTEM FOR CLIENTS TO LIVE AT THE9
COMMUNITY. THE REFERRAL SYSTEM SHALL EMPHASIZE THE CRITERIA10
SPECIFIED IN SUBSECTION (6) OF THIS SECTION , COORDINATE11
TRANSPORTATION TO AND FROM THE RIDGE VIEW SUPPORTIVE12
R
ESIDENTIAL COMMUNITY, AND ASSIST INDIVIDUALS IN THE TRANSITION13
BACK TO THE GENERAL COMMUNITY AFTER RESIDING AT THE RIDGE VIEW14
S
UPPORTIVE RESIDENTIAL COMMUNITY.15
(8) Source of money for repurposing the Ridge View campus.16
(a) F
OR THE 2022-23 STATE FISCAL YEAR, THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY SHALL17
APPROPRIATE FORTY-FIVE MILLION DOLLARS FROM THE ECONOMIC18
RECOVERY AND RELIEF CASH FUND CREATED IN SECTION 24-75-228 (2)(a)19
TO THE DIVISION FOR THE PURPOSES OF THIS SECTION . ANY MONEY20
APPROPRIATED IN THE 2022-23 STATE FISCAL YEAR THAT IS NOT21
ENCUMBERED OR EXPENDED AT THE END OF THAT STATE FISCAL YEAR22
REMAINS AVAILABLE FOR EXPENDITURE BY THE DIVISION IN SUBSEQUENT23
STATE FISCAL YEARS WITHOUT FURTHER APPROPRIATION , SUBJECT TO THE24
REQUIREMENTS FOR OBLIGATING AND EXPENDING MONEY RECEIVED25
UNDER THE FEDERAL "AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT OF 2021", PUB.L.26
117-2,
AS SPECIFIED IN SECTION 24-75-226 (4)(d).27
SB22-211
-8- (b) THE DIVISION MAY USE UP TO TEN PERCENT OF THE AMOUNT1
APPROPRIATED PURSUANT TO THIS SECTION FOR ITS COSTS ASSOCIATED2
WITH ADMINISTERING THE REQUIREMENTS OF THIS SECTION , INCLUDING3
THE REQUIREMENTS SPECIFIED IN SUBSECTION (2)(b) OF THIS SECTION.4
(9) Reporting requirement. (a) T
HE DIVISION SHALL COMPLY5
WITH THE COMPLIANCE, REPORTING, RECORD-KEEPING, AND PROGRAM6
EVALUATION REQUIREMENTS ESTABLISHED BY THE OFFICE OF STATE7
PLANNING AND BUDGETING AND THE STATE CONTROLLER IN ACCORDANCE8
WITH SECTION 24-75-226 (5).9
(b) I
N ADDITION TO THE REPORTING REQUIREMENTS SPECIFIED IN10
SUBSECTION (9)(a) OF THIS SECTION, THE DIVISION SHALL PREPARE AN11
ANNUAL REPORT REGARDING THE OPERATIONS OF THE RIDGE VIEW12
S
UPPORTIVE RESIDENTIAL COMMUNITY, INCLUDING AN UPDATE ON THE13
IMPLEMENTATION OF THIS SECTION , THE SUCCESS OF THE PROGRAMS14
REQUIRED BY SUBSECTIONS (3), (4), AND (5) OF THIS SECTION, THE15
NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE RECEIVED SERVICES AT THE RIDGE VIEW16
S
UPPORTIVE RESIDENTIAL COMMUNITY, THE CONTRACTORS THAT THE17
DIVISION SELECTED TO ESTABLISH AND OPERATE THE RIDGE VIEW18
S
UPPORTIVE RESIDENTIAL COMMUNITY PURSUANT TO SUBSECTION (2)(b)19
OF THIS SECTION, AND ANY OTHER INFORMATION DEEMED RELEVANT BY20
THE DIVISION. THE DIVISION SHALL SUBMIT THE REPORT TO THE21
COMMITTEES OF REFERENCE OF THE SENATE AND THE HOUSE OF22
REPRESENTATIVES THAT HAVE OVERSIGHT OVER LOCAL AFFAIRS . IN23
ADDITION, THE DIVISION SHALL UPDATE ITS COMMITTEE OF REFERENCE AS24
A PART OF ITS PRESENTATION AT A HEARING HELD PURSUANT TO SECTION25
2-7-203 (2)(a)
OF THE "STATE MEASUREMENT FOR ACCOUNTABLE,26
R
ESPONSIVE, AND TRANSPARENT (SMART) GOVERNMENT ACT",27
SB22-211
-9- REGARDING THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THIS SECTION AND THE OPERATION1
OF THE RIDGE VIEW SUPPORTIVE RESIDENTIAL COMMUNITY.2
N
OTWITHSTANDING THE REQUIREMENT IN SECTION 24-1-136 (11)(a)(I),3
THE REQUIREMENT TO SUBMIT THE REPORT REQUIRED IN THIS SUBSECTION4
(9)(b)
CONTINUES INDEFINITELY.5
SECTION 3. In Colorado Revised Statutes, repeal 19-2.5-1521.6
SECTION 4. Safety clause. The general assembly hereby finds,7
determines, and declares that this act is necessary for the immediate8
preservation of the public peace, health, or safety.9
SB22-211
-10-