as introduced - 90th Legislature (2017 - 2018) Posted on 03/02/2017 10:02am
A bill for an act
relating to human services; establishing a law enforcement and mental health
co-response pilot project; appropriating money.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:
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The commissioner of human services shall develop,
implement, and approve a law enforcement and mental health co-response pilot project
from July 1, 2017 to January 1, 2019, in Dakota County, whereby a member of law
enforcement and a member of the county community services staff co-respond to first
responder calls involving mental health challenges. The pilot project must include Dakota
County Community Services and the Dakota County Sheriff's Department that covers five
cities within Dakota County.
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The commissioner shall work in partnership with
Dakota County Community Services and the Dakota County Sheriff's Department to develop
and implement the pilot project.
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Before implementation, the county partners shall:
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(1) complete the preliminary planning process and program design by October 1, 2017,
and, if approved by the commissioner for implementation, enter into agreements governing
the operation of the pilot project. The agreements must identify the metrics for evaluation
and impact, and include timelines for implementation; and
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(2) develop and agree on a utilization review process that must be described in the
agreements governing the operation of the pilot project.
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Dakota County shall evaluate the pilot project and report
the results of the evaluation to the chairs and ranking minority members of the legislative
committees with jurisdiction over mental health issues by March 31, 2019. The evaluation
must include:
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(1) the metrics and impact, as required under subdivision 3, in addition to conclusions
and recommendations, with regard to the following:
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(i) reducing the likelihood of emergency room referrals for nonmedical emergencies;
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(ii) reducing the likelihood of arrest, while controlling for whether or not arrest was
deemed a possibility;
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(iii) reducing the necessity of 72-hour transport holds;
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(iv) increasing the number of crisis plans developed and loaded into emergency call
management systems;
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(v) increasing positive perceptions and attitudes from both law enforcement and client
perspective regarding quality assurance, sense of safety, preparedness, effectiveness, and
satisfaction with outcomes; and
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(vi) increasing the number of referrals to behavioral health or other service providers;
and
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(2) the success in achieving the following recommendations in the Governor's Task
Force on Mental Health final report, in the State Advisory Council on Mental Health's 2016
report to governor and legislature, and by Dakota County's Adult Detention Alternative
Initiative Executive Committee:
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(i) new services that contribute to a comprehensive mental health continuum of care;
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(ii) services that promote mental health and prevent mental illness;
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(iii) services that ensure integration with the mental health delivery system when
appropriate;
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(iv) supports for improving access to mental health services;
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(v) services that address the needs of diverse populations;
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(vi) promotion of person-centered, trauma-informed care;
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(vii) implementation of short-term improvements to crisis response; and
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(viii) diversion from jail.
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The county entity administering the pilot project shall:
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(1) administer the pilot project in a manner consistent with the objectives described;
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(2) ensure stewardship of state funding for purposes of the pilot project; and
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(3) provide timely and pertinent information as negotiated in agreements governing
operation of the pilot project.
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Participation in the pilot project may be discontinued for any
reason by any of the county partners after 30 days' written notice to the other parties and
the commissioner.
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(a) $....... in fiscal year 2018 is appropriated from the
general fund to the commissioner of human services for the duration of the pilot project
under section 1 to be transferred to Dakota County for one full-time county mental health
social service worker.
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(b) $25,000 in fiscal year 2018 is appropriated from the general fund to the commissioner
of human services for the duration of the pilot project under section 1 to be transferred to
Dakota County for evaluation of the pilot project.
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$....... in fiscal year 2018 is appropriated from the general fund
to the commissioner of public safety for the duration of the pilot project under section 1 to
be transferred to Dakota County for one full-time crisis intervention-trained officer and one
full-time police-based mentor.
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