Senate panel advances bill to ease juvenile detention bed limits, fund diversion and study placements

The Senate Health and Human Services Committee on Thursday moved House Bill 25 11 46 to the Committee on Appropriations with a favorable recommendation after sponsors and witnesses described a package intended to both preserve detention capacity for high‑risk youth and expand community alternatives.

Senator Mobley, one of the bill sponsors, told the committee the measure combines a detention bed cap change with diversion and deflection strategies to reduce unnecessary incarceration of young people while ensuring placements exist for those who are a safety risk. “I want us desperately want us to move away from incarcerating young people and towards helping young people to thrive,” she said.

The bill would change how emergency or “detention” beds are used and create guardrails to make it easier for law enforcement and district attorneys to place youth when necessary, supporters said. The bill also funds a third‑party study to evaluate why community placements will not accept some youth — for example, whether payment rates or placement rules are barriers — and directs the state to seek solutions. Senate testimony described a pilot to equip direct‑care staff in two youth facilities with body‑worn cameras that include audio and funding for additional medical and behavioral‑health staff at facilities.

Perry May, deputy executive director at the Colorado Department of Human Services, said the department supports the bill and described five “critical things” the measure does, including funding the study and the body‑worn camera pilot. “It also provides direct care staff, medical staff and behavioral health staff to ensure that the youth that we're working with can move out of detention as quickly as possible,” May said.

The Colorado District Attorneys Council, represented by staff attorney Miss Dotter, told the committee the existing statutory bed cap enacted in 2021 had strained the system as juvenile filings and violent juvenile crime increased. Dotter characterized the bill as a bipartisan, multi‑pronged approach that combines prevention and intervention while giving prosecutors and judges needed placements for violent or high‑risk youth.

Witnesses from victim‑service organizations and youth advocates supported the bill’s prevention and notification provisions. Courtney Sutton, public policy director for the Colorado Organization for Victim Assistance, said victims need adequate notice and plans when a youth is released. Katie Hecker, youth justice attorney at the Office of the Child's Representative, urged accompanying investments in community placements alongside any change to bed limits.

Senators on both sides praised the stakeholder negotiations that produced the combined bill. Senator Kirk Meyer noted that an added roughly $2,000,000 to help place youth outside detention was a key improvement obtained through negotiation.

After discussion closed, a motion was made to move the bill to appropriations with a favorable recommendation. The committee recorded the motion and advanced the bill.

The bill now goes to the Appropriations Committee for fiscal review and further action; sponsors and witnesses said they expect to continue work on placements and diversion as the bill advances.