First Regular Session
Seventy-fifth General Assembly
STATE OF COLORADO
ENGROSSED
This Version Includes All Amendments Adopted
on Second Reading in the House of Introduction
LLS NO. 25-0479.01 Shelby Ross x4510
HOUSE BILL 25-1132
House Committees Senate Committees
Health & Human Services
Appropriations
A BILL FOR AN ACT
C
ONCERNING CREATING THE MILIT ARY FAMILY BEHAVIORAL HEALTH101
GRANT
PROGRAM IN THE VETERANS MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES102
PROGRAM, AND, IN CONNECTION THEREWITH, REDUCING AN103
APPROPRIATION.104
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 creates the military family behavioral health grant
program in the behavioral health administration in the department of
human services to provide grants to local nonprofit organizations to
HOUSE
Amended 2nd Reading
March 3, 2025
HOUSE SPONSORSHIP
Camacho and Stewart R., Duran, Carter, Gilchrist, Lindstedt, Martinez, Phillips, Smith
SENATE SPONSORSHIP
Hinrichsen and Bridges,
Shading denotes HOUSE amendment. Double underlining denotes SENATE amendment.
Capital letters or bold & italic numbers indicate new material to be added to existing law.
Dashes through the words or numbers indicate deletions from existing law. establish and expand community behavioral health programs that provide
behavioral health services to service members, veterans, and family
members of service members and veterans.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Colorado:1
SECTION 1. In Colorado Revised Statutes, repeal and reenact,2
with amendments, 28-5-714 as follows:3
28-5-714. Veterans mental health services program -4
community behavioral health program grants - rules - definitions.5
(1) AS USED IN THIS SECTION, UNLESS THE CONTEXT OTHERWISE6
REQUIRES:7
(a) "ARMED FORCES" MEANS THE ARMY, NAVY, AIR FORCE,8
MARINE CORPS, SPACE FORCE, AND COAST GUARD OF THE UNITED9
STATES.10
(b) "BEHAVIORAL HEALTH ADMINISTRATION" OR "BHA" MEANS11
THE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH ADMINISTRATION IN THE DEPARTMENT OF12
HUMAN SERVICES ESTABLISHED PURSUANT TO SECTION 27-50-102.13
(c) "DIVISION" MEANS THE DIVISION OF VETERANS AFFAIRS IN THE14
DEPARTMENT OF MILITARY AND VETERANS AFFAIRS .15
(d) "ELIGIBLE VETERAN" MEANS A VETERAN, AS DEFINED IN16
SECTION 28-5-100.3, WHO LIVES IN A VETERANS COMMUNITY LIVING17
CENTER, AS DEFINED IN SECTION 26-12-102.18
(e) "HEALTH-CARE PROFESSIONAL" MEANS:19
(I) A LICENSED PSYCHIATRIST REGULATED PURSUANT TO ARTICLE20
240 OF TITLE 12;21
(II) A LICENSED PSYCHOLOGIST OR PSYCHOLOGIST CANDIDATE22
REGULATED PURSUANT TO ARTICLE 245 OF TITLE 12;23
(III) A LICENSED SOCIAL WORKER, LICENSED CLINICAL SOCIAL24
1132-2- WORKER, OR CLINICAL SOCIAL WORKER CANDIDATE REGULATED1
PURSUANT TO ARTICLE 245 OF TITLE 12;2
(IV) A LICENSED MARRIAGE AND FAMILY THERAPIST OR MARRIAGE3
AND FAMILY THERAPIST CANDIDATE REGULATED PURSUANT TO ARTICLE4
245 OF TITLE 12;5
(V) A LICENSED PROFESSIONAL COUNSELOR OR LICENSED6
PROFESSIONAL COUNSELOR CANDIDATE REGULATED PURSUANT TO7
ARTICLE 245 OF TITLE 12;8
(VI) A LICENSED ADDICTION COUNSELOR, CERTIFIED ADDICTION9
SPECIALIST, OR ADDICTION COUNSELOR CANDIDATE REGULATED10
PURSUANT TO ARTICLE 245 OF TITLE 12;11
