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2016 Session

Budget Amendments - HB30 (Conference Report)

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Model for Mental Health Dockets (language only)

Item 313 #6c

Item 313 #6c

Health and Human Resources
Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services

Language

Page 281, after line 26, insert:

"T. The Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services shall review and evaluate existing mental health dockets used by courts in the Commonwealth to develop a model that can be replicated in other courts and jurisdictions that determine a need for such a docket.  As part of the review, the department shall evaluate mental health dockets in other states and incorporate best practices.  The department shall include consideration for a specialty veterans mental health docket and the feasibility for such a docket to handle a population with unique needs.  The evaluation shall also review funding practices of these dockets by courts or local governments.   The department shall prepare a report on a model program and post it to their website no later than December 1, 2016, and provide notice of the report's availability to  courts and local governments."



Explanation

(This amendment requires the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services to develop a model program for mental health dockets to be used by courts in the Commonwealth to better handle the unique needs of individuals with mental illness. Once the report is developed it shall be posted on the department's website.)