Update Behavioral Health License Terminology

Plain English Breakdown

The official text lists August 12, 2026, as the effective date 'if' adjournment sine die is on May 13, 2026. The actual adjournment date determines if this specific date applies.

Update Behavioral Health License Terminology

This law updates a statute to replace the outdated term 'acute treatment unit' with 'behavioral health entity' to match current license types.

What This Bill Does

• Updates section 12-280-120 of the Colorado Revised Statutes.
• Replaces the phrase 'any acute treatment unit licensed by the department of public health and environment' with 'a behavioral health entity licensed by the Behavioral Health Administration'.
• Aligns the statute language with license changes made in 2019.

Who It Names or Affects

• Behavioral health entities licensed by the Behavioral Health Administration.
• Registered prescription drug outlets or other outlets that supply emergency kits to these facilities.

Terms To Know

Acute treatment unit

An outdated license name referenced in current law, which was combined into the behavioral health entity category in 2019.

Behavioral Health Entity

The correct current license type that replaced acute treatment units.

Limits and Unknowns

• This law only changes the words in the statute and does not create new rules for how these entities operate.
• The effective date depends on whether voters file a petition to challenge the bill within ninety days of the legislative session ending.

Official Summary Text

Current law includes an incorrect reference to an 'acute treatment unit', which license type was condensed into the license for behavioral health entities in 2019. The act updates the terminology from 'acute treatment unit' to 'behavioral health entity' to conform with existing license types.
(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

Current Bill Text

HOUSE BILL 26-1220
BY REPRESENT A TIVE(S) Carter and Bradley, Espenoza, Luck, DeGraaf,
Duran, Phillips;
also SENATOR(S) Exum and Rich, Liston, Mullica, Coleman.
CONCERNING UPDATING TERMINOLOGY FROM" ACUTE TREATMENT UNIT" TO
"BEHAVIORAL HEALTH ENTITY" TO CONFORM WITH EXISTING
BEHAVIORAL HEALTH LICENSES.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Colorado:
SECTION 1. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 12-280-120, amend
(5)(a)(IIl)(D) as follows:
12-280-120. Compounding - dispensing - sale of drugs and
devices -rules -definition.
(5) (a) A registered prescription drug outlet or other outlet may:
(III) Supply an emergency kit or starter dose, as defined by the board
by rule, to:
(D) Any acute treatment unit licensed by the department of public
Capital letters or bold & italic numbers indicate new material added to existing law; dashes
through words or numbers indicate deletions from existing law and such material is not part of
the act.
health and environment A BEHAVIORAL HEALTH ENTITY LICENSED BY THE
BEHAVIORAL HEALTH ADMINISTRATION and approved by the board for
receipt of an emergency kit.
SECTION 2. Act subject to petition - effective date. This act
takes effect at 12:01 a.m. on the day following the expiration of the
ninety-day period after final adjournment of the general assembly (August
12, 2026, if adjournment sine die is on May 13, 2026); except that, if a
referendum petition is filed pursuant to section 1 (3) of article V of the state
constitution against this act or an item, section, or part of this act within
such period, then the act, item, section, or part will not take effect unless
approved by the people at the general election to be held in November 2026
PAGE 2-HOUSE BILL 26-1220
and, in such case, will take effect on the date of the official declaration of
the vote thereon by the governor.
J~
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE
OF REPRESENTATIVES
Vanessa Reilly
CHIEF CLERK OF THE HOUSE
OF REPRESENTATIVES
PAGE 3-HOUSE BILL 26-1220
James Rashad Coleman, Sr.
PRESIDENT OF
THE SENATE
¼J~
Esther van Mourik
SECRETARY OF
THE SENATE
STATE OF COLORADO