HF 3527

as introduced - 85th Legislature (2007 - 2008) Posted on 12/15/2009 12:00am

A bill for an act
relating to courts; establishing a Supreme Court task force to implement
statewide standards for mental health courts; appropriating money.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1. new text begin SUPREME COURT TASK FORCE; MENTAL HEALTH COURTS.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Establishment. new text end

new text begin The Supreme Court shall establish a task force to
develop and implement minimum statewide standards for mental health courts. The goal
of the mental health court is to increase public safety by assisting criminal offenders with
mental illnesses in becoming and remaining law-abiding through the facilitation of access
to mental health treatment and other support services.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Membership. new text end

new text begin The task force shall consist of the following members:
new text end

new text begin (1) a representative from the Supreme Court;
new text end

new text begin (2) two district court judges, one of whom is currently assigned to mental health
court;
new text end

new text begin (3) a court administrator;
new text end

new text begin (4) the attorney general or a designee;
new text end

new text begin (5) a county attorney selected by the Minnesota County Attorneys Association;
new text end

new text begin (6) a public defender selected by the Board of Public Defense;
new text end

new text begin (7) a law enforcement representative;
new text end

new text begin (8) the ombudsman for mental health and developmental disabilities;
new text end

new text begin (9) a mental health advocate;
new text end

new text begin (10) the commissioner of corrections or a designee;
new text end

new text begin (11) the commissioner of public safety or a designee;
new text end

new text begin (12) the commissioner of human services or a designee;
new text end

new text begin (13) a representative from community corrections; and
new text end

new text begin (14) any other persons designated by the Supreme Court.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Development and implementation of standards. new text end

new text begin The task force shall
examine current practices in existing mental health courts in the state and in other
jurisdictions and shall solicit input from the stakeholders experienced in mental health
issues. The task force shall develop and implement minimum statewide standards for
mental health courts, including:
new text end

new text begin (1) intake procedures within the court and corrections system for screening and
assessing criminal offenders with mental illnesses;
new text end

new text begin (2) participation standards and plea procedures;
new text end

new text begin (3) case management services and service referrals;
new text end

new text begin (4) treatment and monitoring components;
new text end

new text begin (5) the use of public and private sources of funding for medication and treatment; and
new text end

new text begin (6) any other standards identified by the task force as necessary to implement an
efficient and successful mental health court system.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 4. new text end

new text begin Report. new text end

new text begin By January 1, 2010, the task force shall report to the chairs and
ranking members of the senate and house committees and divisions having jurisdiction
over criminal justice policy and funding on the development and implementation of
mental health court standards.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 5. new text end

new text begin Appropriation. new text end

new text begin $....... in fiscal year 2009 is appropriated from the general
fund to the Supreme Court to support and expand mental health courts.
new text end

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective July 1, 2008.
new text end