SENATE BILL 22-211
BY SENATOR(S) Fields and Hinrichsen, Buckner, Moreno, Pettersen,
Priola;
also REPRESENTATIVE(S) Valdez A., Amabile, Benavidez, Bernett,
Duran, Exum, Herod, Hooton, Jodeh, Kipp, Lindsay, McCormick, Sullivan,
Woodrow.
C
ONCERNING THE REPURPOSING OF THE RIDGE VIEW CAMPUS INTO A
SUPPORTIVE RESIDENTIAL COMMUNITY FOR PEOPLE EXPERIENCING
HOMELESSNESS
, AND, IN CONNECTION THEREWITH , MAKING AN
APPROPRIATION
.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Colorado:
SECTION 1. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 24-32-703, add (7.5)
as follows:
24-32-703. Definitions. As used in this part 7, unless the context
otherwise requires:
(7.5) "R
IDGE VIEW CAMPUS" MEANS THE REAL PROPERTY FORMERLY
KNOWN AS THE
LOWRY BOMBING RANGE THAT WAS REDEVELOPED BY THE
STATE IN
2001 AND THAT HOUSED THE RIDGE VIEW YOUTH SERVICES
NOTE: This bill has been prepared for the signatures of the appropriate legislative
officers and the Governor. To determine whether the Governor has signed the bill
or taken other action on it, please consult the legislative status sheet, the legislative
history, or the Session Laws.
________
Capital letters or bold & italic numbers indicate new material added to existing law; dashes
through words or numbers indicate deletions from existing law and such material is not part of
the act. CENTER UNTIL 2021.
SECTION 2. In Colorado Revised Statutes, add 24-32-730 as
follows:
24-32-730. Ridge View Supportive Residential Community at
the Ridge View campus - report - legislative declaration. (1) Legislative
declaration. (a) T
HE GENERAL ASSEMBLY HEREBY FINDS , DETERMINES, AND
DECLARES THAT
:
(I) A
S THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN
DEVELOPMENT STATED AFTER THE PASSAGE OF THE
"AMERICAN RESCUE
PLAN ACT OF 2021", THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC HAS EXACERBATED OUR
NATION
'S ALREADY SEVERE HOUSING AFFORDABILITY CRISIS ;
(II) T
ODAY, ONE IN FIVE RENTERS IS BEHIND ON RENT AND JUST OVER
TEN MILLION HOME OWNERS ARE BEHIND ON MORTGAGE PAYMENTS
;
(III) P
EOPLE OF COLOR FACE EVEN GREATER HARDSHIPS AND ARE
MORE LIKELY TO HAVE DEFERRED OR MISSED PAYMENTS
, PUTTING THEM AT
A GREATER RISK OF EVICTION AND FORECLOSURE
;
(IV) A
T THE SAME TIME, OUR NATION'S HOMELESSNESS CRISIS HAS
WORSENED DURING THE PANDEMIC
, AS PEOPLE EXPERIENCING
HOMELESSNESS ARE HIGHLY VULNERABLE TO
COVID-19 TRANSMISSION,
ILLNESS, AND SEVERITY DUE TO THEIR USE OF CONGREGATE SHELTERS AND
THEIR HIGH PREVALENCE OF UNDERLYING HEALTH CONDITIONS
;
(V) C
OLORADO IS NO EXCEPTION, AS THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC HAS
HIT LOW
- AND EXTREMELY LOW-INCOME INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES WHO
WERE ALREADY SEVERELY COST
-BURDENED, INCREASING THEIR RISK OF
EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS OR INABILITY TO RESOLVE THEIR
HOMELESSNESS
;
(VI) I
N THE DENVER METRO AREA ALONE , SHELTERS SAW A
NINETY
-NINE PERCENT INCREASE IN PEOPLE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS
FOR THE FIRST TIME FROM
JANUARY 2020 TO JANUARY 2021; AND
(VII) THE NUMBER OF DEATHS DUE TO OVERDOSE AMONG PEOPLE
EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS IN THE CITY AND COUNTY OF
DENVER
PAGE 2-SENATE BILL 22-211 INCREASED BY THIRTY-FOUR PERCENT FROM 2020 TO 2021.
