Bill Sponsor
Colorado Senate Bill 7
Session 2024A
Behavioral Health First Aid Training Program
Became Law
Became Law
Signed by Governor on Jun 5, 2024
Sponsors
Democrat
Rhonda Fields
Democrat
Dafna Michaelson Jenet
Democrat
Brianna Titone
Republican
Ron Weinberg
First Action
Jan 10, 2024
Latest Action
Jun 5, 2024
Origin Chamber
Senate
Type
Bill
Bill Number
7
State
Colorado
Session
2024A
Sponsorship by Party
Democrat
Primary
Democrat
Primary
Republican
Primary
Summary
The act creates the behavioral health first aid training program (training program) in the office of suicide prevention (office) in the department of public health and environment (department). The purpose of the training program is to: Improve overall community climate and promote adult, teen, and youth behavioral health, mental health, and mental well-being; Train educators and school staff; employees of community-based, youth-based, or nonprofit organizations; employees of organizations that serve underserved populations; faith-based community members; law enforcement officers; first responders; and active duty or retired military personnel (candidates) to recognize the warning signs and symptoms of mental illness and substance use among adults, teens, and youth; Train candidates on how to respond to an adult, teen, or youth who is experiencing mental health or substance use challenges; Train candidates on crisis intervention strategies and best practices; Prepare candidates to teach adults and teens how to recognize warning signs and symptoms of mental health or substance use challenges; Prepare candidates to teach teens how to find a responsible and trusted adult for assistance when a peer is struggling with mental health or substance use challenges or crisis; and Prepare candidates to teach adults how to respond to a teen or youth struggling with a mental health or substance use challenge or crisis. The office is required to contract with a Colorado-based nonprofit organization (third-party entity) to offer and administer the training program to organizations that apply to participate and are accepted in the training program that include, but are not limited to, school districts, district charter schools, institute charter schools, boards of cooperative services, the Colorado school for the deaf and the blind, local public health agencies, community-based organizations, nonprofit organizations, organizations that serve underserved communities, law enforcement agencies, first responder organizations, military forces, and faith-based organizations (organizations). The act requires the office to promulgate rules to establish criteria for an application process. The third-party entity shall create an application process based on the rules promulgated by the office. In selecting organizations to participate in the training program, the third-party entity shall prioritize the organization's geographic diversity, existing resources and infrastructure, and plan to implement the training program and associated curriculum. Subject to available appropriations, the training program is available at no cost to the organizations selected to participate. The office shall use pre- and post-course surveys developed by a national mental and behavioral health organization to evaluate the effectiveness of the training program. The third-party entity shall administer the pre- and post-course surveys to collect evaluation data from the organizations that participate in the training program. The third-party entity shall submit a report to the office summarizing the evaluation data collected. The office is required to include a summary of the evaluation data collected and recommendations, if necessary, concerning the training program in the office's annual report submitted to the general assembly each November 1. The training program is scheduled for a sunset review and repeal, effective September 1, 2033. The act appropriates $250,000 to the department for purposes of the training program. APPROVED by Governor June 5, 2024 EFFECTIVE June 5, 2024(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)
Actions (14)
06/05/2024
Office of the Governor
Governor Signed
05/16/2024
Office of the Governor
Sent to the Governor
05/16/2024
House
Signed by the Speaker of the House
05/16/2024
Senate
Signed by the President of the Senate
05/08/2024
House
House Third Reading Passed - No Amendments
05/07/2024
House
House Second Reading Special Order - Passed - No Amendments
05/06/2024
House
House Committee on Appropriations Refer Unamended to House Committee of the Whole
05/02/2024
House
House Committee on Health & Human Services Refer Unamended to Appropriations
05/01/2024
House
Introduced In House - Assigned to Health & Human Services
05/01/2024
Senate
Senate Third Reading Passed - No Amendments
04/30/2024
Senate
Senate Second Reading Special Order - Passed with Amendments - Committee
04/30/2024
Senate
Senate Committee on Appropriations Refer Amended - Consent Calendar to Senate Committee of the Whole
01/25/2024
Senate
Senate Committee on Health & Human Services Refer Amended to Appropriations
01/10/2024
Senate
Introduced In Senate - Assigned to Health & Human Services
Sources
Record Created
Jan 10, 2024 8:13:47 PM
Record Updated
Jul 31, 2024 6:41:32 PM