Colorado 2025 Regular Session

Colorado House Bill HJR1008 Compare Versions

Version 1 (Old)

Version 2 (New)

Old	New		Differences
1	1		First Regular Session
2	2		Seventy-fifth General Assembly
3	3		STATE OF COLORADO
4		-	~~REVISED~~
	4	+	ENGROSSED
5	5
6	6
7	7		LLS NO. R25-0325.01 Frank Stoner x5498
8	8		HJR25-1008
9	9		House Committees Senate Committees
10	10		HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION 25-1008
11	11		C
12	12		ONCERNING DESIGNATING THE THIRD WEEK OF SEPTEMBER AS101
13	13		"C
14	14		O-RESPONDER UNITS AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CRISIS102
15	15		P
16	16		ROFESSIONALS WEEK" IN COLORADO.103
17	17		WHEREAS, The State of Colorado is committed to providing1
18	18		support for those facing behavioral health issues in our community; and2
19	19		WHEREAS, Behavioral health describes the emotions and3
20	20		behaviors that affect an individual's overall well-being, including mental4
21	21		health disorders and substance use; and5
22	22		WHEREAS, The National Institute of Mental Health estimates that6
23	23		more than one in five U.S. adults live with a mental illness; and7
24	24		WHEREAS, Widespread opioid use continues to grow across the8
25		-	SENATE
26		-	Final Reading
27		-	February 10, 2025
28	25		HOUSE
29	26		Final Reading
30	27		January 29, 2025
31	28		HOUSE SPONSORSHIP
32		-	Armagost and Bird, , Bacon, Barron, Boesenecker, Bottoms, Bradfield, Bradley,
33		-	~~Brooks,~~ Brown, Caldwell, Camacho, Carter, Clifford, DeGraaf, Duran, English, Espenoza,
34		-	~~Feret,~~ Froelich, Garcia, Garcia Sander, Gilchrist, Gonzalez R., Hamrick, Hartsook, Jackson,
	29	+	Armagost and Bird, Bacon, Barron, Boesenecker, Bottoms, Bradfield, Bradley, Brooks,
	30	+	Brown, Caldwell, Camacho, Carter, Clifford, DeGraaf, Duran, English, Espenoza, Feret,
	31	+	Froelich, Garcia, Garcia Sander, Gilchrist, Gonzalez R., Hamrick, Hartsook, Jackson,
35	32		Johnson, Joseph, Keltie, Lieder, Lindsay, Lindstedt, Lukens, Mabrey, Marshall, Martinez,
36	33		Mauro, McCluskie, McCormick, Paschal, Phillips, Pugliese, Richardson, Ricks, Rutinel,
37	34		Rydin, Sirota, Stewart K., Stewart R., Story, Suckla, Taggart, Titone, Valdez, Velasco,
38	35		Weinberg, Willford, Winter T., Woodrow, Woog, Zokaie
39	36		SENATE SPONSORSHIP
40		-	Michaelson Jenet and Pelton B., Amabile, Baisley, Ball, Bridges, Bright, Carson, Catlin,
41		-	Coleman, Cutter, Daugherty, Exum, Frizell, Gonzales J., Hinrichsen, Jaquez Lewis, Jodeh,
42		-	Kipp, Kirkmeyer, Kolker, Liston, Lundeen, Marchman, Mullica, Pelton R., Rich, Roberts,
43		-	Rodriguez, Simpson, Snyder, Weissman, Winter F.
	37	+	Michaelson Jenet and Pelton B.,
44	38		Shading denotes HOUSE amendment. Double underlining denotes SENATE amendment.
45	39		Capital letters or bold & italic numbers indicate new material to be added to existing law.
46	40		Dashes through the words or numbers indicate deletions from existing law. nation and our state, with over 80,000 overdose deaths occurring1
47	41		nationally in 2023; and2
48	42		WHEREAS, Behavioral health conditions may lead to3
49	43		homelessness, criminal charges, and arrests and have a serious impact on4
50	44		our communities; and5
51	45		WHEREAS, The many issues created by mental illness, substance6
52	46		use, and addiction are community problems, but the burden of their7
53	47		solution must not be shouldered solely by law enforcement, fire services,8
54	48		and emergency medical services staff; and9
55	49		WHEREAS, Many communities have turned to the evidence-based10
56	50		and proven-effective programs called Co-Responder programs; and11
57	51		WHEREAS, The Co-Responder model pairs law enforcement, fire12
58	52		services, and emergency medical services with behavioral health crisis13
59	53		professionals to intervene and respond to behavioral health-related14
60	54		emergencies; and15
61	55		WHEREAS, These units utilize the combined expertise of law16
62	56		enforcement and first responders with behavioral health crisis17
63	57		professionals to de-escalate situations and help link individuals18
64	58		experiencing behavioral health issues to appropriate resources in their19
65	59		communities, including counseling; access to medication;20
66	60		medical-assisted treatment for alcohol and drug dependency; and access21
67	61		to housing, food, basic necessities, and other similar resources; and22
68	62		WHEREAS, Co-Responder programs have expanded across many23
69	63		communities within Colorado, offering both statewide and local support.24
70	64		Co-Responder Units in Colorado have embraced the philosophy of25
71	65		meeting those in need where they are to offer emergency access to26
72	66		treatment, connection to community resources, and ongoing care; and27
73	67		WHEREAS, Colorado Co-Responder Units have responded to28
74	68		thousands of emergency and non-emergency calls for service, provided29
75	69		crisis intervention, conducted important follow-up conversations,30
76	70		developed safety plans, and assisted people in getting connected with the31
77	71		resources they need for healthier living; and32
78	72		WHEREAS, These first responders and behavioral health crisis33
79	73		professionals have shown exceptional commitment, dedication,34
80	74		1008
81	75		-2- leadership, and passion to help those in need, reinforcing how vital their1
82	76		work is to the communities of Colorado; now, therefore,2
83	77		Be It Resolved by the House of Representatives of the Seventy-fifth3
84	78		General Assembly of the State of Colorado, the Senate concurring herein:4
85	79		(1) That we, the members of the Colorado General Assembly,5
86	80		along with the Colorado Co-Responder Alliance (COCRA) and the6
87	81		International Co-Responder Alliance (ICRA), hereby dedicate the week7
88	82		of September 14 through September 20, 2025, as Co-Responder Units and8
89	83		Behavioral Health Crisis Professionals Week in Colorado;9
90	84		(2) That we express our appreciation and gratitude for the10
91	85		co-responder units and behavioral health crisis professionals working11
92	86		across Colorado who routinely respond to crisis situations, sometimes12
93	87		putting themselves in harm's way, to ensure the best possible outcomes13
94	88		for their communities; and14
95	89		(3) That we call upon Coloradans to recognize, honor, and give15
96	90		thanks to these amazing professionals for their daily service and great16
97	91		work they do to assist those in need.17
98	92		Be It Further Resolved, That two copies of this Joint Resolution18
99	93		be sent to Sergeant Robert L. Cook of the Larimer County Sheriff's Office19
100	94		on behalf of both the Colorado Co-Responder Alliance and the20
101	95		International Co-Responder Alliance.21
102	96		1008
103	97		-3-