(b) T
HE GENERAL ASSEMBLY FURTHER FINDS AND DECLARES THAT :
(I) T
HE RIDGE VIEW CAMPUS, THAT FORMERLY OPERATED AS THE
RIDGE VIEW YOUTH SERVICES CENTER, IS NO LONGER BEING USED AS OF
JULY 1, 2021, AND THE STATE HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO REPURPOSE THE
CAMPUS TO ENSURE THAT IT CONTINUES TO SUPPORT
COLORADANS MOST IN
NEED
;
(II) C
ONVERTING THE RIDGE VIEW CAMPUS INTO A
RECOVERY
-ORIENTED COMMUNITY FOR INDIVIDUAL ADULTS WITHOUT
STABLE HOUSING WHO WISH TO FOCUS ON RECOVERY FROM A SUBSTANCE
USE DISORDER WILL PROVIDE LOW
-BARRIER ACCESS TO COMPREHENSIVE
CARE AND TREATMENTS AND WILL ALLOW PEOPLE TO RECOVER AND HEAL IN
A SAFE AND STABLE ENVIRONMENT
;
(III) T
HE RIDGE VIEW SUPPORTIVE RESIDENTIAL COMMUNITY AT
THE
RIDGE VIEW CAMPUS WILL INCLUDE MULTIPLE COMPONENTS TO
PROVIDE COMPREHENSIVE SUPPORT ACROSS A CONTINUUM OF SUBSTANCE
USE RECOVERY TREATMENTS AND PROGRAMMING
, AND THE GOAL WILL BE
TO HAVE INDIVIDUALS LEAVE THE
RIDGE VIEW SUPPORTIVE RESIDENTIAL
COMMUNITY IN ACTIVE RECOVERY AND IMPROVED HEALTH SO THEY CAN
TRANSITION TO STABLE HOUSING AND COMMUNITY
-BASED SUPPORTS, AS
WELL AS EMPLOYMENT WHERE POSSIBLE
;
(IV) W
HILE THE RIDGE VIEW CAMPUS WILL SERVE AN IMPORTANT
NEED AS A RECOVERY
-ORIENTED COMMUNITY PURSUANT TO THIS SECTION ,
THE STATE CONTINUES TO EXPERIENCE A YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS .
C
OLORADO REMAINS COMMI TTED TO ADDRESSING THE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH
CRISIS THROUGH COLLABORATION ACROSS STATE GOVERNMENT TO ENSURE
THAT CHILDREN HAVE ACCESS TO THE CARE THEY NEED IN THE MOST
APPROPRIATE SETTING
.
(V) P
ROVIDING SUPPORT AND PROGRAMMING PURSUANT TO THIS
SECTION AT THE
RIDGE VIEW SUPPORTIVE RESIDENTIAL COMMUNITY IS AN
IMPORTANT GOVERNMENT SERVICE
.
(2) Administration. (a) B
EGINNING JULY 1, 2022, THE RIDGE VIEW
CAMPUS IS DESIGNATED AS A SUPPORTIVE RESIDENTIAL COMMUNITY FOR
PAGE 3-SENATE BILL 22-211 PEOPLE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS THAT SHALL BE KNOWN AS THE RIDGE
VIEW SUPPORTIVE RESIDENTIAL COMMUNITY. THE PURPOSE OF THE RIDGE
VIEW SUPPORTIVE RESIDENTIAL COMMUNITY IS TO PROVIDE TRANSITIONAL
HOUSING
, A CONTINUUM OF BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES AND
TREATMENT
, MEDICAL CARE , VOCATIONAL TRAINING , AND SKILL
DEVELOPMENT FOR THE RESIDENTS AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC
. THE
DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES SHALL TRANSFER OWNERSHIP OF ALL OR
PART OF THE
RIDGE VIEW CAMPUS TO THE DEPARTMENT OF PERSONNEL FOR
USE BY THE DIVISION OF HOUSING FOR THE PURPOSES OF THIS SECTION
. THE
DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES MAY RETAIN OWNERSHIP OF ANY VACANT
PORTION OF THE
RIDGE VIEW CAMPUS THAT IS NOT REQUIRED FOR THE
PURPOSES SPECIFIED IN THIS SECTION AND USE
, OR ALLOW ANOTHER STATE
AGENCY TO USE
, ANY SUCH PORTION OF THE RIDGE VIEW CAMPUS FOR ANY
OTHER LAWFUL PURPOSE
.
