The Colorado House of Representatives on third reading adopted House Bill 11-29, which concerns a peer-to-peer behavioral health services program for offenders nearing release from a correctional facility, by a vote of 50 yes, 13 no and 2 excused.

Representative Lisa Caldwell, who said she had voted against the measure in committee, explained on the floor that she changed her vote after bill sponsors provided a revised fiscal note. Caldwell said the original fiscal note suggested a pathway for program expansion and future costs, and the sponsors clarified the change so that there was no fiscal note for the current year and future years would be accommodated within the corrections department’s budget. “I was a no in committee. I will be a yes today,” Caldwell said on the floor.

Madam Majority Leader moved the bill on third reading and final passage, and the clerk opened the roll for a recorded vote. Representative Morrow recorded a yes vote; Representative Luck recorded a no vote. With the announced tally of 50 yes, 13 no and 2 excused, the bill was adopted.

House Bill 11-29 was introduced in the House by Representatives Ryden and Garcia and is also sponsored in the Senate by Senator Amabile.

Votes on the bill were taken by the electronic voting machine and the result was announced on the floor. The House did not record further floor amendments in the transcript.

The bill now proceeds according to standard legislative processing for enacted House measures.