(1) There is hereby created in the division of veterans affairs the veterans resource information clearinghouse to provide information concerning support, services, and other assistance available to veterans of the United States armed forces and their families from state and local government agencies and programs, congressionally chartered veterans organizations, and nonprofit service organizations. To the extent practicable, the division shall make information available through the veterans resource information clearinghouse in a variety of formats to help ensure a high degree of public accessibility.
(2) The division shall identify the agencies, programs, services, and organizations to be included in the veterans resource information clearinghouse. The department of military and veterans affairs shall adopt policies to establish criteria that the division shall apply to ensure that the nonprofit service organizations included in the clearinghouse are legitimate, legally operated organizations.
(3) The division shall operate the veterans resource information clearinghouse subject to available state and federal resources that are appropriated or otherwise available to the division. In addition, the division may solicit, accept, and expend public or private gifts, grants, and donations for the operation of the veterans resource information clearinghouse, including but not limited to donations of volunteer services and in-kind donations.
Source: L. 2009: Entire section added, (HB 09-1291), ch. 385, p. 2088, � 2, effective August 5.
Cross references: For the legislative declaration contained in the 2009 act adding this section, see section 1 of chapter 385, Session Laws of Colorado 2009.
28-5-712. Veterans assistance grant program - created - rules - fund - repeal. (1) There is hereby created in the division of veterans affairs the veterans assistance grant program, referred to in this section as the program, to provide moneys to nonprofit organizations and governmental agencies that provide services to ensure the health and well-being of veterans of the United States armed forces who live in Colorado, including but not limited to:
(a) Mental health services;
(b) Family counseling services;
(c) Job training;
(d) Employment; and
(e) Housing for homeless veterans.
(2) The adjutant general, in consultation with the board of veterans affairs created in section 28-5-702, shall adopt rules for the administration of the program, including, but not limited to:
(a) Criteria for determining which nonprofit organizations and governmental agencies are eligible to receive money from the program;
(b) Procedures by which eligible nonprofit organizations and governmental agencies may apply for and receive money from the program; and
(c) Criteria and procedures for identifying, consistent with federal department of veterans affairs' guidelines and state needs, underserved veteran populations, including women veterans, with the intent to prioritize allocating program money to improve access to services for underserved veterans.
(3) (a) There is hereby created the veterans assistance grant program cash fund, referred to in this section as the fund, which shall consist of:
(I) Moneys received by the division as gifts, grants, or donations pursuant to paragraph (d) of this subsection (3); and
(II) Such moneys as are appropriated to the fund by the general assembly.
(b) The money in the fund is subject to annual appropriation to the division by the general assembly for the direct and indirect costs associated with implementing the program. The state treasurer may invest any money in the fund not expended for the purposes of this section as provided by law. The state treasurer shall credit any interest and income derived from the deposit and investment of money in the fund to the fund. Any unexpended and unencumbered money in the fund at the end of a fiscal year remains in the fund and shall not be credited to any other fund; except that the state treasurer shall transfer all unexpended and unencumbered money in the fund on August 31, 2031, to the general fund.
(c) The division may expend not more than five percent of the moneys annually appropriated to the fund to pay the administrative expenses incurred by the division in administering the program.
(d) The division is authorized to accept gifts, grants, and donations for the purposes described in this section. The division shall transfer each such gift, grant, and donation to the state treasurer, who shall credit the same to the fund.
(e) Notwithstanding subsection (2)(b) of this section, on June 30, 2020, the state treasurer shall transfer one million dollars from the fund to the general fund.
(4) In its annual report before the house and senate committees of reference pursuant to section 2-7-203, the department of military and veterans affairs shall include:
(a) Information describing the grants awarded through the program during the preceding year; and
(b) The criteria used to identify underserved veteran populations and whether and how program money was allocated to meet the needs of underserved veterans.
(5) This section is repealed, effective September 1, 2031. Before its repeal, the department of regulatory agencies shall review the program as described in section 24-34-104.
Source: L. 2014: Entire section added, (HB 14-1205), ch. 265, p. 1063, � 1, effective August 6. L. 2020: (3)(e) added, (HB 20-1381), ch. 171, p. 786, � 6, effective June 29. L. 2024: (2), (3)(b), (4), and (5) amended, (HB 24-1273), ch. 395, p. 2721, � 2, effective August 7.
28-5-713. Western region one source - veterans one-stop center - advisory board - fund - definition - repeal. (1) (a) The division of veterans affairs may operate a veterans one-stop center in Grand Junction, known as the western region one source, for the purpose of providing a central and accessible location where veterans, service members, and their family members in the western portion of the state may have access to assistance and resources. The division shall operate the veterans one-stop center subject to available appropriations from the general assembly. The division may staff the veterans one-stop center with employees of the department of military and veterans affairs, or the division may contract with one or more private vendors for the management of the facility.
(b) Subject to available appropriation to the department of military and veterans affairs for the veterans one-stop center, the department, as a function of the veterans one-stop center, may provide identification cards to eligible military members, retirees, and their family members, which identification cards are issued by the United States department of defense.