(b) T
HE DIVISION, IN COLLABORATION WITH THE BEHAVIORAL
HEALTH ADMINISTRATION
, CREATED IN PART 2 OF ARTICLE 60 OF TITLE 27,
AND THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES , SHALL DEVELOP A FEASIBLE
MASTER PLAN FOR THE REDEVELOPMENT AND OPERATION OF THE
RIDGE
VIEW CAMPUS INTO THE RIDGE VIEW SUPPORTIVE RESIDENTIAL
COMMUNITY, INCLUDING A FINANCIAL PLAN FOR START -UP AND ONGOING
OPERATIONAL COSTS
. THE DIVISION SHALL ENTER INTO ONE OR MORE
CONTRACTS WITH PUBLIC OR PRIVATE CONTRACTORS TO ESTABLISH THE
COMMUNITY
. THE CONTRACTOR OR CONTRACTORS SELECTED BY THE
DIVISION MUST BE EXPERIENCED IN PROVIDING STATEWIDE INTEGRATED
HOUSING
, HEALTH CARE, RECOVERY TREATMENT, AND SUPPORTIVE SERVICE
PROGRAMS FOR PEOPLE EXPERIEN CING HOMELESSNESS OR SIMILAR
POPULATIONS
.
(c) T
HE RIDGE VIEW SUPPORTIVE RESIDENTIAL COMMUNITY SHALL
PROVIDE FOOD AND ROOM AND BOARD TO EACH INDIVI DUAL WHILE RESIDING
AT THE COMMUNITY AT NO COST TO THE INDIVIDUAL
.
(d) T
HE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES , IN PARTNERSHIP WITH
THE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH ADMINISTRATION AND THE DEPARTMENT OF
HEALTH CARE POLICY AND FINANCING
, WILL WORK TO ENSURE THAT YOUTH
BED CAPACITY WILL BE CREATED ELSEWHERE IN A MANNER THAT MOST
APPROPRIATELY SERVES THE MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS OF
COLORADO'S
YOUTH
.
PAGE 4-SENATE BILL 22-211 (3) Transitional housing program. (a) T HE RIDGE VIEW
SUPPORTIVE RESIDENTIAL COMMUNITY SHALL PROVIDE TRANSITIONAL
HOUSING FOR INDIVIDUAL ADULTS FOR UP TO TWO YEARS WITH CASE
MANAGEMENT
, CARE COORDINATION, AND VOCATIONAL AND HOUSING
PLACEMENT ASSISTANCE
. IN ALIGNMENT WITH BEST PRACTICES , THE
TRANSITIONAL HOUSING PROGRAM SHALL PROVIDE CASE MANAGERS AND
PEER SUPPORTS AT AN AVERAGE RATIO OF ONE CASE MANAGER FOR EVERY
FIFTEEN TRANSITIONAL HOUSING RESIDENTS
.
(b) T
HE TRANSITIONAL HOUSING PROGRAM SHALL :
(I) F
OCUS ON PERSON-CENTERED GOAL PLANNING AND CARE
COORDINATION
;
(II) C
ONNECT INDIVIDUALS TO PERMANENT HOUSING OPTIONS IN
THEIR COMMUNITY OF CHOICE
;
(III) P
ROVIDE EMPLOYMENT ASSISTANCE SUCH AS VOCATIONAL
EDUCATION AND INDIVIDUAL PLACEMENT AND SUPPORT
; AND
(IV) CONNECT INDIVIDUALS TO SAFETY-NET PROGRAMS FOR WHICH
THEY ARE ELIGIBLE
, SUCH AS SNAP, MEDICAID, SSI, SSDI, TANF, HOUSING
VOUCHER PROGRAMS
, AND UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE BENEFITS .
(4) Substance use recovery treatment and services. T
HE RIDGE
VIEW SUPPORTIVE RESIDENTIAL COMMUNITY SHALL PROVIDE A CONTINUUM
OF CARE INFORMED BY
AMERICAN SOCIETY OF ADDICTION MEDICINE
STANDARDS
, WHICH SHALL BE AVAILABLE TO PEOPLE COMING FROM THE
TRANSITIONAL HOUSING PROGRAM AND TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC DEEMED TO
BE IN MEDICAL NEED OF THE CARE
.
