Bill > SB295

This bill establishes a new Behavioral and Mental Health Excise Tax Cash Fund and transfers money previously allocated to the Behavioral and Mental Health Cash Fund from the Firearms and Ammunition Excise Tax. Specifically, the bill requires that $8 million annually from the Firearms and Ammunition Excise Tax will now be transferred to the new cash fund. The first $5 million will be used by the Behavioral Health Administration in coordination with the Division of Veterans Affairs to continue and expand veterans mental health services, while the next $3 million will be used to expand behavioral health crisis response system services for children and youth. The bill also makes corresponding changes to various statutes to reflect this fund transfer and updates appropriations accordingly. The new fund is set to be in effect until July 1, 2027, and the state treasurer is required to transfer any money received from the firearms and ammunition excise tax to this new fund by June 30, 2025. These changes aim to provide dedicated funding for critical mental health services for veterans and youth in Colorado.

Budget and Finance

https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/sb25-295