MN HF2562

Commissioners of Corrections and Human Services shall establish a working group to study issues related to mentally ill offenders who are arrested or subject to arrest.

Working group shall evaluate the efficacy of a centralized facility in the metropolitan region to accept, assess, and address needs of mentally ill offenders as an alternative to or following arrest, including mental health assessments, community placement, pretrial release recommendations, and direct services.

Working group membership must include prosecutors, law enforcement, correctional officials, probation officials, criminal defense attorneys, judges, county and city officials, mental health advocates, mental health professionals, and hospital and health care officials.

First working group meeting must be convened by September 1, 2014, with the Departments of Corrections and Human Services providing meeting space and administrative support.

Working group must submit a report by December 15, 2015 to legislative committees with recommendations, draft legislation, cost estimates, and potential funding sources from federal, local, and private levels.