(5) Federally qualified health center. T
HE RIDGE VIEW
SUPPORTIVE RESIDENTIAL COMMUNITY SHALL PROVIDE A FEDERALLY
QUALIFIED HEALTH CENTER
, AS DEFINED IN THE FEDERAL "SOCIAL SECURITY
ACT", 42 U.S.C. SEC. 1395x (aa)(4), OR OTHER PRIMARY CARE 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 CENTER AND
ALL TREATMENT SERVICES PROVIDED BY THE CENTER SHALL BE ACCESSIBLE
TO PEOPLE IN THE TRANSITIONAL HOUSING PROGRAM AND TO MEMBERS OF
PAGE 5-SENATE BILL 22-211 THE GENERAL PUBLIC DEEMED TO BE IN MEDICAL NEED OF THE TREATMENT .
(6) Eligibility. (a) T
O BE ELIGIBLE TO RESIDE IN AND RECEIVE
SERVICES AT THE TRANSITIONAL HOUSING PROGRAM
, AN INDIVIDUAL MUST
BE
:
(I) E
XPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS OR BE AT RISK OF EXPERIENCING
HOMELESSNESS
;
(II) C
HOOSING TO FOCUS ON RECOVERY VOLUNTARILY ; AND
(III) IN A POSITION WHERE IT IS MEDICALLY SAFE FOR THE
INDIVIDUAL TO BE IN TRANSITIONAL HOUSING
.
(b) T
HE RIDGE VIEW SUPPORTIVE RESIDENTIAL COMMUNITY SHALL
PRIORITIZE ACCESS FOR INDIVIDUALS BASED ON NEED
, THE LENGTH OF TIME
THE INDIVIDUAL HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS
, WITH PRIORITY
FOR INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING HOMELESS FOR THE
LONGEST PERIOD
, AND THE FREQUENCY WITH WHICH THE INDIVIDUAL USES
PUBLIC SYSTEMS
, WITH PRIORITY FOR INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE THE MOST
FREQUENT USERS OF SUCH SYSTEMS
.
(7) Referral coordination. T
HE ORGANIZATION OR ORGANIZATIONS
THAT ADMINISTER THE
RIDGE VIEW SUPPORTIVE RESIDENTIAL COMMUNITY
SHALL WORK WITH LOCAL PROVIDERS ACROSS THE STATE TO SET UP A
REFERRAL SYSTEM FOR CLIENTS TO LIVE AT THE COMMUNITY
. THE REFERRAL
SYSTEM SHALL EMPHASIZE THE CRITERIA SPECIFIED IN SUBSECTION
(6) OF
THIS SECTION
, COORDINATE TRANSPORTATION TO AND FROM THE RIDGE
VIEW SUPPORTIVE RESIDENTIAL COMMUNITY, AND ASSIST INDIVIDUALS IN
THE TRANSITION BACK TO THE GENERAL COMMUNITY AFTER RESIDING AT
THE
RIDGE VIEW SUPPORTIVE RESIDENTIAL COMMUNITY.
(8) Source of money for repurposing the Ridge View campus.
(a) F
OR THE 2022-23 STATE FISCAL YEAR, THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY SHALL
APPROPRIATE FORTY
-FIVE MILLION DOLLARS FROM THE ECONOMIC
RECOVERY AND RELIEF CASH FUND CREATED IN SECTION
24-75-228 (2)(a) TO
THE DIVISION FOR THE PURPOSES OF THIS SECTION
. ANY MONEY
APPROPRIATED IN THE
2022-23 STATE FISCAL YEAR THAT IS NOT
ENCUMBERED OR EXPENDED AT THE END OF THAT STATE FISCAL YEAR
REMAINS AVAILABLE FOR EXPENDITURE BY THE DIVISION IN SUBSEQUENT
PAGE 6-SENATE BILL 22-211 STATE FISCAL YEARS WITHOUT FURTHER APPROPRIATION , SUBJECT TO THE
REQUIREMENTS FOR OBLIGATING AND EXPENDING MONEY RECEIVED UNDER
THE FEDERAL
"AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT OF 2021", PUB.L. 117-2, AS
SPECIFIED IN SECTION
24-75-226 (4)(d).
(b) T
HE DIVISION MAY USE UP TO TEN PERCENT OF THE AMOUNT
APPROPRIATED PURSUANT TO THIS SECTION FOR ITS COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH
ADMINISTERING THE REQUIREMENTS OF THIS SECTION
, INCLUDING THE
REQUIREMENTS SPECIFIED IN SUBSECTION
(2)(b) OF THIS SECTION.
(c) T
HE DIVISION SHALL USE UP TO TEN PERCENT OF THE AMOUNT
APPROPRIATED PURSUANT TO SUBSECTION
(8)(a) OF THIS SECTION FOR ITS
COSTS IN CONNECTION WITH TRANSPORTATION
.
