summary
Introduced
01/14/2026
01/14/2026
In Committee
02/24/2026
02/24/2026
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
Introduced Session
Potential new amendment
2026 Regular Session
Bill Summary
Legislative Oversight Committee Concerning the Treatment of Persons with Behavioral Health Disorders in the Criminal and Juvenile Justice Systems. Current law requires the department of health care policy and financing to provide medicaid reimbursement to opioid treatment programs for administering medication-assisted treatment (MAT) in a jail setting. Section 1 of the bill expands medicaid reimbursement to include licensed providers who administer MAT in a jail setting. Current law excludes personnel employed by or contracted with a law enforcement agency from the definition of "secure transportation". Section 2 removes this exclusion to allow entities that contract with law enforcement agencies to provide secure transportation. Sections 3 and 4 transfer the licensing authority for secure transportation providers from the counties to the department of public health and environment beginning January 1, 2027. Sections 6 through 10 make changes to the secure transportation requirements and petition filing requirements related to emergency mental health holds and short-term and long-term certifications, including: ! Expanding the transportation provider types that may be contacted for assistance in detaining and transporting a person to a facility for an emergency mental health hold to include a behavioral health crisis response team, a private ambulance service provider, a private emergency medical services provider, and a secure transportation provider; ! Requiring a certified peace officer to advise the person being taken into protective custody that the person is not under arrest and has not committed a crime; ! Requiring the petition for a court-ordered evaluation to include any known history of the respondent's history of assault or possession of weapons and whether the respondent has a prior history of an emergency mental health hold or short-term or long-term certification; and ! Creating a right for a person detained for an emergency mental health hold to not be transported by a certified peace officer if an alternative secure transportation option is available.
AI Summary
This bill expands access to medication-assisted treatment (MAT), a form of treatment for opioid use disorder involving prescribed medications, for individuals in jail settings by allowing licensed providers, not just opioid treatment programs, to receive Medicaid reimbursement for administering it. It also modifies the definition of "secure transportation," which refers to the safe transport of individuals, to include entities that contract with law enforcement agencies, and shifts the licensing authority for secure transportation providers from counties to the state's Department of Public Health and Environment starting in 2027. Furthermore, the bill broadens the types of professionals and services that can be utilized for detaining and transporting individuals during emergency mental health holds, including behavioral health crisis response teams and private ambulance services, while also requiring peace officers to inform individuals they are not under arrest and establishing a right for individuals to not be transported by a peace officer if an alternative secure transportation option is available. Additionally, petitions for court-ordered mental health evaluations will now need to include information about a person's history of assault, weapon possession, and prior mental health holds or certifications, and the bill clarifies procedures for emergency mental health holds, short-term, and long-term certifications to prioritize secure transportation providers over law enforcement when possible.
Committee Categories
Budget and Finance, Health and Social Services
Sponsors (4)
Last Action
House Committee on Health & Human Services Refer Amended to Appropriations (on 02/24/2026)
Official Document
bill text
bill summary
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bill summary
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bill summary
| Document Type | Source Location |
|---|---|
| State Bill Page | https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/HB26-1063 |
| House Health & Human Services Amendment L.003 | https://leg.colorado.gov/bill_amendments/17984/download |
| Fiscal Note FN1 | https://leg.colorado.gov/bill_files/111666/download |
| BillText | https://s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/beta.leg.colorado.gov/e47bf71f52690ef3350fb743d0ce1e0c |
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