HB1592: STATE GOVERNMENT-TECH

Legislative Summary

Creates the Mental Health Inpatient Facility Access Act. Requires the Department of Human Services' Division of Mental Health to develop a written, strategic plan that comprehensively addresses improving access to inpatient psychiatric beds in State-operated mental health facilities for individuals needing a hospital level of care. Provides that the plan shall include annual training requirements for State-operated inpatient mental health facility clinicians, regular and periodic mental health assessments of individuals admitted to State-operated facilities, updated facility policies and procedures aimed at increasing opportunities for home visits and work programs that assist with community reintegration, steps to increase access to community-based mental health services that provide outpatient alternatives and step-down services, certification requirements for mental health clinicians, and other matters. Requires the Department to develop benchmarks to ensure that every individual found unfit to stand trial or not guilty by reason of insanity who has been committed by a court to the Department for treatment shall be admitted to a Department facility within specified statutory time periods. Requires the strategic plan to be made publicly available in one year. Prohibits the Department from making further reductions in State-operated inpatient mental health bed capacity. Provides that nothing in the amendatory Act shall affect the authority of the Governor to issue emergency executive orders to protect the health or safety of recipients or employees of State-operated inpatient psychiatric facilities. Effective immediately.