HB 23-1067

House Bill 23-1067, also known as the Family Intervener Program for Deafblind Children, aims to support children who are deafblind and their families by providing them with specially trained interveners. These professionals help build language and communication skills and work closely with families and communities to ensure that these children receive appropriate services and opportunities. The program is funded through a specific state fund and will be managed by the Colorado Commission for the Deaf, Hard of Hearing, and Deafblind. It received approval from Governor Jared Polis on May 15, 2023, and went into effect on August 7, 2023. This means that families with deafblind children can now access these services to help their children develop essential skills and integrate better into their communities.

Official Summary

The act creates the family and community intervener program (program) to support children who are deafblind and their families. The program provides deafblind children the services of an intervener who is specifically trained in deafblindness, building language and communication skills, and intervention strategies with children who are deafblind and their community, families, and environment. The Colorado commission for the deaf, hard of hearing, and deafblind shall contract with an intervener program manager (manager) who has oversight over the program, the intervener activities, and the outcomes for children who are deafblind. The manager and intervener shall collaborate with other state agencies as appropriate that provide direct or indirect services to children who are deafblind and their families to identify potential additional services or opportunities for children who are deafblind. The program is funded through the Colorado telephone users with disabilities fund. For the 2023-24 state fiscal year, $130,092 is appropriated to the Colorado commission for the deaf, hard of hearing, and deafblind cash fund from the Colorado telephone users with disabilities fund. This amount is reappropriated to the department of human services for use by the office of adults, aging, and disability services for the implementation of this act. APPROVED by Governor May 15, 2023 EFFECTIVE August 7, 2023 NOTE: This act was passed without a safety clause and takes effect 90 days after sine die. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

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