HI SR70

Requests the Department of Health to convene a task force to study the needs of populations to be served by a new inpatient psychiatric facility and develop a coordinated interagency action plan for implementing services.

Task force must include representation from the Department of Health, Judiciary, Attorney General, Department of Public Safety, State Procurement Office, Department of Accounting and General Services, and other relevant legal, law enforcement, and mental health organizations.

Task force must submit the interagency action plan and building plans to the Legislature no later than twenty days before the 2020 Regular Session convenes.

Task force is dissolved on June 30, 2020, and the Department of Health must commence construction of the secure inpatient psychiatric facility no later than January 1, 2021.

Addresses the severe shortage of secure inpatient mental health resources for forensic patients and individuals with mental illness in the custody of the Directors of Health or Public Safety.