SB 25-238
Fiscal Note
Legislative Council Staff
Nonpartisan Services for Colorado’s Legislature
SB 25-238: REPEAL SCHOOL MENTAL HEALTH SCREENING ACT
Prime Sponsors:
Sen. Amabile; Kirkmeyer
Rep. Sirota; Taggart
Published for: Senate Appropriations
Drafting number: LLS 25-0989
Fiscal Analyst:
Kristine McLaughlin, 303-866-4776
kristine.mclaughlin@coleg.gov
Version: Initial Fiscal Note
Date: March 31, 2025
Fiscal note status: This fiscal note reflects the introduced bill, which was recommended by the Joint
Budget Committee as part of the FY 2025-26 Long Bill budget package.
Summary Information
Overview. The bill repeals the School Mental Health Screening Act.
Types of impacts. The bill is projected to affect the following areas on an ongoing basis:
State Expenditures
Appropriations. For FY 2025-26, the bill requires and includes a reduction in appropriations of
$2.9 million from the Behavioral Health Administration.
Table 1
State Fiscal Impacts
Type of Impact
1
Budget Year
FY 2025-26
Out Year
FY 2026-27
State Revenue $0 $0
State Expenditures (General Fund) -$2,856,824 -$2,834,813
Transferred Funds $0 $0
Change in TABOR Refunds $0 $0
Change in State FTE -3.0 FTE -3.0 FTE Page 2
March 31, 2025 SB 25-238
Summary of Legislation
House Bill 23-1003 created a mental health screening program available to public schools
serving grades 6 through 12, administered by the Behavioral Health Administration (BHA), to
screen students into programs like the “I Matter” program. I Matter is also administered by the
BHA and provides up to six free therapy sessions per year for youth in Colorado.
The bill repeals the screening program on the bill’s effective date.
Background
The fiscal note for HB 23-1003 estimated that the bill would result in an increase in expenditures
of about $2.9 million to conduct the screening and to refer them to the I Matter program.
Senate Bill 24-001, continued the I Matter program and the fiscal note for SB 24-001 estimated
that extending the program would costs $11.1 million ($6.0 million in continuation funding and
$5.1 million to provide an additional 13,738 students that might be screened into the program).
Instead, the General Assembly appropriated $5.0 million to the I Matter program for FY 2024-25,
and the Joint Budget Committee, in its Long Bill figure setting for FY 2025-26, has continued
funding for iMatter at this lower level.
State Expenditures
By repealing the school-based screening, the bill reduces state expenditures by $2.9 million
annually as shown in Table 2. Eliminating the screening program may also decrease costs and
participation in the I Matter program.
Table 2
State Expenditures
Fund Source
Budget Year
FY 2025-26
Out Year
FY 2026-27
Personal Services -$234,917 -$234,917
Operating Expenses -$4,050 -$4,050
Capital Outlay Costs -$22,011 $0
Qualified Provider Contract -$2,011,706 -$2,011,706
Data Vendor Contract -$525,000 -$525,000
All Employee Insurance -$38,342 -$38,342
Supplemental PERA -$20,798 -$20,798
Total Cost -$2,856,824 -$2,834,813
Total FTE -3.0 FTE -3.0 FTE Page 3
March 31, 2025 SB 25-238
School Screenings
Starting in FY 2025-26, the bill reduces expenditures in the BHA administration by $2.9 million
ad 3.0 FTE to no longer provide school based screening. This cost savings is based on current
appropriations for the program.
Reduction in Referrals to the I Matter Program
Removing the school-based screening program is also expected to reduce the number of
referrals to the I Matter program. This may lower costs for the I Matter program, or alternately,
reduce the risk of program waitlist or allow youths participating in the program to have
additional therapy sessions within the program’s current appropriation.
Based on prior decisions by the General Assembly to not appropriate additional money for the
I Matter program based on the creation of the school-based screening program, it is assumed
that no change to appropriations to the BHA for the I Matter program is required when
repealing the screening program, and that the I Matter program will use available
appropriations set by the General Assembly to maximize participation and the number of
sessions for youths.
Effective Date
The bill takes effect upon signature of the Governor, or upon becoming law without his
signature.
State Appropriations
For FY 2025-26, the bill requires and includes a reduction in General Fund appropriations of
$2,856,824 from the Behavioral Health Administration, and 3.0 FTE
State and Local Government Contacts
Behavioral Health Administration
The revenue and expenditure impacts in this fiscal note represent changes from current law under the bill for each
fiscal year. For additional information about fiscal notes, please visit the General Assembly website.