C. Each participating correctional facility is provided with adequate mental health resources to undertake discharge planning for inmates with mental illness, including identifying treatment needs, connecting the inmate with the community mental health system, helping to arrange for basic needs and ensuring that an inmate's applications for any benefits such as Medicare or Medicaid for which the inmate may be eligible are filed in a timely manner prior to release; and

D.__Adequate community mental health services are provided to meet the mental health needs of inmates who are discharged to the community under the pilot program.

2. Report.__By January 30th each year, beginning in 2003, the department shall report to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over criminal justice matters on its implementation of the pilot program developed pursuant to this section and recommendations for continuation of and changes to the pilot program.

Sec. B-2. Appropriations and allocations. The following appropriations and allocations are made.

BEHAVIORAL AND DEVELOPMENTAL

SERVICES, DEPARTMENT OF

Mental Health Services - Community

New Initiative: Provides funds for the county jail mental illness treatment pilot program to fund 3 Caseworker positions, 1.5 Psychiatrist positions and 3 Psychologist positions and to contract for 3 Community Support Worker positions to provide mental health services to persons with mental illness in 3 county correctional facilities. This request will generate $188,068 in General Fund revenue in fiscal year 2002-03.

General Fund 2002-03

Positions - Legislative Count (7.500)

Personal Services $470,783

All Other 135,000

________

TOTAL $605,783

Regional Operations

New Initiative: Provides funds for the overhead costs for 3 Caseworker positions, 1.5 Psychiatrist positions and 3 Psychologist positions to provide mental health services to persons with mental illness in 3 county correctional facilities as part of the county jail mental illness treatment pilot program.

General Fund 2002-03

All Other $105,000

DEPARTMENT OF BEHAVIORAL AND

DEVELOPMENTAL SERVICES ________

TOTAL $710,783

PART C

Sec. C-1. 34-B MRSA §1223 is enacted to read:

§1223.__County jail mental illness staff coverage

The department shall provide mental health staffing resources to county correctional facilities so that each county facility has at least 16 hours of facility-based mental health coverage each day.__The facility-based staff must be trained and qualified to address mental health and substance abuse issues and be familiar with inmate cultures and the criminal justice system.

Sec. C-2. Appropriations and allocations. The following appropriations and allocations are made.

BEHAVIORAL AND DEVELOPMENTAL

SERVICES, DEPARTMENT OF

Mental Health Services - Community

New Initiative: Provides funds for 36 Mental Health and Mental Retardation Caseworker positions to provide 16 hours per day of mental health services to persons with mental illness in county correctional facilities. This request will generate $586,874 in General Fund revenue in fiscal year 2002-03.

General Fund 2002-03

Positions - Legislative Count (36.000)

Personal Services $1,475,076

Regional Operations

New Initiative: Provides funds for the overhead costs for 36 Mental Health and Mental Retardation Caseworker positions to provide 16 hours per day of mental health services to persons with mental illness in county correctional facilities.

General Fund 2002-03

All Other $360,000

DEPARTMENT OF BEHAVIORAL AND

DEVELOPMENTAL SERVICES __________

TOTAL $1,835,076

SUMMARY

This bill implements recommendations of the Committee to Study the Needs of Persons with Mental Illness Who Are Incarcerated relating to treatment and aftercare planning in county jails.