(1) (a) There is created the office of bridges of Colorado as an independent agency in the judicial department. The office has the powers and duties described in this article 95. The purpose of the office is to identify and dedicate behavioral health professionals to provide services through the bridges court liaison program and the bridges wraparound care program in each state judicial district. (b) The office shall provide services, as described in sections 13-95-104, 13-95-105, and article 8.6 of title 16, to individuals accused of crimes or delinquent acts. The office shall provide services to participants independently of any political considerations or private interests. (c) (I) The head of the office is the director. Except for the initial director of the office described in subsection (1)(c)(II) of this section, the commission shall appoint the director. The director shall employ or contract with persons necessary to discharge the functions of the office in accordance with this article 95. (II) (A) Notwithstanding the appointment authority described in subsection (1)(c)(I) of this section, the individual who, on April 27, 2023, is serving as director of the statewide behavioral health court liaison program, as it existed prior to its repeal in 2023, is the director of the office for a term expiring June 30, 2026. After the initial term of appointment, the commission may appoint the individual as director pursuant to subsection (1)(c)(I) of this section. The commission may remove the director serving pursuant to this subsection (1)(c)(II)(A) for cause. (B) This subsection (1)(c)(II) is repealed, effective December 31, 2026. (2) (a) The office and commission shall not disclose information provided by an individual participating in the bridges court liaison program or bridges wraparound care program even if the information is relied upon when compiling information for a court report or other report requested or required by the court, unless: (I) The disclosure is made in connection with and included in a report filed with the court or as required pursuant to court-ordered action by a bridges court liaison or a bridges wraparound care coordinator; (II) The defense counsel and the individual participating in the bridges court liaison program or bridges wraparound care program agree to the disclosure; or (III) The disclosure is required in order to comply with mandatory reporting requirements pursuant to sections 18-6.5-108 and 19-3-304. (b) A bridges court liaison and a bridges wraparound care coordinator shall only disclose information reported to the court by the bridges court liaison or bridges wraparound care coordinator pursuant to a court order, but the information must be restricted if the information is otherwise limited by court rules. (c) A report requested or required by the court may be suppressed or sealed based on the contents of the report. (d) This subsection (2) does not: (I) Prevent the office from disclosing that a bridges court liaison or bridges wraparound care coordinator was appointed to a case or has access to the contents of an order that directs the office to take action, as long as the court order is not otherwise restricted from disclosure; or (II) Limit the rights of a valid subpoena, an individual participating in the bridges court liaison program or bridges wraparound care program, the defense attorney, a person who requests the program participant's medical records upon submitting an authorization that complies with the federal "Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996", 42 U.S.C. sec. 1320d, as amended, or a court order authorizing the inspection of the program participant's medical records or mental health data pursuant to section 24-72-204 (3)(a)(I). (3) (a) As an included agency for the purposes of article 100 of this title 13, the office receives administrative and fiscal support services from the office of administrative services for independent agencies. (b) Repealed. (4) (a) The office and judicial department shall enter into a memorandum of understanding to provide the office, including the office's employees or contractors, electronic read-only access to the name index and register of actions for those case types necessary to carry out the office's statutory purpose and the duties of the office's court appointment. The memorandum of understanding must also delineate a filing process for the office, including the office's employees and contractors, to submit reports to the court. (b) The judicial department shall provide transition services to establish the office until the department and the office determine that the transition is complete. (5) The office shall pay the expenses of the bridges of Colorado commission, established in section 13-95-104.
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