SF 4726 Summary

• Establishes Direct Care and Treatment as an independent state agency headed by a 9-member executive board (7 voting, 2 nonvoting members) instead of remaining within the Department of Human Services.

• Transfers authority and responsibility for state hospitals, secure treatment facilities, and related behavioral health services from the Human Services Commissioner to the Direct Care and Treatment executive board, effective July 1, 2025.

• Creates a chief executive officer position appointed by the executive board to manage day-to-day operations and establishes specific board membership qualifications including psychiatric expertise, hospital/nonprofit board experience, and labor representation.

• Creates new financial accounts (gifts/grants, facilities management, systems, cemetery maintenance) within the special revenue fund for Direct Care and Treatment operations and management.

• Requires initial board appointments by January 1, 2025, with the sitting chief executive officer of the direct care and treatment division automatically becoming the initial CEO, pending formal board appointment by July 1, 2025.