Colorado § 27-65-107 - Emergency transportation - application - screening - respondent's rights.

§ 27-65-107. Emergency transportation - application - screening - respondent's rights.

(1) (a) If a certified peace officer or emergency medical services provider has probable cause to believe a person is experiencing a behavioral health crisis and, without professional intervention, may be a danger to the person's self, a danger to others, or gravely disabled, the certified peace officer or emergency medical services provider may take the person into protective custody and transport the person to an outpatient mental health facility or a facility designated by the commissioner for an emergency mental health hold or other clinically appropriate facility designated by the commissioner. If a facility is not available, the person may be taken to an emergency medical services facility.

(b) A person may not be transported pursuant to this subsection (1) if an intervening professional has assessed the person during the same emergency event and determined the person does not meet the criteria for an emergency mental health hold pursuant to section 27-65-106.

(c) If a behavioral health crisis response team is known to be available in a timely manner, the certified peace officer or emergency medical services provider shall access the behavioral health crisis response team prior to involuntarily transporting a person pursuant to this subsection (1).

(2) When a person is transported against the person's will pursuant to subsection (1) of this section, the facility shall require an application, in writing, stating the circumstances under which the person's condition was called to the attention of the certified peace officer or emergency medical services provider and further stating sufficient facts, obtained from personal observations or obtained from others whom the certified peace officer or emergency medical services provider reasonably believes to be reliable, to establish that the person is experiencing a behavioral health crisis or is gravely disabled and, as a result, it is believed that without professional intervention the person may be a danger to the person's self or a danger to others. The application must indicate the name of the person and the time the person was transported. A copy of the application must be furnished to the person being transported.

(3) (a) Once the person is presented to an outpatient mental health facility or facility designated by the commissioner, an intervening professional shall screen the person immediately. If an intervening professional is not immediately available, the person must be screened within eight hours after the person's arrival at the facility to determine if the person meets criteria for an emergency mental health hold pursuant to section 27-65-106. Once the screening is complete and if the person meets the criteria, the intervening professional shall first pursue voluntary treatment and evaluation. If the person refuses or the intervening professional has reasonable grounds to believe the person will not remain voluntarily, the intervening professional may place the person under an emergency mental health hold pursuant to section 27-65-106.

(b) If a person detained pursuant to this section is transported to an emergency medical services facility, the involuntary transportation hold expires upon the facility receiving the person for screening by an intervening professional.

(4) (a) A person detained pursuant to this section has the following rights while being detained, which must be explained to the person before being transported to a receiving facility:

(I) To not be detained under an emergency transportation hold pursuant to this section for longer than fourteen hours, to not be transported for longer than six hours, and to receive a screening within eight hours after being presented to the receiving facility. This subsection (4)(a)(I) does not prohibit a facility from holding the person as authorized by state and federal law, including the federal "Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act", 42 U.S.C. sec. 1395dd, or if the treating professional determines that the individual's physical or mental health disorder impairs the person's ability to make an informed decision to refuse care and the provider determines that further care is indicated.

(II) To request a phone call to an interested party prior to being transported. If the certified peace officer or emergency medical services provider believes access to a phone poses a physical danger to the person or someone else, the receiving facility shall make the call on the person's behalf immediately upon arrival at the receiving facility.

(III) To wear the person's own clothes and keep and use personal possessions that the person had in the person's possession at the time of detainment. A facility may temporarily restrict a person's access to personal clothing or personal possessions until a safety assessment is completed. If the facility restricts a person's access to personal clothing or personal possessions, the facility shall have a discussion with the person about why the person's personal clothing or personal possessions are being restricted. A licensed medical professional or a licensed behavioral health professional shall conduct a safety assessment as soon as possible. The licensed professional shall document in the person's medical record the specific reasons why it is not safe for the person to possess the person's personal clothing or personal possessions.

(IV) To keep and use the person's cell phone, unless access to the cell phone causes the person to destabilize or creates a danger to the person's self or a danger to others, as determined by a provider, facility staff member, or security personnel involved in the person's care;

(V) To have appropriate access to adequate water and food, and to have the person's nutritional needs met in a manner that is consistent with recognized dietary practices, to the extent reasonably possible at the receiving facility;

(VI) To be treated fairly, with respect and recognition of the person's dignity and individuality; and

(VII) To file a grievance with the BHA, the department of public health and environment, or the office of the ombudsman for behavioral health access to care established pursuant to part 3 of article 80 of this title 27.

(b) A person's rights pursuant to subsection (4)(a) of this section may only be denied if access to the item, program, or service causes the person to destabilize or creates a danger to the person's self or a danger to others, as determined by a licensed provider involved in the person's care or transportation. Denial of any right must be entered into the person's treatment record or BHA-approved form. Information pertaining to a denial of rights contained in the person's treatment record must be made available, upon request, to the person, the person's attorney, or the person's lay person.

Source: L. 2022: Entire article amended with relocations, (HB 22-1256), ch. 451, p. 3183, § 1, effective August 10. L. 2023: (3), IP(4)(a), and (4)(a)(V) amended, (HB 23-1236), ch. 206, p. 1065, § 37, effective May 16. L. 2026: (1), (2), (4)(a)(IV), and (4)(b) amended, (SB 26-149), ch. 142, p. 733, § 6, effective May 21.