(VII) AN ADVANCED PRACTICE REGISTERED NURSE LICENSED12
PURSUANT TO ARTICLE 255 OF TITLE 12;13
(VIII) AN ACUPUNCTURIST LICENSED PURSUANT TO ARTICLE 20014
OF TITLE 12;15
(IX) A MASSAGE THERAPIST LICENSED PURSUANT TO ARTICLE 23516
OF TITLE 12;17
(X) A HEALTH-CARE PROFESSIONAL WHO IS CERTIFIED IN THE18
PRACTICE OF USING TOUCH OR HEALING TOUCH TO AFFECT THE HUMAN19
ENERGY SYSTEMS; OR20
(XI) A HEALTH-CARE PROFESSIONAL WHO IS CERTIFIED IN21
CRANIOSACRAL THERAPIES.22
(f) "SERVICE MEMBER" MEANS A PERSON WHO IS:23
(I) AN ACTIVE-DUTY MEMBER OF THE ARMED FORCES ;24
(II) A MEMBER OF THE RESERVE FORCES OF THE UNITED STATES;25
OR26
(III) A MEMBER OF THE FEDERALLY RECOGNIZED NATIONAL27
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-3- GUARD.1
(g) "TELEHEALTH" HAS THE SAME MEANING AS SET FORTH IN2
SECTION 10-16-123.3
(h) "VETERAN" MEANS A PERSON WHO SERVED IN THE ARMED4
FORCES, THE FEDERALLY RECOGNIZED NATIONAL GUARD, OR THE5
RESERVE FORCES OF THE UNITED STATES AND WHO WAS DISCHARGED OR6
RELEASED FROM SERVICE.7
(2) (a) THERE IS ESTABLISHED IN THE DIVISION A VETERANS8
MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES PROGRAM TO PROMOTE ACCESS TO MENTAL9
HEALTH SERVICES FOR ELIGIBLE VETERANS BY REIMBURSING10
HEALTH-CARE PROFESSIONALS FOR SESSIONS WITH AN ELIGIBLE VETERAN .11
(b) THE DIVISION SHALL REIMBURSE A HEALTH-CARE12
PROFESSIONAL WHO PARTICIPATES IN THE VETERANS MENTAL HEALTH13
SERVICES PROGRAM FOR MENTAL HEALTH-CARE SESSIONS, EITHER IN14
PERSON OR THROUGH TELEHEALTH , WITH ELIGIBLE VETERANS. EACH15
ELIGIBLE VETERAN MAY RECEIVE TWENTY-SIX REIMBURSED SESSIONS PER16
YEAR.17
(c) SUBJECT TO AVAILABLE APPROPRIATIONS, AN ELIGIBLE18
VETERAN MAY RECEIVE AND THE DIVISION SHALL REIMBURSE A19
HEALTH-CARE PROFESSIONAL FOR:20
(I) ADDITIONAL REIMBURSED SESSIONS IF A HEALTH-CARE21
PROFESSIONAL DETERMINES ADDITIONAL SESSIONS ARE NECESSARY; AND22
(II) COMPLEMENTARY BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES , INCLUDING,23
BUT NOT LIMITED TO, ACUPUNCTURE, HEALING TOUCH THERAPY, MASSAGE24
THERAPY, ACUPRESSURE, AND CRANIOSACRAL THERAPY FOR THE PURPOSE25
OF SUPPORTING AN ELIGIBLE VETERAN'S MENTAL HEALTH WHEN PROVIDED26
BY A QUALIFIED HEALTH-CARE PROFESSIONAL.27
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-4- (d) TO BE ELIGIBLE TO PARTICIPATE IN AND RECEIVE1
REIMBURSEMENT FROM THE VETERANS MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES2
PROGRAM, A HEALTH-CARE PROFESSIONAL MUST BE AVAILABLE TO3
PROVIDE AT LEAST FOUR MENTAL HEALTH-CARE SESSIONS TO EACH4
ELIGIBLE VETERAN THE HEALTH-CARE PROFESSIONAL ACCEPTS AS A5
CLIENT.6
(e) THE DIVISION SHALL:7
(I) DEVELOP A PROCESS CONSISTENT WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF8
THIS SECTION FOR HEALTH-CARE PROFESSIONALS TO APPLY FOR AND9
DEMONSTRATE ELIGIBILITY TO RECEIVE REIMBURSEMENT FROM THE10
VETERANS MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES PROGRAM ;11
(II) UPON REIMBURSING A HEALTH-CARE PROFESSIONAL FOR A12
MENTAL HEALTH-CARE SESSION WITH AN ELIGIBLE VETERAN, INFORM THE13
HEALTH-CARE PROFESSIONAL OF THE VETERAN'S REMAINING NUMBER OF14
SESSIONS ELIGIBLE FOR REIMBURSEMENT THAT YEAR ; AND15
(III) DETERMINE A REASONABLE RATE OF REIMBURSEMENT FOR16
