HOUSE BILL 395

53rd legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2017

INTRODUCED BY

Rodolpho "Rudy" S. Martinez

AN ACT

RELATING TO HEALTH CARE; DIRECTING THE HUMAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT TO WORK WITH THE COUNTIES IN THE SIXTH JUDICIAL DISTRICT TO CREATE A SINGLE, THREE-YEAR DEMONSTRATION PROJECT TO PROVIDE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND COMMUNITY REINTEGRATION PROGRAMS AND SERVICES TO INDIVIDUALS IN COUNTY DETENTION CENTER CUSTODY WITH THE GOAL OF DEVELOPING A STATEWIDE PROGRAM; MAKING AN APPROPRIATION.

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

     SECTION 1. [NEW MATERIAL] DEMONSTRATION PROJECT-- BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND COMMUNITY REINTEGRATION PROGRAM AND SERVICES FOR INMATES OF THE SIXTH JUDICIAL DISTRICT COUNTY DETENTION CENTER FACILITIES IN FULFILLMENT OF RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE TASK FORCE CREATED PURSUANT TO SENATE JOINT MEMORIAL 4 FROM THE FIRST SESSION OF THE FIFTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE.--

          A. The human services department shall conduct and fund a three-year demonstration project in the counties of the sixth judicial district, and in coordination with those counties, provide behavioral health and community reintegration programs and services to inmates of county detention center facilities with the intent of developing a program statewide at the end of the demonstration project. The project shall:

                (1) provide local inmate participants who volunteer to participate and fit within criteria developed by the human services department in coordination with the counties' detention centers with:

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

                     (b) coordination of services to address an inmate life plan;

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

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

                     (e) additional life-skills planning and coordination; life-skills classes; and, upon release, transition to community case management and services; and

                     (f) 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 human services department in coordination with the participating counties establish, including a measure of the return on investment for the demonstration project.

          B. The three goals of the demonstration project shall be:

                (1) decreased recidivism in sixth judicial district county detention centers;

                (2) increased inmate success upon return to the community; and

                (3) increased public safety.

          C. Using information from the inmates involved in the inmate support program, the human services department shall record as baseline data relating to state fiscal year 2016 the following information averaged among the sixth judicial district county detention centers:

                (1) inmate average cost per day;

                (2) average monthly documented behavioral infractions; and

                (3) average recidivism rate at the frequency that is currently gathered.

          D. In order to show positive change within the participating population, the demonstration project outcome measures for the term of the project shall include:

                (1) the percentage decrease in recidivism;

                (2) the percentage decrease in inmate documented infractions; and

                (3) the percentage participation with the strategies and activities of transition plans, including follow-up with individual support plan coordinators.

          E. By November 1 in years 2018, 2019 and 2020, the secretary of human services shall report the information collected pursuant to this section to the appropriate interim committee that studies courts, corrections and justice issues; to the interim legislative health and human services committee; and to the legislative finance committee.

     SECTION 2. APPROPRIATION.--Two hundred thirty-four thousand six hundred twenty dollars ($234,620) is appropriated from the general fund to the human services department for expenditure in fiscal years 2018 through 2020 to fund a demonstration project in the counties of the sixth judicial district that will provide behavioral health and community reintegration programs and services to individuals who are local inmates of county detention center facilities. Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of fiscal year 2020 shall revert to the general fund.

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