Bill Text: MN HF2562 | 2013-2014 | 88th Legislature | Introduced
Bill Title: Mentally ill offenders working group established to study and make recommendations.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2014-03-27 - Committee report, to adopt and re-refer to Health and Human Services Finance [HF2562 Detail]
Download: Minnesota-2013-HF2562-Introduced.html
1.2relating to public safety; establishing a working group to study and make
1.3recommendations on how to address mentally ill offenders who are arrested or
1.4subject to arrest; requiring a report.
1.5BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:
1.6 Section 1. MENTALLY ILL OFFENDERS ARRESTED OR SUBJECT TO
1.7ARREST; WORKING GROUP.
1.8 Subdivision 1. Working group established; study and draft legislation required.
1.9The commissioners of corrections and human services shall convene a working group
1.10to address issues related to offenders with mental illness who are arrested or subject
1.11to arrest. The working group shall consider the special needs of these offenders and
1.12determine how best to provide for these needs. Specifically, the group shall consider the
1.13efficacy of a facility that would serve as a central point for accepting, assessing, and
1.14addressing the needs of offenders with mental illness brought in by law enforcement as an
1.15alternative to arrest or following arrest. The facility would consolidate and coordinate
1.16existing resources as well as offer new resources that would provide a continuum of care
1.17addressing the immediate, short-term, and long-term needs of these offenders. The facility
1.18would do the following for these offenders: perform timely, credible, and useful mental
1.19health assessments; identify community placement opportunities; coordinate community
1.20care; make recommendations concerning pretrial release when appropriate; and, in some
1.21cases, provide direct services to offenders at the facility or in nearby jails. The working
1.22group shall establish criteria to determine which offenders may be admitted to the facility.
1.23The facility would be located in the metropolitan region and serve the needs of nearby
1.24counties. The facility would represent a partnership between the state, local units of
2.1government, and the private sector. In addition, the working group may consider how
2.2similar facilities could function in outstate areas. When studying this issue, the working
2.3group shall examine what other states have done in this area to determine what programs
2.4have been successful and use those programs as models in developing the program in
2.5Minnesota. The working group may also study and make recommendations on other ways
2.6to improve the process for addressing and assisting these offenders.
2.7 Subd. 2. Membership. The commissioners shall ensure that the working group
2.8has expertise and a broad range of interests represented, including, but not limited to:
2.9prosecutors; law enforcement, including jail staff; correctional officials; probation
2.10officials; criminal defense attorneys; judges; county and city officials; mental health
2.11advocates; mental health professionals; and hospital and health care officials.
2.12 Subd. 3. Administrative issues. The commissioners shall convene the first meeting
2.13of the working group by September 1, 2014. The departments of corrections and human
2.14services shall provide meeting space and administrative support to the working group.
2.15The working group shall select a chair from among its members.
2.16 Subd. 4. Report required. By December 15, 2015, the working group shall submit a
2.17report to the chairs and ranking minority members of the senate and house of representatives
2.18committees and divisions having jurisdiction over human services and public safety. The
2.19report must summarize the working group's activities and include its recommendations
2.20and draft legislation. The recommendations must be specific and include estimates of the
2.21costs involved in implementing the recommendations, including the funding sources that
2.22might be used to pay for it. The working group shall explore potential funding sources
2.23at the federal, local, and private levels, and provide this information in the report. In
2.24addition, the report must include draft legislation to implement the recommendations.
1.3recommendations on how to address mentally ill offenders who are arrested or
1.4subject to arrest; requiring a report.
1.5BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:
1.6 Section 1. MENTALLY ILL OFFENDERS ARRESTED OR SUBJECT TO
1.7ARREST; WORKING GROUP.
1.8 Subdivision 1. Working group established; study and draft legislation required.
1.9The commissioners of corrections and human services shall convene a working group
1.10to address issues related to offenders with mental illness who are arrested or subject
1.11to arrest. The working group shall consider the special needs of these offenders and
1.12determine how best to provide for these needs. Specifically, the group shall consider the
1.13efficacy of a facility that would serve as a central point for accepting, assessing, and
1.14addressing the needs of offenders with mental illness brought in by law enforcement as an
1.15alternative to arrest or following arrest. The facility would consolidate and coordinate
1.16existing resources as well as offer new resources that would provide a continuum of care
1.17addressing the immediate, short-term, and long-term needs of these offenders. The facility
1.18would do the following for these offenders: perform timely, credible, and useful mental
1.19health assessments; identify community placement opportunities; coordinate community
1.20care; make recommendations concerning pretrial release when appropriate; and, in some
1.21cases, provide direct services to offenders at the facility or in nearby jails. The working
1.22group shall establish criteria to determine which offenders may be admitted to the facility.
1.23The facility would be located in the metropolitan region and serve the needs of nearby
1.24counties. The facility would represent a partnership between the state, local units of
2.1government, and the private sector. In addition, the working group may consider how
2.2similar facilities could function in outstate areas. When studying this issue, the working
2.3group shall examine what other states have done in this area to determine what programs
2.4have been successful and use those programs as models in developing the program in
2.5Minnesota. The working group may also study and make recommendations on other ways
2.6to improve the process for addressing and assisting these offenders.
2.7 Subd. 2. Membership. The commissioners shall ensure that the working group
2.8has expertise and a broad range of interests represented, including, but not limited to:
2.9prosecutors; law enforcement, including jail staff; correctional officials; probation
2.10officials; criminal defense attorneys; judges; county and city officials; mental health
2.11advocates; mental health professionals; and hospital and health care officials.
2.12 Subd. 3. Administrative issues. The commissioners shall convene the first meeting
2.13of the working group by September 1, 2014. The departments of corrections and human
2.14services shall provide meeting space and administrative support to the working group.
2.15The working group shall select a chair from among its members.
2.16 Subd. 4. Report required. By December 15, 2015, the working group shall submit a
2.17report to the chairs and ranking minority members of the senate and house of representatives
2.18committees and divisions having jurisdiction over human services and public safety. The
2.19report must summarize the working group's activities and include its recommendations
2.20and draft legislation. The recommendations must be specific and include estimates of the
2.21costs involved in implementing the recommendations, including the funding sources that
2.22might be used to pay for it. The working group shall explore potential funding sources
2.23at the federal, local, and private levels, and provide this information in the report. In
2.24addition, the report must include draft legislation to implement the recommendations.