(c) As used in this section, veterans one-stop center means a facility, known as the western region one source, where government agencies, nonprofit and advocacy organizations, and other organizations collaborate to offer services for veterans and their families in a convenient central location. Services offered at the veterans one-stop center may include, but are not limited to, assistance for veterans in securing federal benefits, counseling services, employment support, education, life skills, and wellness support.
(2) On or before November 1, 2018, the division of veterans affairs shall establish an advisory board appointed by the adjutant general or his or designee that includes:
(a) A person representing one or more nonprofit organizations in the Grand Junction area;
(b) A county veterans service officer from the western portion of the state;
(c) A veteran from the western portion of the state;
(d) A family member of a veteran from the western portion of the state; and
(e) A representative of an organization that provides services at the veterans one-stop center.
(3) No later than December 31, 2023, the division, in consultation with the advisory board established pursuant to subsection (2) of this section, shall develop procedures for evaluating the effectiveness of the veterans one-stop center. The division shall provide the procedures and the annual results of the procedures to:
(a) The board of veterans affairs; and
(b) The general assembly as part of the annual report of the department of military and veterans affairs before the house and senate committees of reference pursuant to section 2-7-203.
(4) (a) The veterans one-stop center cash fund, referred to in this section as the fund, is created in the state treasury. The fund consists of money generated from the public or private use of the veterans one-stop center, including but not limited to money received by the division as lease payments for the former Grand Junction National Guard armory.
(b) The state treasurer shall invest the money in the fund as described in sections 24-36-109, 24-36-112, and 24-36-113. The state treasurer shall credit all interest and income derived from the deposit and investment of money in the fund to the fund.
(c) Any unexpended and unencumbered money remaining in the fund at the end of a fiscal year remains in the fund and may not be transferred to the general fund or any other fund.
(d) Subject to available appropriation, the department may use the money in the fund or any money in the general fund to pay the costs of operating the veterans one-stop center, which costs may include, but are not limited to, repair and replacement at the veterans one-stop center and salaries involved in the operation, maintenance, repair, and development of the veterans one-stop center.
(e) The division may seek, accept, and expend gifts, grants, and donations of any kind from any public or private source for the purpose of operating the veterans one-stop center; except that the division shall not accept a gift, grant, or donation if any conditions attached thereto are contradictory to law or require expenditures from the general fund that have not been approved by the general assembly.
(f) The state treasurer shall transfer all unexpended and unencumbered money in the fund on September 1, 2030, to the Colorado state veterans trust fund created in section 28-5-709.
(5) This section is repealed, effective September 1, 2030. Before its repeal, the department of regulatory agencies shall review the veterans one-stop center operated by the division pursuant to this section in accordance with section 24-34-104.
Source: L. 2018: Entire section added, (HB 18-1337), ch. 191, p. 1273, � 1, effective April 30. L. 2023: (1)(a), (1)(c), IP(3), (4)(f), and (5) amended, (SB 23-154), ch. 129, p. 494, � 2, effective August 7.
28-5-714. Veterans mental health services program - community behavioral health program grants - rules - definitions. (1) As used in this section, unless the context otherwise requires:
(a) Armed forces means the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Space Force, and Coast Guard of the United States.
(b) Behavioral health administration or BHA means the behavioral health administration in the department of human services established pursuant to section 27-50-102.
(c) Division means the division of veterans affairs in the department of military and veterans affairs.
(d) Eligible veteran means a veteran, as defined in section 28-5-100.3, who lives in a veterans community living center, as defined in section 26-12-102.
(e) Health-care professional means:
(I) A licensed psychiatrist regulated pursuant to article 240 of title 12;
(II) A licensed psychologist or psychologist candidate regulated pursuant to article 245 of title 12;
(III) A licensed social worker, licensed clinical social worker, or clinical social worker candidate regulated pursuant to article 245 of title 12;
(IV) A licensed marriage and family therapist or marriage and family therapist candidate regulated pursuant to article 245 of title 12;
(V) A licensed professional counselor or licensed professional counselor candidate regulated pursuant to article 245 of title 12;
(VI) A licensed addiction counselor, certified addiction specialist, or addiction counselor candidate regulated pursuant to article 245 of title 12;
(VII) An advanced practice registered nurse licensed pursuant to article 255 of title 12;
(VIII) An acupuncturist licensed pursuant to article 200 of title 12;
(IX) A massage therapist licensed pursuant to article 235 of title 12;
(X) A health-care professional who is certified in the practice of using touch or healing touch to affect the human energy systems; or
(XI) A health-care professional who is certified in craniosacral therapies.
(f) Service member means a person who is:
(I) An active-duty member of the armed forces;
(II) A member of the reserve forces of the United States; or
(III) A member of the federally recognized National Guard.
(g) Telehealth has the same meaning as set forth in section 10-16-123.
(h) Veteran means a person who served in the armed forces, the federally recognized National Guard, or the reserve forces of the United States and who was discharged or released from service.
(2) (a) There is established in the division a veterans mental health services program to promote access to mental health services for eligible veterans by reimbursing health-care professionals for sessions with an eligible veteran.
