SB 17-021

Senate Bill 17-021, also known as Assistance To Released Mentally Ill Offenders, aims to help people with mental health issues who are being released from prison, youth correctional facilities, or jails. The bill establishes a program that provides financial assistance and support services to these individuals using funds from marijuana taxes and leftover money from previous criminal justice programs. Now that the bill has been signed into law, it means this program is officially established and can start helping eligible former inmates with mental health needs.

Official Summary

Legislative Oversight Committee Concerning the Treatment of Persons with Mental Illness in the Criminal and Juvenile Justice Systems. The bill directs the division of housing in the department of local affairs to establish a program to provide vouchers and supportive services to persons with a behavioral or mental health disorder who are being released from the department of corrections (DOC), the division of youth corrections in the department of human services (DYC), or jails. The program is funded by an appropriation from the marijuana tax cash fund and from money unspent by the division of criminal justice (CDPS) for community corrections programs in the previous fiscal year.(Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.)

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