Secretary to Study Feasibility of PPEA Proposals (language only)

Item 298 #2c

Language
Page 274, line 12, before "The", insert "A."
Page 274, after line 32, insert:
"B.  The Secretary of Health and Human Resources, in coordination with the Commissioner of Mental Health, Mental Retardation and Substance Abuse Services, shall examine the feasibility of Public-Private Education Act (PPEA) proposals for the operation and maintenance of mental health facilities.  In examining the feasibility of such proposals, the Secretary shall solicit comments from an established state and community consensus and planning team for any existing facility impacted by such a proposal or proposals.  The feasibility study shall also examine how the proposal or proposals would address the provisions of § 37.2-316, Code of Virginia, which sets out a process for restructuring the system of mental health services involving existing state mental health hospitals including:  
(i) the development of a detailed implementation plan designed to build community mental health infrastructure for current and future capacity needs;
(ii) the resolution of employment issues related to state facility employee transition planning and appropriate transitional benefits, the availability of adequate staff in the affected communities, and specific strategies for transferring qualified state facility employees to community services in the event that a PPEA proposal includes a reduction of current staff;
(iii) a six-year projection comparing the cost of the current structure;
(iv) a plan for community education;
(v) a plan for the implementation of required community services, including state-of-the-art practice models and any models required to meet the unique characteristics of the area to be served, which may include models for rural areas; and
(vi) a plan for assuring the development and implementation of individualized discharge plans for persons leaving the facility.  
The Secretary shall report on the feasibility of the use of PPEA proposals to the Governor and General Assembly by November 1, 2005."

Explanation
(This amendment directs the Secretary of Health and Human Resources to conduct a feasibility study on the use of PPEA proposals for operating and maintaining mental health facilities and to report to the Governor and General Assembly.)