Pelton’s behavioral health bill aims to consolidate programs

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On April 14, the General Assembly sent to the governor a bill that could establish a new state agency. House Bill 1097 contains recommendations from a behavioral health task force, including setting up the behavioral health administration, initially to be housed within the Colorado Department of Human Services.

Once the behavioral health administration is up and running, CDHS has until Nov. 1, 2024, to decide if it stays in CDHS or becomes a stand-alone agency. HB 1097 won unanimous support from the state Senate and a 52-8 vote in the House.

The bill’s sponsors are Rep. Rod Pelton, R-Cheyenne Wells, and Rep. Mary Young, D-Greeley.

Before you start asking why Pelton, who is no fan of big government, would sponsor a bill expanding state government, this reporter sat down to ask him that very question.

The bill is the first step to consolidating dozens of programs (and funding) scattered across multiple state agencies, Pelton said. That is not only inefficient, but it also leads to duplication of efforts, he explained.

The programs include those combatting substance abuse, providing behavioral health services and dealing with suicide prevention, among others.

“We have so many duplicative programs and no way of knowing” just where the duplication lies. There are 75 different programs in 14 different agencies right now, Pelton said. “This adds efficiency to bring it all into one place and adds transparency, because all the money will flow through that agency” instead of a myriad of agencies. Duplicate programs can be streamlined, and in the end, it will cut back on administrative costs.

At first glance it may look like growth, Pelton said. But when you create those efficiencies and accountability in one agency, that will put more money into the programs that help people.

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