ND SB2274

Requires the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation to establish and implement a community behavioral health program providing comprehensive community-based services for individuals with serious behavioral health conditions as a parole term or sentencing alternative.

Mandates the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation collaborate with the Department of Human Services to develop referral processes, eligibility criteria based on recidivism risk and behavioral health severity, discharge criteria, and outcome reporting metrics.

Establishes that the Department of Human Services contracts with behavioral health service providers, who must accept all eligible referrals and provide individualized care through integrated multidisciplinary teams with pay-for-performance based compensation.

Appropriates $7,000,000 to the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation and $7,000,000 to the Department of Human Services for the biennium beginning July 1, 2017, ending June 30, 2019, with authorization for one and six full-time equivalent positions respectively.

Directs legislative management to study criminal justice system behavioral health needs during the 2017-18 interim, including program effectiveness, caseload data, cost savings, and training requirements, with findings reported to the 66th legislative assembly.