(1) The general assembly finds, determines, and declares that, although the state of Colorado has dedicated financial resources to the diagnosis and treatment of behavioral or mental health disorders for specific populations in this state, many adults, children, and families who do not qualify for or cannot obtain these state- and federallyfunded services have behavioral or mental health care needs that are not being addressed, and lack of behavioral or mental health care services often results in increased taxpayer costs for law enforcement, schools, health facilities, hospitals, social services, corrections, and health insurance.
(2) The general assembly also finds and declares that local residents and local governments are best able to determine whether it is desirable to authorize the creation of mental health care service districts for the purpose of generating tax revenues to be used to address the mental health care needs of adults, children, and families in their communities.
Source: L. 2005: Entire article added, p. 1036, § 4, effective June 2. L. 2017: (1) amended, (SB 17-242), ch. 263, p. 1379, § 302, effective May 25.
Cross references: For the legislative declaration in SB 17-242, see section 1 of chapter 263, Session Laws of Colorado 2017.