Bill > HB1146

This bill addresses juvenile detention and creates several new programs and mechanisms to manage youth justice involvement. The bill modifies existing laws to create a more flexible system for allocating juvenile detention beds across Colorado's judicial districts, allowing for bed reallocation and collaborative use between districts. It establishes a new Deflection and Community Investment Grant Program, which will provide three-year grants to nonprofit organizations and tribal entities to implement youth deflection services that aim to prevent justice system involvement. The bill increases the number of emergency detention beds from 22 to 39 and creates specific guidelines for their use. Additionally, the bill requires the Division of Youth Services to establish a body-worn camera pilot program in one detention and one commitment facility and to publish a report on available placements for juveniles awaiting mitigating services. The legislation also modifies procedures for juveniles determined to be incompetent to proceed, generally emphasizing alternatives to detention and a focus on supportive services. The bill is accompanied by significant appropriations, totaling approximately $10 million, to support these new initiatives and programs in the 2025-26 fiscal year, with funding allocated across the Department of Human Services and the Division of Criminal Justice.

Budget and Finance, Health and Social Services

https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/hb25-1146