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2018 Session

Budget Amendments - HB30 (Member Request)

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Chief Patron: Watts
Alternative Transportation for Individuals under a TDO

Item 311 #2h

Item 311 #2h

First Year - FY2019 Second Year - FY2020
Health and Human Resources
Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services FY2019 $10,208,134 FY2020 $10,208,134 GF

Language
Page 288, line 27, strike "$10,460,077" and insert "$20,668,211".
Page 288, line 27, strike "$12,010,077" and insert "$22,218,211".

Page 288, after line 53, insert:

"E. Out of this appropriation, $10,208,134 the first year and $10,208,134 the second year from the general fund is provided for the implementation of a regionally based alternative transportation system for adults and children under a temporary detention order."  



Explanation

(This amendment provides $10.2 million from the general fund each year for the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services (DBHDS) to implement an alternative transportation system for adults and children under a temporary detention order. State laws require a magistrate issuing an emergency custody order (ECO) or temporary detention order (TDO) to specify a law enforcement agency that will provide transportation of a person to the location for evaluation or temporary detention. These laws also allow the magistrate to consider transportation other than by law enforcement if identified by the community services board (CSB) evaluator. The alternative transportation could be provided by a family member or friend of the individual, a representative of the CSB, or an alternative provider trained to safely provide transportation.

The DBHDS implemented a pilot program in 2015 in Southwest Virginia that provided transportation by an alternative provider for individuals under a temporary detention order. The pilot program concluded that individuals transported by the alternative provider safely arrived at their destination without incident. This amendment would implement a regionally based transportation service within each of the five primary DBHDS regions with state oversight and certification of providers. This is a recommendation of the Joint Subcommittee to Study Mental Health Services in the Commonwealth in the 21st Century.)