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Second Regular Session
Seventy-fifth General Assembly
STATE OF COLORADO
REVISED
This Version Includes All Amendments Adopted
on Second Reading in the Second House
LLS NO. 26-0574.01 Shelby Ross x4510 HOUSE BILL 26-1116
House Committees Senate Committees
Health & Human Services Health & Human Services
A BILL FOR AN ACT
CONCERNING PROCESSES RELATED TO INDIVIDUALS WITH BEHAVIORAL101
HEALTH DISORDERS.102
Bill Summary
(Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced and does
not reflect any amendments that may be subsequently adopted. If this bill
passes third reading in the house of introduction, a bill summary that
applies to the reengrossed version of this bill will be available at
http://leg.colorado.gov.)
The bill aligns the process for invoking an emergency commitment
for an individual under the influence of or incapacitated by substances
with the process for invoking an emergency mental health hold.
For a criminal defendant who has completed a competency
evaluation, the bill authorizes the department of human services to
include in its discharge plan and plan for community-based restoration
SENATE
2nd Reading Unamended
April 13, 2026
HOUSE
3rd Reading Unamended
March 16, 2026
HOUSE
Amended 2nd Reading
March 13, 2026
HOUSE SPONSORSHIP
Rydin and Gonzalez R., Boesenecker, Brown, Clifford, Duran, English, Joseph, Lieder,
Lindsay, Marshall, McCluskie, Nguyen, Sirota
SENATE SPONSORSHIP
Ball,
Shading denotes HOUSE amendment. Double underlining denotes SENATE amendment.
Capital letters or bold & italic numbers indicate new material to be added to existing law.
Dashes through the words or numbers indicate deletions from existing law.
services a component of mental health treatment and ongoing clinical
support. The bill authorizes a court to include, in an order regarding the
custody of the defendant and the defendant's bond status, a requirement
for the defendant to participate in mental health treatment.
After an individual has been discharged from the facility where the
individual was held for an emergency mental health hold, current law
requires the facility to attempt to follow up with the individual at least 48
hours after discharge. The bill extends the time to attempt to follow up
with the individual to 72 hours.
The behavioral health administration (BHA) shall only issue or
renew a license for a behavioral health entity if the BHA receives a
certificate of compliance for the applicant's building or structure from the
division of fire prevention and control. The bill adds the following
exceptions to this requirement:
! An applicant that provides only telehealth services is not
required to receive a certificate of compliance; and
! An applicant that provides only outpatient services may
receive a certificate of compliance from a fire department
that employs a certified inspector rather than from the
division of fire prevention and control.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Colorado:1
2
SECTION 1. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 27-65-106, amend3
(8)(d)(I) as follows:4
27-65-106. Emergency mental health hold - screening -5
court-ordered evaluation - discharge instructions - respondent's6
rights.7
(8) (d) (I) The facility shall, at a minimum, attempt to follow up8
with the person, the person's parent or legal guardian, or the person's lay9
person at least forty-eight WITHIN SEVENTY -TWO hours after discharge,10
EXCLUDING WEEKENDS AND HOLIDAYS . The facility is encouraged to11
utilize peer support professionals, as defined in section 27-60-108 (2)(b),12
when performing follow-up care with individuals and in developing a13
continuing care plan pursuant to subsection (8)(a)(I) of this section. The14
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facility may facilitate follow-up care through contracts with1
community-based behavioral health providers or the 988 crisis hotline2
operated pursuant to section 27-64- 103. If the facility f acilitates3
follow-up care through a third-party contract, the facility shall obtain4
authorization from the person to provide follow-up care.5
SECTION 2. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 27-50-501, amend6
(3) as follows:7
27-50-501. Behavioral health entities - license required -8
criminal and civil penalties.9
(3) (a) Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, the10
BHA shall not ONLY issue or renew any A license described in this part11
5 unless IF the BHA receives a certificate of compliance for the12
applicant's building or structure from the division of fire prevention and13
control in the department of public safety in accordance with part 12 of14
article 33.5 of title 24; EXCEPT THAT:15
(I) AN APPLICANT THAT PROVIDES ONLY TELEHEALTH SERVICES IS16
NOT REQUIRED TO RECEIVE A CERTIFICATE OF COMPLIANCE; AND17
(II) AN APPLICANT THAT PROVIDES ONLY OUTPATIENT SERVICES18
MAY RECEIVE A CERTIFICATE OF COMPLIANCE FROM THE DIVISION OF FIRE19
PREVENTION AND CONTROL BASED ON INSPECTIONS CONDUCTED BY A FIRE20
DEPARTMENT, AS DEFINED IN SECTION 24-33.5-1202, THAT EMPLOYS AN21
INSPECTOR CERTIFIED PURSUANT TO SECTION 24-33.5-1211 RATHER THAN22
FROM THE DIVISION OF FIRE PREVENTION AND CONTROL.23
(b) The BHA shall take action on an application for licensure24
within thirty days after the date that the BHA receives from the applicant25
all of the necessary information and documentation required for licensure.26
including a certificate of compliance from the division of fire prevention27
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and control.1
SECTION 3. Act subject to petition - effective date. This act2
takes effect at 12:01 a.m. on the day following the expiration of the3
ninety-day period after final adjournment of the general assembly (August4
12, 2026, if adjour nment sine die is on May 13, 2026); except that, if a5
referendum petition is filed pursuant to section 1 (3) of article V of the6
state constitution against this act or an item, section, or part of this act7
within such period, then the act, item, section, or part will not take effect8
unless approved by the people at the general election to be held in9
November 2026 and, in such case, will take effect on the date of the10
official declaration of the vote thereon by the governor.11
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