BALLOT MEASURE SUMMARY
This measure creates a 6.5% excise tax on the retail sales of firearm, firearm precursor parts or ammunition by firearms dealers, firearm manufacturers and ammunition vendors. The tax would fund mental health services, including for military veterans and at-risk youth; school safety and gun violence prevention; and support services for victims of domestic violence and other violent crimes.
Each fiscal year, collections will be distributed as follows:
· The first $30 million will be deposited in the Colorado crime victim services fund in the Division of Criminal Justice, Department of Public Safety. This will be used for grants to enhance or provide services for crime victims and to support crime prevention.
· The next $8 million goes to the behavioral and mental health cash fund, of which $5 million must be used by the Behavioral Health Administration (BHA) in coordination with the Division of Veterans Mental Health services program. The other $3 million must be used by the BHA for behavioral health crisis response services for children and youth
· The next $1 million will fund school security disbursement programs.
The legislature referred this to the ballot via HB 24-1349. As a change to state statute, it requires 50% approval to pass.
BACKGROUND
In Colorado, federal funding to support victims has decreased by 50% since 2018. Currently there is no state funding for victim services and federal funding will continue to decrease in the future. Additionally, the Office of Veteran Affairs is decreasing mental health services to veterans.