HB 22-1243

House Bill 22-1243, also known as the School Security and School Behavioral Health Services Funding bill, allocates $6 million from the general fund to improve school security measures in Colorado's public schools, charter schools, and boards of cooperative services. Additionally, it continues funding for youth mental health services until June 30, 2024, and provides $2 million for a behavioral health care professional matching grant program aimed at enhancing mental health support in schools. The bill has been signed into law, meaning these funds will now be available to help improve both physical security and mental health resources in Colorado's educational institutions.

Official Summary

The act creates the school security disbursement program cash fund (cash fund). The department of public safety (department) may disburse money from the cash fund to school districts, charter schools, and boards of cooperative services to improve security within public schools. The act appropriates $6 million from the general fund to the cash fund. The act continues the temporary youth mental health services program and the bi-annual reporting requirements until June 30, 2024, and appropriates $6 million from the behavioral and mental health cash fund to the department of human services for the program. The act appropriates $2 million from the behavioral and mental health cash fund to the department of education for the behavioral health care professional matching grant program. Provisions of the act creating the school security disbursement program cash fund are contingent upon House Bill 22-1120, which recreates the school security disbursement program, becoming law. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

Votes