HB 18-1328

HB 18-1328, a Colorado bill that has been signed into law, aims to improve care for children with intellectual and developmental disabilities who need complex behavioral support. The bill directs the Department of Health Care Policy and Financing to work with stakeholders to redesign a program waiver, which would allow these children to receive home-based services instead of institutional care. This change could also shift the administration of the program from one department to another. Once federal approval is granted, the new program will go into effect, providing better support for these children and their families. The bill also includes funding adjustments to implement this redesign.

Official Summary

Joint Budget Committee. The bill directs the department of health care policy and financing (department) to initiate a stakeholder process for purposes of preparing and submitting a redesigned children's habilitation residential program (program) waiver for federal approval that allows for home- and community-based services for children with intellectual and developmental disabilities who have complex behavioral support needs. The department may also request federal authorization to change the agency designated to administer and operate the program from the department of human services to the department. The bill includes language creating the redesigned program, relocates the program in statute, and makes conforming changes in statute to reflect the new location of the program. The new program will become effective once federal approval has been granted for the redesigned children's habilitation residential program waiver. The bill makes and reduces appropriations to the department and the department of human services to implement the bill. (Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.) , Read More

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