Whereas, currently persons in need of a safe and secure environment in which to be stabilized, due to the effects of substance abuse, are held in hospital emergency rooms with a police guard; and

Whereas, the current practice of holding persons suffering the effects of substance abuse in hospital emergency rooms is an inefficient use of police personnel and subjects the public, often including children, utilizing emergency room services to obnoxious and sometimes dangerous circumstances; now, therefore, be it

Sec. 1. Contract for a safe and secure stabilization facility serving greater Lewiston- Auburn. Resolved: That the Department of Mental Health, Mental Retardation and Substance Abuse Services, Office of Substance Abuse shall contract for safe and secure short-term stabilization services for periods of 5 days or less for persons in need of stabilization because of substance abuse in the greater Lewiston- Auburn area; and be it further

Sec. 2. Review of submissions. Resolved: That the contract be awarded after issuance of a request for proposals and that the contract require a facility staffed for up to 5 residents and located within the greater Lewiston-Auburn area with on-site and backup medical staff. A committee to review submissions in response to the request for proposals must include at least 2 members of the Criminal Justice and Mental Health Collaborative of Androscoggin County; and be it further

Sec. 3. Appropriation. Resolved: That there is appropriated from the General Fund the following sum to carry out the purposes of this resolve.

1999-00

MENTAL HEALTH, MENTAL

RETARDATION AND SUBSTANCE

ABUSE SERVICES, DEPARTMENT OF

Office of Substance Abuse

All Other $250,000

To fund a contract to provide substance