JBC staff introduces bill to consolidate Colorado crisis line into 988; committee approves introduction

Emily Pope, JBC staff, described a bill draft the committee approved to introduce that would consolidate various references to the Colorado crisis hotline into the national 988 system. The draft would update statutory cross-references (for example, requiring school IDs to list 988 rather than the Colorado crisis number), and it would remove an existing statutory requirement that the Behavioral Health Administration (BHA) operate a state-specific 20‑telephone crisis line.

Pope said a single provider currently holds contracts for the Colorado crisis line and 988 after a competitive RFP; the bill would unify the statutory references and the administrative configuration. She said the BHA had investigated a recent operational incident with its 988 provider and was treating the incident as a learning opportunity.

The vice chair moved to introduce the bill, asking staff to add an appropriations clause as a technical change. The committee granted technical-change authority and recorded no objections to introduction; the motion to introduce passed unanimously on the record.

Sponsors listed on the record included Senator Amabile as a prime sponsor and Senator Kirk Meyer among cosponsors; House sponsors included Representative Serota and Representative Taggart. Committee members authorized technical drafting changes and an appropriations clause to be added before formal filing.

Action recorded on the transcript: “I move that the committee introduce the bill draft, consolidation of crisis response services. Are there any objections? Permission for technical changes? Any objection? Seeing none, you can do make technical changes … and I will cosponsor.” The motion passed with no objections.