HOUSE BILL 455

52nd legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2015

INTRODUCED BY

John L. Zimmerman

AN ACT

RELATING TO HEALTH CARE; ENACTING A TEMPORARY PROVISION TO REQUIRE THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT DIVISION OF THE DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATION TO WORK WITH LUNA, GRANT AND HIDALGO COUNTIES TO CREATE A SINGLE, THREE-YEAR DEMONSTRATION PROJECT TO PROVIDE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES TO INDIVIDUALS IN OR RELEASED FROM COUNTY DETENTION CENTER CUSTODY; MAKING AN APPROPRIATION.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO:

     SECTION 1. TEMPORARY PROVISION--DEMONSTRATION PROJECT--BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES FOR INMATES OF COUNTY DETENTION CENTER FACILITIES.--

          A. The local government division of the department of finance and administration shall enter into memoranda of understanding with Luna, Grant and Hidalgo counties, or a fiscal agent county that one of these counties designates, to create a single, three-year demonstration project in those counties to work in conjunction with local health care providers and current or future substance abuse treatment programs and provide behavioral health services to inmates of county detention center facilities and to individuals who are transitioning from county detention center custody. The project shall:

                (1) provide participants that the division and the three counties choose and who volunteer to participate in the demonstration project with:

                     (a) on-site comprehensive, evidence-based or promising-practice behavioral health services;

                     (b) coordination of treatment or referrals for treatment with health care providers, locally and statewide, law enforcement and the judiciary;

                     (c) supportive training for county detention center staff that links to community behavioral health providers;

                     (d) behavioral health services for individuals who are ready for release from county detention center custody;

                     (e) the following services for individuals who are scheduled to be released or who have been released from county detention center custody: 1) life-skills planning and coordination; and 2) life-skills classes;

                     (f) community case management services for individuals upon release from county detention center custody; and

                     (g) a plan for continuous quality improvement of the services provided pursuant to the demonstration project; and

                 (2) record progress pursuant to benchmark measures that the division and the participating counties establish, including a measure of the return on investment for the demonstration project.

          B. In accordance with rules that the secretary of finance and administration shall adopt and promulgate, the demonstration project shall measure its progress in reaching the following goals:

                (1) decreasing recidivism in Luna, Grant and Hidalgo counties;

                (2) increasing inmates' success upon return to the community;

                (3) decreasing detention center costs for behavioral health and substance abuse treatment services; and

                (4) increasing public safety.

          C. The division shall record as baseline data relating to state fiscal year 2014 the following data averaged among the Grant, Luna and Hidalgo detention centers:

                (1) inmate average cost per day;

                (2) the cost per month for pharmaceuticals;

                (3) monthly behavioral health transports, including emergency room and behavioral health service providers;

                (4) an average per month of the time staff spends related to off-site behavioral health and physical health services visits;

                (5) the average number of county inmate hospital admissions related to behavioral health matters; and

                (6) the average monthly recidivism rate.

          D. By November 1, 2016 and by November 1, 2017 and 2018, the director of the division shall report the data required pursuant to this section to the legislative health and human services committee and the legislative finance committee.

          E. As used in this section, "health care provider" means an individual licensed in New Mexico to provide health care in the ordinary course of business.

     SECTION 2. APPROPRIATION.--Two hundred sixty-four thousand six hundred twenty dollars ($264,620) is appropriated from the general fund to the local government division of the department of finance and administration for expenditure in fiscal years 2016 through 2018 to fund a demonstration project in Luna, Grant and Hidalgo counties to provide behavioral health services to individuals who are inmates of county detention center facilities and individuals who have been released from county detention center custody. Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of fiscal year 2018 shall revert to the general fund.

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