General Fund 2002-03

All Other $275,000

PART C

Sec. C-1. Forensic training for mental health workers. The Department of Corrections shall establish a training program designed to provide specialized forensic training to case management and community support providers and providers of crisis and outpatient mental health services in order to increase awareness of the criminal justice issues associated with the treatment of persons with mental illness who are incarcerated. The department shall provide, no later than January 30, 2003, a report to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over criminal justice matters on the development and implementation of the training program.

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

CORRECTIONS, DEPARTMENT OF

Correctional Medical Services Fund

New Initiative: Provides funding for specialized forensic training to case management and community support providers and providers of crisis and outpatient services.

General Fund 2002-03

All Other $10,000

PART D

Sec. D-1. Use of medications to treat mentally ill inmates. The Department of Corrections shall review, in consultation with the Department of Behavioral and Developmental Services, its formulary to ensure that it includes the best medications for the treatment of inmates with mental illness and shall adopt policies to ensure that the most effective such medications are available and used and that clinical care needs, not cost, govern the use of medications. The department shall provide, no later than January 30, 2003, a report to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over criminal justice matters of its actions pursuant to this section.

PART E

Sec. E-1. Appropriations and allocations. The following appropriations and allocations are made.

CORRECTIONS, DEPARTMENT OF

Adult Community Corrections

New Initiative: Provides funding for 2 Caseworker positions to provide aftercare planning services for persons with mental illness to be released from state prison facilities.

General Fund 2002-03

Positions - Legislative Count (2.000)

Personal Services $94,925

All Other 22,860

__________

Total 117,785

PART F

Sec. F-1. 34-A MRSA §1402, sub-§5, as amended by PL 1991, c. 314, §19, is further amended to read:

5. Grievance procedures. The commissioner shall establish procedures for hearing grievances of clients as described in section 1203. The commissioner, in consultation with the Department of Behavioral and Developmental Services, shall establish a separate grievance process for addressing complaints by clients with mental illness about their treatment, which must include a means by which a client may obtain a 2nd opinion about mental health treatment from an independent mental health professional.

SUMMARY

This bill implements the recommendations of the Committee to Study the Needs of Persons with Mental Illness Who are Incarcerated relating to treatment and aftercare planning in state prisons.