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2019 Session

Budget Amendments - HB1700 (Conference Report)

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Jail Mental Health Pilot Programs (language only)

Item 395 #3c

Item 395 #3c

Public Safety and Homeland Security
Department of Criminal Justice Services

Language

Page 431, strike lines 20 through 30.

Page 431, after line 20, insert:

"J.1. Included in the appropriation for this item is $2,500,000 the first year  and $2,500,000 the second year from the general fund to continue the pilot programs authorized in Item 398, Chapter 836, 2017 Acts of Assembly. The number of pilot sites shall not be expanded beyond those participating in the pilot program the first year.

2. The funding provided to each pilot site shall supplement, not supplant, existing local spending on these services. Distribution of grant amounts shall be made quarterly pursuant to the conditions of paragraph J.3. of this item.

3. The Department shall collect on a quarterly basis qualitative and quantitative data of pilot site performance, to include: (i) mental health screenings and assessments provided to inmates, (ii) mental health treatment plans and services provided to inmates, (iii) jail safety incidents involving inmates and jail staff, (iv) the provision of appropriate services after release, (v) the number of inmates re-arrested or re-incarcerated within 90 days after release following a positive identification for mental health disorders in jail or the receipt of mental health treatment within the facility. The Department shall provide a report on its findings to the Chairmen of the House Appropriations and Senate Finance Committees no later than October 15th each year.

4. The Department of Criminal Justice Services, in cooperation with the Executive Secretary of the Compensation Board and the Board of Corrections, shall evaluate the resources needed by local and regional jails to comply with the minimum standards of behavioral health services to be established by the Board of Corrections pursuant to House Bill 1942 of the 2019 Session of the General Assembly. The evaluation shall include consideration of the appropriate share of resources for minimum standards of care to be provided by the Commonwealth and local governments, respectively. The evaluation shall also consider the appropriate mechanism by which any such Commonwealth funds be provided. The Department shall report the findings of its evaluation to the Chairmen of the House Appropriations and Senate Finance Committees by June 30, 2020."



Explanation

(This amendment provides $2.5 million from the general fund in the second year for continuation of the jail mental health pilot program. It also removes proposed language included in the introduced budget that would have expanded the number of pilot sites, and adds specifies reporting requirements related to the provision of services and outcomes at pilot sites. The amendment directs a report be provided to the Chairmen of the House Appropriations and Senate Finance Committees by October 15th of each year. The amendment further requires the Department of Criminal Justice Services to collaborate with the Compensation Board and the Board of Corrections to identify the resources required for jails to comply with the forthcoming minimum behavioral health treatment standards to be established by the Board of Corrections pursuant to House Bill 1942 of the 2020 Session of the General Assembly.)