This bill seeks to enhance the behavioral health services provided in jails, particularly for individuals with behavioral health disorders. Here are the key points:
Jail-Based Behavioral Health Services Program:
The Behavioral Health Administration (BHA) in the Department of Human Services currently oversees the Jail-Based Behavioral Health Services Program.
The bill expands this program by requiring the BHA to provide funding to jails specifically for complementary behavioral health services. These services are intended to supplement a person’s primary course of treatment for a behavioral health disorder.
Use of Funding:
Jails will use the funding to train staff to administer complementary behavioral health services and to directly provide these services to individuals in custody.
The services are to be provided at no cost to the individuals in custody, ensuring that they have access to necessary care without additional financial barriers.
Annual Appropriation:
The General Assembly is required to annually appropriate up to $50,000 for the administration of these complementary services as part of the jail-based program.
This bill addresses the needs of individuals with behavioral health disorders within the criminal justice system, aiming to provide more comprehensive and accessible services in jails. The funding and training components also ensure that jail staff are equipped to support individuals' mental health needs effectively.
Summary
Legislative Oversight Committee Concerning the Treatment of Persons with Behavioral Health Disorders in the Criminal and Juvenile Justice Systems. Under existing law, the behavioral health administration (BHA) in the department of human services administers the jail-based behavioral health services program (program). The bill requires the BHA to, as part of the program, provide funding to jails to administer services that complement a person's primary course of treatment for a behavioral health disorder (complementary behavioral health services) to persons in custody in the jail. A jail shall use the funding to train jail staff to administer complementary behavioral health services and to provide complementary behavioral health services to persons in custody in the jail at no cost to the person.
The bill requires the general assembly to annually appropriate up
to $50,000 for the administration of complementary behavioral health services as part of the program.