EACH MENTAL HEALTH -CARE SESSION WITH AN ELIGIBLE VETERAN17
PURSUANT TO THE VETERANS MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES PROGRAM , WHICH18
RATE MUST BE THE SAME REGARDLESS OF WHETHER THE APPOINTMENT IS19
IN-PERSON OR THROUGH TELEHEALTH .20
(f) THE ADJUTANT GENERAL, IN CONSULTATION WITH THE BOARD21
OF VETERANS AFFAIRS, SHALL ADOPT RULES NECESSARY FOR THE22
IMPLEMENTATION OF THIS SUBSECTION (2).23
(3) FOR EACH STATE FISCAL YEAR, THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY SHALL24
APPROPRIATE MONEY TO THE DIVISION FOR THE PURPOSES OF THE25
VETERANS MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES PROGRAM. THE FIRST SIX HUNDRED26
THOUSAND DOLLARS MUST BE USED FOR ELIGIBLE VETERANS .27
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-5- (4) (a) THE BHA SHALL COORDINATE WITH THE DIVISION TO1
CONTINUE AND EXPAND THE VETERANS MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES2
PROGRAM USING THE MONEY TRANSFERRED PURSUANT TO SECTION3
39-37-301 (2)(a)(II) TO THE BEHAVIORAL AND MENTAL HEALTH CASH4
FUND, CREATED IN SECTION 24-75-230 (2)(a), IN ACCORDANCE WITH5
SECTION 24-75-230 (3.5).6
(b) THE BHA SHALL POST ON ITS WEBSITE A LIST OF HEALTH-CARE7
PROFESSIONALS WHO PARTICIPATE IN THE VETERANS MENTAL HEALTH8
SERVICES PROGRAM. 9
(5) (a) IN EXPANDING THE VETERANS MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES10
PROGRAM PURSUANT TO SUBSECTION (4)(a) OF THIS SECTION, THE BHA11
SHALL PROVIDE GRANTS TO LOCAL NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS TO12
ESTABLISH AND EXPAND COMMUNITY BEHAVIORAL HEALTH PROGRAMS13
THAT PROVIDE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES TO SERVICE MEMBERS ,14
VETERANS, AND FAMILY MEMBERS OF SERVICE MEMBERS AND VETERANS.15
(b) IF A LOCAL NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION RECEIVES A GRANT16
PURSUANT TO THIS SUBSECTION (5) AND THE ORGANIZATION CONTINUES17
TO MEET PERFORMANCE METRICS DEVELOPED BY THE BHA, THE BHA18
MAY DISTRIBUTE AN ADDITIONAL GRANT TO THE LOCAL NONPROFIT19
ORGANIZATION WITHOUT REQUIRING THE ORGANIZATION TO REAPPLY FOR20
THE GRANT.21
(c) TO RECEIVE A GRANT, A LOCAL NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION22
MUST SUBMIT AN APPLICATION TO THE BHA IN ACCORDANCE WITH RULES23
ADOPTED BY THE COMMISSIONER OF THE BHA. 24
(d) IN ITS APPLICATION, A LOCAL NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION SHALL25
DEMONSTRATE THAT THE ORGANIZATION :26
(I) SERVES THE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH NEEDS OF SERVICE MEMBERS ,27
1132
-6- VETERANS, AND FAMILY MEMBERS OF SERVICE MEMBERS AND VETERANS1
IN THE LOCALITY SERVED BY THE LOCAL NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION ;2
(II) UTILIZES EVIDENCE-BASED PRACTICES;3
(III) INTEGRATES MILITARY CULTURAL COMPETENCY TRAINING4
FOR THE LOCAL NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION 'S STAFF; AND5
(IV) HAS ESTABLISHED AND VERIFIABLE COMMUNITY6
PARTNERSHIPS TO DELIVER BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES ALONG THE7
CONTINUUM OF CARE TO SERVICE MEMBERS, VETERANS, AND THEIR8
FAMILY MEMBERS.9
(e) THE BHA SHALL PRIORITIZE AWARDING GRANTS TO A GRANT10
APPLICANT THAT:11
