2023 Colorado Revised Statutes › Title 27 - BEHAVIORAL HEALTH (§§ 27-1-101 — 27-94-107) › ALCOHOL AND SUBSTANCE USE - ALCOHOL AND SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS (§§ 27-80-101 — 27-82-205) › Article 80 - ALCOHOL AND SUBSTANCE USE - ALCOHOL AND SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS (§§ 27-80-101 — 27-80-306) › Part 1 - PROGRAMS AND SERVICES (§§ 27-80-101 — 27-80-129) › Section 27-80-117 - Rural alcohol and substance abuse prevention and treatment program - creation - administration - cash fund - definitions - repeal

(1)
As used in this section, unless the context otherwise requires:
(a)
"Program" means the rural alcohol and substance abuse prevention and treatment program created pursuant to subsection (2) of this section that shall consist of the rural youth alcohol and substance abuse prevention and treatment project and the rural detoxification project.
(b)
"Rural area" means a county with a population of less than thirty thousand people, according to the most recently available population statistics of the United States bureau of the census.
(c)
"Youth" means an individual who is at least eight years of age but who is less than eighteen years of age.
(2)
(a)
(I)
There is created the rural alcohol and substance abuse prevention and treatment program in the BHA to provide:
(A)
Prevention and treatment services to youth in rural areas. The services may include providing alternative activities for youth through the rural youth alcohol and substance abuse prevention and treatment project; and
(B)
Treatment services through the rural detoxification project for persons with substance use disorders.
(II)
The BHA shall administer the program pursuant to rules adopted by the state board of human services as of January 1, 2010, or as amended by the state board.
(b)
The BHA shall incorporate provisions to implement the program into its regular contracting mechanism for the purchase of prevention and treatment services pursuant to section
27-80-106
, including detoxification programs. The BHA shall develop a method to equitably distribute and provide additional money through contracts to provide for prevention services for and treatment of persons in rural areas.
(c)
Notwithstanding any provision of this section to the contrary, the BHA shall implement the program on or after January 1, 2011, subject to the availability of sufficient money to operate an effective program, as determined by the BHA.
(3)
(a)
There is created in the state treasury the rural alcohol and substance abuse cash fund, referred to in this section as the "fund", that consists of the rural youth alcohol and substance abuse prevention and treatment account, referred to in this section as the "youth account", and the rural detoxification account, referred to in this section as the "detoxification account". The fund is comprised of money collected from surcharges assessed pursuant to sections
18-19-103.5
,
42-4-1307(10)(d)(I)
, and
42-4-1701(4)(f)
. The money collected from the surcharges must be divided equally between the youth account and the detoxification account. The fund also includes any money credited to the fund pursuant to subsection (3)(b) of this section. Money in the fund credited pursuant to subsection (3)(b) of this section must be divided equally between the youth account and the detoxification account unless the grantee or donor specifies to which account the grant, gift, or donation is to be credited. The money in the fund is subject to annual appropriation by the general assembly to the BHA for the purpose of implementing the program. All interest derived from the deposit and investment of money in the fund remains in the fund. Any unexpended or unencumbered money remaining in the fund at the end of a fiscal year remains in the fund and shall not be transferred or credited to the general fund or another fund; except that any unexpended and unencumbered money remaining in the fund as of August 30, 2025, is credited to the general fund.
(b)
The BHA is authorized to accept grants, gifts, or donations from any private or public source on behalf of the state for the purpose of the program. The BHA shall transmit all private and public money received through grants, gifts, or donations to the state treasurer, who shall credit the same to the fund.
(3.5)
As of July 1, 2022, the department of public health and environment is the state department responsible for the administration of prevention services pursuant to this section.
(4)
(a)
This section is repealed, effective September 1, 2025.
(b)
Prior to such repeal, the program shall be reviewed as provided in section
24-34-104
, C.R.S.
Amended by 2022 Ch. 222,§155, eff. 7/1/2022.
L. 2010: Entire article added with relocations, (SB 10-175), ch. 188, p. 730, §2, effective April 29; (3)(a) amended, (HB 10-1347), ch. 258, p. 1159, §6, effective July 1. L. 2016: (3)(a) and (4)(a) amended, (HB 16-1168), ch. 93, p. 261, § 1, effective April 14. L. 2017: (2) and (3) amended, (SB 17-242), ch. 263, p. 1359, § 265, effective May 25.
(1) This section is similar to former § 25-1-217 as it existed prior to 2010.
(2) Subsection (3)(a) was numbered as § 25-1-217(3)(a) in House Bill 10-1347 (see L. 2010, p. 1159 ) but was relocated due to its harmonization with this section as it was added by Senate Bill 10-175.
For the legislative declaration in SB 17-242, see section 1 of chapter 263, Session Laws of Colorado 2017.