CO Code § 27-60-106 (2021)
2021 Colorado Code|Title 27 - Behavioral Health|Article 60 - General Provisions|Part 1 - General Provisions|§ 27-60-106. Jail-Based Behavioral Health Services Program - Purpose - Created - Funding

  There is created in the office the jail-based behavioral health services program, referred to in this section as the “program”. The program may receive money from the correctional treatment cash fund pursuant to section 18-19-103 (5)(c)(V).    The purpose of the program is to:   Provide adequate staff to complete behavioral health screenings; prescribe psychiatric medications as necessary; and provide mental health counseling, substance use disorder treatment pursuant to section 18-19-103 (5)(c)(V), and transitional care coordination;    Train jail staff on behavioral health disorders and best practices in working with individuals with mental health, substance use, and co-occurring disorders; and    Fund administrative costs to jails that implement the requirements outlined in subsection (3) of this section.       The office shall prioritize jails with minimal behavioral health services, including but not limited to rural and frontier jails.    Subject to available appropriations, the office may require a county jail that receives funding through the program to:   Screen all individuals booked into the jail facility with standardized evidence-based screening tools, as determined by the office, for mental health disorders, substance use disorders, and suicide risk;    Assess all individuals booked into the jail facility for substance use withdrawal symptoms and develop protocols for medical detoxification monitoring procedures;    Assess all individuals booked into the jail facility for psychiatric medication needs by requesting and reviewing medical and prescription history;    Have access to all psychiatric medications, as defined by the medication formulary established pursuant to section 27-70-103;    Assist in the provision of coordinated services for individuals in jail custody who may require competency restoration services;    Coordinate services with community behavioral health providers prior to the release of an inmate to ensure continuity of care following his or her release from the jail facility;    Track performance outcomes for measures developed by the office, including behavioral health disorder prevalence and service data through information-sharing processes, as defined by the office; and    Partner with the office to develop feasible health information exchange strategies for medical and behavioral health records.         The office shall require a county jail that receives funding through the program to have a policy in place on or before January 1, 2020, that describes how medication-assisted treatment, as it is defined in section 23-21-803, will be provided, when necessary, to individuals confined in the county jail.    A sheriff who is the custodian of a county jail or city and county jail may enter into agreements with community agencies, behavioral health organizations, and substance use disorder treatment organizations to assist in the development and administration of medication-assisted treatment in the jail.       Subject to available appropriations, nothing in this section prohibits program funds from being used to meet the requirements outlined in sections 17-26-303 and 17-26-304 for local jails, as defined in section 17-26-302 (2), by providing additional staffing, training, robust behavioral health services and supports, or facility changes. Any facility changes must be approved by the office of behavioral health before funds may be expended.      History. Source: L. 2018: Entire section added, (SB 18-250), ch. 403, p. 2377, § 3, effective June 6. L. 2019: (5) added, (SB 19-008), ch. 275, p. 2599, § 7, effective August 2. L. 2021: (6) added, (HB 21-1211), ch. 322, p. 1982, § 3, effective June 24.