(1) The head of the administrative division overseeing the Colorado mental health institute at Pueblo shall appoint or employ, pursuant to section 13 of article XII of the state constitution, such administrators, physicians, nurses, attendants, and additional employees as may be necessary for the proper conduct of said institute. The head of the administrative division may contract with the board of regents of the university of Colorado health sciences center or any other governing board of a state-supported institution of higher education for the provision of services by physicians and other health care practitioners when deemed necessary for the proper conduct of the institute. During the performance of any duties by the physicians and other health care practitioners for the department of human services, the physicians and other health care practitioners are "public employees" as defined in section 24-10-103 (4), C.R.S., and the limitation of section 24-30-1517 (2), C.R.S., shall not apply.

(1.5) On and after January 1, 2019, the head of the administrative division overseeing the Colorado mental health institute at Pueblo shall, prior to employment, submit the name of a person who will be providing direct care, as defined in section 26-3.1-101 (3.5), to an at-risk adult, as defined in section 26-3.1-101 (1.5), as well as any other required identifying information, to the department of human services for a check of the Colorado adult protective services data system pursuant to section 26-3.1-111 to determine if the person is substantiated in a case of mistreatment of an at-risk adult.

(2) Publications of the institute circulated in quantity outside the institute shall be subject to the approval and control of the executive director of the department of human services.