Bill
HB 1264
HB 1264 strengthens school safety by mandating formal threat assessments, mandatory behavioral health referrals, and re-entry plans in districts and charters, using existing resour
Title: Safety Program for Students & Others at Public School
Jurisdiction: Colorado
Purpose
- Establishes a comprehensive framework to promote safer schools and support student mental health and wellness.
- Requires school districts and charter schools to adopt policies and share information related to student safety reporting, threat assessment, behavioral health supports, and student reentry after safety-related incidents.
- Creates a state-wide model message on safe firearm storage, youth access prevention, cybersecurity, and online safety.
Key Provisions
1) Definitions (22-1-151)
- Introduces terms used throughout the bill, including:
- Behavioral Health Referral
- Evidence-Informed Process
- Safe2Tell Report
- Student Wellness Support/ Re-Entry Plan
- Threat Assessment
- Charter School (clarified)
- Safe2Tell Program (existing program for reporting safety concerns)
2) Information on Safe2Tell (Section 2)
- Public schools must annually provide information to students, parents/guardians, and staff about anonymous reporting through Safe2Tell.
- Includes how to submit reports and what happens after a report is made.
- Compliance may be fulfilled via existing school materials (handbooks, websites, staff onboarding, etc.).
3) School Safety Policies (Section 3)
- Each school district and charter school must adopt or update written policies on:
- Receiving and triaging safety reports
- Conducting threat assessments using an evidence-informed process
- Referring students to behavioral health resources as appropriate
- Coordinating with law enforcement when required
- Developing a “Support and Re-Entry Plan” for students returning after safety incidents
- May satisfy requirements by adopting model policies or guidance issued by the School Safety Resource Center or Colorado Department of Education.
4) Student Wellness and Re-Entry (Section 4)
- District/Charter School safety plans must include:
- Behavioral health referral options within existing resources
- Crisis response and family notification practices aligned with privacy laws
- Re-entry and stabilization support for students and staff after traumatic events
- No mandate to hire new staff or create new programs.
5) Safe Firearm Storage & Online Safety Messaging (Section 5)
- The Department of Public Safety, in coordination with the Department of Education and the School Safety Resource Center, must:
- Create a model message covering: safe firearm storage, youth access prevention, cybersecurity, and online safety (including how to seek help for online harassment, cyberbullying, and digital threats)
- Make this model message available at no cost to all public, private, and alternative schools and districts.
6) Certification and Transparency (Section 6)
- By July 1, 2026, and annually thereafter, each district and charter school must certify compliance with:
- Subsections on threat assessment, behavioral health referrals, and safety procedures (format: one page of text or less)
- Public schools must certify compliance with Safe2Tell information sharing (also in one-page format)
- Districts/charters may publicly post certifications on their websites or submit through existing reporting mechanisms.
- The bill does not require new expenditures; implementation should use existing resources.
7) Implementation and Fiscal Notes
- Districts/charters must use existing appropriations and resources; no new funding is mandated.
- Department workload impacts are described as minimal:
- CDPS to develop the model safety message
- CDE to coordinate with CDPS
- Possible minor increases in workload for the Department of Law if more Safe2Tell materials are distributed
- Effective Date: Upon signature by the Governor or if the bill becomes law without signature.
Impact Overview
Overall, HB 1264 aims to strengthen school safety infrastructure, integrate mental health supports into safety planning, and provide standardized state guidance on critical safety topics, while avoiding new mandatory expenditures.
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
Sign in to ask a question.