(I) APPLIES FOR A GRANT TO SUPPORT THE OPERATING COSTS FOR12
A QUALIFYING PROJECT, AS DETERMINED BY THE BHA, FOR WHICH13
CAPITAL INVESTMENTS HAVE ALREADY BEEN MADE ;14
(II) PROVIDES CULTURALLY COMPETENT BEHAVIORAL HEALTH15
SERVICES TO SERVICE MEMBERS, VETERANS, AND FAMILY MEMBERS OF16
SERVICE MEMBERS AND VETERANS ;17
(III) HAS THE ABILITY TO SUBMIT DATA THAT THE BHA18
DETERMINES IS NECESSARY TO MEASURE THE IMPACT OF THE GRANT19
PROGRAM; AND20
(IV) DEMONSTRATES A HISTORY OF COLLABORATION WITH, AND21
PROVIDING SERVICES FOR, MILITARY AND VETERANS COMMUNITY22
ORGANIZATIONS IN COLORADO.23
(f) THE COMMISSIONER OF THE BHA SHALL ADOPT RULES AS24
NECESSARY TO IMPLEMENT THIS SUBSECTION (5), INCLUDING25
PERFORMANCE METRICS FOR LOCAL NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS THAT26
RECEIVE A GRANT.27
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-7- SECTION 2. Appropriation - adjustments to 2025 long bill.1
(1) Except as provided in subsection (2) of this section, to implement this2
act, the reappropriated funds appropriation made in the annual general3
appropriation act for the 2025-26 state fiscal year to the department of4
military and veterans affairs for use by the division of veterans affairs for5
veterans mental health services is decreased by $5,000,000. This6
appropriation is from reappropriated funds received from the department7
of human services for use by the behavioral health administration.8
(2) Subsection (1) of this section does not require a reduction of9
an appropriation in the annual general appropriations act for the 2025-2610
state fiscal year if:11
(a) The amount of reappropriated funds made in the annual general12
appropriation act for the 2025-26 state fiscal year to the department of13
military and veterans affairs for use by the division of veterans affairs for14
veterans mental health is less than the amount of the adjustment required15
in subsection (1) of this section; or16
(b) The annual general appropriation act for the 2025-26 state17
fiscal year does not include an appropriation to the department of military18
and veterans affairs for use by the division of veterans affairs for veterans19
mental health.20
SECTION 3. Act subject to petition - effective date. (1) This21
act takes effect at 12:01 a.m. on the day following the expiration of the22
ninety-day period after final adjournment of the general assembly; except23
that, if a referendum petition is filed pursuant to section 1 (3) of article V24
of the state constitution against this act or an item, section, or part of this25
act within such period, then the act, item, section, or part will not take26
effect unless approved by the people at the general election to be held in27
1132
-8- November 2026 and, in such case, will take effect on the date of the1
official declaration of the vote thereon by the governor.2
(2) Section 2 of this act takes effect only if the annual general3
appropriation act for the 2025-26 state fiscal year becomes law, in which4
case section 2 takes effect upon the effective date of this act or of the5
annual general appropriation act for state fiscal year 2025-26, whichever6
is later.7
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