(b) The division shall reimburse a health-care professional who participates in the veterans mental health services program for mental health-care sessions, either in person or through telehealth, with eligible veterans. Each eligible veteran may receive twenty-six reimbursed sessions per year.
(c) Subject to available appropriations, an eligible veteran may receive and the division shall reimburse a health-care professional for:
(I) Additional reimbursed sessions if a health-care professional determines additional sessions are necessary; and
(II) Complementary behavioral health services, including, but not limited to, acupuncture, healing touch therapy, massage therapy, acupressure, and craniosacral therapy for the purpose of supporting an eligible veteran's mental health when provided by a qualified health-care professional.
(d) To be eligible to participate in and receive reimbursement from the veterans mental health services program, a health-care professional must be available to provide at least four mental health-care sessions to each eligible veteran the health-care professional accepts as a client.
(e) The division shall:
(I) Develop a process consistent with the requirements of this section for health-care professionals to apply for and demonstrate eligibility to receive reimbursement from the veterans mental health services program;
(II) Upon reimbursing a health-care professional for a mental health-care session with an eligible veteran, inform the health-care professional of the veteran's remaining number of sessions eligible for reimbursement that year; and
(III) Determine a reasonable rate of reimbursement for each mental health-care session with an eligible veteran pursuant to the veterans mental health services program, which rate must be the same regardless of whether the appointment is in-person or through telehealth.
(f) The adjutant general, in consultation with the board of veterans affairs, shall adopt rules necessary for the implementation of this subsection (2).
(3) For each state fiscal year, the general assembly shall appropriate money to the division for the purposes of the veterans mental health services program. The first six hundred thousand dollars must be used for eligible veterans.
(4) (a) The BHA shall coordinate with the division to continue and expand the veterans mental health services program using the money transferred pursuant to section 39-37-301 (2)(a)(II) to the behavioral and mental health excise tax cash fund created in section 39-37-302.
(b) The BHA shall post on its website a list of health-care professionals who participate in the veterans mental health services program.
(5) (a) In expanding the veterans mental health services program pursuant to subsection (4)(a) of this section, the BHA shall provide grants to local nonprofit organizations to establish and expand community behavioral health programs that provide behavioral health services to service members, veterans, and family members of service members and veterans.
(b) If a local nonprofit organization receives a grant pursuant to this subsection (5) and the organization continues to meet performance metrics developed by the BHA, the BHA may distribute an additional grant to the local nonprofit organization without requiring the organization to reapply for the grant.
(c) To receive a grant, a local nonprofit organization must submit an application to the BHA in accordance with rules adopted by the commissioner of the BHA.
(d) In its application, a local nonprofit organization shall demonstrate that the organization:
(I) Serves the behavioral health needs of service members, veterans, and family members of service members and veterans in the locality served by the local nonprofit organization;
(II) Utilizes evidence-based practices;
(III) Integrates military cultural competency training for the local nonprofit organization's staff; and
(IV) Has established and verifiable community partnerships to deliver behavioral health services along the continuum of care to service members, veterans, and their family members.
(e) The BHA shall prioritize awarding grants to a grant applicant that:
(I) Applies for a grant to support the operating costs for a qualifying project, as determined by the BHA, for which capital investments have already been made;
(II) Provides culturally competent behavioral health services to service members, veterans, and family members of service members and veterans;
(III) Has the ability to submit data that the BHA determines is necessary to measure the impact of the grant program; and
(IV) Demonstrates a history of collaboration with, and providing services for, military and veterans community organizations in Colorado.
(f) The commissioner of the BHA shall adopt rules as necessary to implement this subsection (5), including performance metrics for local nonprofit organizations that receive a grant.
Source: L. 2023: Entire section added, (HB 23-1088), ch. 201, p. 1028, � 1, effective May 16. L. 2024: (2)(d) amended, (HB 24-1349), ch. 423, p. 2901, � 6, effective December 17 (see editor's note). L. 2025: Entire section R&RE, (HB 25-1132), ch. 160, p. 643, � 1, effective August 6; (4)(a) amended, (SB 25-295), ch. 330, p. 1714, � 6, effective August 6 (see editor's note).
Editor's note: (1) Section 19(1) of chapter 423 (HB 24-1349), Session Laws of Colorado 2024, provides that changes to this section take effect only if a majority of voters approve the ballot issue referred in accordance with � 39-37-201 at the November 2024 statewide election, and, if the voters approve the ballot issue, the changes to this section take effect on the date of the official declaration of the vote by the governor. The ballot issue, referred to the voters as Proposition KK (see L.2025, p. 3636), was approved on November 5, 2024, and was proclaimed by the Governor on December 17, 2024. The vote count for the measure was as follows:
FOR: 1,675,123
AGAINST: 1,406,112
(2) Section 8(3) of chapter 330 (SB 25-295), Session Laws of Colorado 2025, provides that amendments to subsection (4)(a) of this section take effect only if HB 25-1132 becomes law and take effect upon the applicable effective date of section 1 of HB 25-1132. HB 25-1132 became law, and section 1 of HB 25-1132 took effect August 6, 2025.