HF 2926 Summary

• Amends children's mental health policy to require level of care determinations for children admitted to treatment foster care, residential treatment facilities, or regional treatment centers using validated assessment tools approved by the commissioner of human services.

• Establishes that level of care determinations must be based on diagnostic assessment including functional evaluation of family, school, and community living situations, with assessments completed within 180 days if prior assessment exists unless child's mental health status has changed markedly.

• Requires emergency admissions to receive level of care determination within five working days of admission, and prohibits denying residential placement solely because services were not first provided in a less restrictive setting.

• Modifies eligibility for chemical dependency treatment funding to include American Indian programs on federally recognized tribal lands licensed by tribal government, effective January 1, 2000.

• Establishes three tiered payment levels for mental health diagnostic assessment based on complexity, effective January 1, 2011, or upon federal approval, whichever is later.

• Expands juvenile treatment screening team requirements to include designated tribal representatives for Indian children and requires notification to tribes when evaluating Indian children for residential treatment placement.