Colorado Code § 27-50-501

Behavioral health entities - license required - criminal and civil penalties
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(1) (a) On and after January 1, 2024, it is unlawful for any person, partnership,
association, or corporation to conduct or maintain a behavioral health entity, including a
substance use disorder program or alcohol use disorder program, without having obtained a
license from the BHA.
(b) On and after January 1, 2024, an entity seeking initial licensure as a behavioral
health entity shall apply for a behavioral health entity license from the BHA if the entity would
previously have been licensed or subject to any of the following:
(I) Behavioral health entity licensure by the department of public health and
environment;
(II) Approval or designation by the office of behavioral health, as it existed before July
1, 2022, or the BHA pursuant to this article 50 or article 66 of this title 27; or
(III) Approval by the office of behavioral health, as it existed before July 1, 2022, or the
BHA pursuant to section 27-81-106 as an approved treatment program for substance use
disorders.
(c) A facility with a license or approval on or before December 31, 2023, as a behavioral
health entity or a substance use disorder program shall apply for a behavioral health entity
license prior to the expiration of the facility's current license or approval. Such a facility is
subject to the standards under which it is licensed or approved as of January 1, 2024, until such
time as the BHA's behavioral health entity license is issued or denied.
(2) Any person who violates the provisions of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor
and, upon conviction thereof, shall be punished by a fine of not less than fifty dollars but not
more than five hundred dollars and may be subject to a civil penalty assessed by the BHA of not
less than fifty dollars but not more than one hundred dollars for each day the person is in
violation of this section. The assessed penalty accrues from the date the BHA finds that the
person is in violation of this section. The BHA shall assess, enforce, and collect the penalty in
accordance with article 4 of title 24 and credit the money to the general fund. Enforcement and
collection of the penalty occurs following the decision reached in accordance with procedures set
forth in section 24-4-105.
(3) (a) Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, the BHA shall not issue or
renew any license described in this part 5 unless the BHA receives a certificate of compliance
for the applicant's building or structure from the division of fire prevention and control in the
department of public safety in accordance with part 12 of article 33.5 of title 24.
(b) The BHA shall take action on an application for licensure within thirty days after the
date that the BHA receives from the applicant all of the necessary information and
documentation required for licensure, including a certificate of compliance from the division of
fire prevention and control.

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