(9) Reporting requirement. (a) T
HE DIVISION SHALL COMPLY WITH
THE COMPLIANCE
, REPORTING, RECORD-KEEPING, AND PROGRAM
EVALUATION REQUIREMENTS ESTABLISHED BY THE OFFICE OF STATE
PLANNING AND BUDGETING AND THE STATE CONTROLLER IN ACCORDANCE
WITH SECTION
24-75-226 (5).
(b) I
N ADDITION TO THE REPORTING REQUIREMENTS SPECIFIED IN
SUBSECTION
(9)(a) OF THIS SECTION, THE DIVISION SHALL PREPARE AN
ANNUAL REPORT REGARDING THE OPERATIONS OF THE
RIDGE VIEW
SUPPORTIVE RESIDENTIAL COMMUNITY, INCLUDING AN UPDATE ON THE
IMPLEMENTATION OF THIS SECTION
, THE SUCCESS OF THE PROGRAMS
REQUIRED BY SUBSECTIONS
(3), (4), AND (5) OF THIS SECTION, THE NUMBER
OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE RECEIVED SERVICES AT THE
RIDGE VIEW SUPPORTIVE
RESIDENTIAL COMMUNITY, THE CONTRACTORS THAT THE DIVISION
SELECTED TO ESTABLISH AND OPERATE THE
RIDGE VIEW SUPPORTIVE
RESIDENTIAL COMMUNITY PURSUANT TO SUBSECTION (2)(b) OF THIS
SECTION
, AND ANY OTHER INFORMATION DEEMED RELEVANT BY THE
DIVISION
. THE DIVISION SHALL SUBMIT THE REPORT TO THE COMMITTEES OF
REFERENCE OF THE SENATE AND THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES THAT
HAVE OVERSIGHT OVER LOCAL AFFAIRS
. IN ADDITION, THE DIVISION SHALL
UPDATE ITS COMMITTEE OF REFERENCE AS A PART OF ITS PRESENTATION AT
A HEARING HELD PURSUANT TO SECTION
2-7-203 (2)(a) OF THE "STATE
MEASUREMENT FOR ACCOUNTABLE, RESPONSIVE, AND TRANSPARENT
(SMART) GOVERNMENT ACT", REGARDING THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THIS
SECTION AND THE OPERATION OF THE
RIDGE VIEW SUPPORTIVE RESIDENTIAL
COMMUNITY. NOTWITHSTANDING THE REQUIREMENT IN SECTION 24-1-136
PAGE 7-SENATE BILL 22-211 (11)(a)(I), THE REQUIREMENT TO SUBMIT THE REPORT REQUIRED IN THIS
SUBSECTION
(9)(b) CONTINUES INDEFINITELY.
SECTION 3. In Colorado Revised Statutes, repeal 19-2.5-1521.
SECTION 4. Appropriation. (1) For the 2022-23 state fiscal year,
$45,000,000 is appropriated to the department of local affairs for use by the
division of housing. This appropriation is from the economic recovery and
relief cash fund created in section 24-75-228 (2)(a), C.R.S., is of money the
state received from the federal coronavirus state fiscal recovery fund, and
is based on an assumption that the division will require an additional 2.3
FTE. To implement this act, the division may use this appropriation for
ridge view campus. Any money appropriated in this section not expended
prior to July 1, 2023, is further appropriated to the division from July 1,
2023, through December 30, 2024, for the same purpose.
(2) For the 2022-23 state fiscal year, $44,557 is appropriated to the
department of human services for use by the behavioral health
administration. This appropriation is from the General Fund, and is based
on an assumption that the administration will require an additional 0.4 FTE.
To implement this act, the administration may use this appropriation for
program administration.
SECTION 5. Safety clause. The general assembly hereby finds,
PAGE 8-SENATE BILL 22-211 determines, and declares that this act is necessary for the immediate
preservation of the public peace, health, or safety.
____________________________ ____________________________
Steve Fenberg Alec Garnett
PRESIDENT OF SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE
THE SENATE OF REPRESENTATIVES
____________________________ ____________________________
Cindi L. Markwell Robin Jones
SECRETARY OF CHIEF CLERK OF THE HOUSE
THE SENATE OF REPRESENTATIVES
APPROVED________________________________________
(Date and Time)
_________________________________________
Jared S. Polis
GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF COLORADO
PAGE 9-SENATE BILL 22-211