Colorado Brain Injury Trust Fund Board

The Colorado Brain Injury Trust Fund was created by Title 26, Article 1, Part 3 of the Colorado Revised Statutes, to improve the lives of Colorado residents who have survived brain injuries. The statute was created to finance program activities, along with a Board to advise the program on Trust Fund operations.

The Board is administered by MINDSOURCE – Brain Injury Network within the Colorado Department of Human Services (CDHS). Three board members are designated in statute, and ten members are appointed by the Governor with the consent of the Senate. The Board has established three ongoing committees to assist staff in policy-setting of program goals and strategic planning for the Trust Fund: Program Evaluation and Research, Client Services, and Vision and Outreach.

The Trust Fund receives revenue from surcharges assessed for convictions of driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol (DUI), driving while ability is impaired (DWAI), speeding, and riding a motorcycle or motorized bicycle without a helmet (for youth under the age of 18). The surcharges are $25.00 for drinking and driving related convictions, and $22.00 for speeding convictions and $20.00 for helmet convictions.

In 2019, the statute was revised to allow for the expansion of services to individuals with nonTBI (ex: anoxic injuries, stroke, toxic exposure, etc). MINDSOURCE worked with a graduate student to understand the feasibility of this program serving more individuals, specifically those with nonTBI. A PDF copy of the findings can be found here.

Funds are divided across the following program activities: Client Services, Brain Injury Research, and Education. A minimum of 55 percent must be spent on client services. Approximately 25 percent is spent on brain injury research, and 5 percent on educational initiatives. This leaves 15 percent of funds available and flexible so that MINDSOURCE Director and the Trust fund Board can determine program activities that are in need of an increase in funds during the year. The board creates an annual legislative report that is made available to the public upon CDHS approval.