1.1                          A bill for an act 
  1.2             relating to human services; ensuring appropriate 
  1.3             staffing for mentally ill persons in regional 
  1.4             treatment centers; creating an advisory committee to 
  1.5             establish staffing standards for regional treatment 
  1.6             centers; appropriating money; proposing coding for new 
  1.7             law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 253. 
  1.8   BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
  1.9      Section 1.  [253.30] [APPROPRIATE STAFF LEVELS FOR MENTALLY 
  1.10  ILL PERSONS IN REGIONAL CENTERS; STAFFING PLAN.] 
  1.11     (a) In order to maintain adequate staffing levels during 
  1.12  reallocations, downsizing, or transfer of regional center 
  1.13  nonfiscal resources, the commissioner must ensure that any 
  1.14  reallocation of positions between regional centers does not 
  1.15  reduce required staffing at regional center programs for adult 
  1.16  and adolescent mentally ill persons. 
  1.17     (b) A regional treatment center serving mentally ill 
  1.18  persons must have a written staffing plan based on program 
  1.19  services and treatment plans that are required for individuals 
  1.20  with mental illness at the regional center using standards 
  1.21  established by the committee in section 253.31.  The written 
  1.22  plan must include a detailed account of the staffing needed at 
  1.23  the regional center for the following inpatient psychiatric 
  1.24  programs: 
  1.25     (1) acute inpatient; 
  1.26     (2) long-term inpatient; 
  2.1      (3) adolescent programs; and 
  2.2      (4) mobile crisis services and transitional services. 
  2.3      (c) If requested, the regional treatment center chief 
  2.4   executive officer must provide the exclusive bargaining 
  2.5   representative or any other interested party with a copy of the 
  2.6   staffing plan. 
  2.7      (d) If the exclusive bargaining representative or another 
  2.8   interested party believes that the staffing reflected in the 
  2.9   plan for the regional treatment center is inadequate to provide 
  2.10  necessary treatment, the ombudsman for mental health and mental 
  2.11  retardation under chapter 245 may be asked to investigate and 
  2.12  report findings and make recommendations under chapter 245.  The 
  2.13  report and recommendations must be completed no less than 30 
  2.14  days prior to any actual reallocation, downsizing of staff, or 
  2.15  transfer of nonfiscal resources from the regional center. 
  2.16     Sec. 2.  [253.31] [ADVISORY COMMITTEE; REGIONAL TREATMENT 
  2.17  CENTER STAFFING.] 
  2.18     (a) By September 1, 1997, the commissioner of human 
  2.19  services shall appoint a committee to determine appropriate 
  2.20  staffing levels for the following programs: 
  2.21     (1) acute inpatient; 
  2.22     (2) long-term inpatient; 
  2.23     (3) adolescent treatment; 
  2.24     (4) mobile crisis services; and 
  2.25     (5) transitional services delivered by regional treatment 
  2.26  centers.  
  2.27  The terms, compensation, and removal of members are governed by 
  2.28  section 15.059.  
  2.29     (b) The committee shall include, but shall not be limited 
  2.30  to, the following representatives:  
  2.31     (1) department of human services staff; 
  2.32     (2) the ombudsman for mental health and mental retardation; 
  2.33     (3) patient representatives; 
  2.34     (4) exclusive bargaining unit representatives; 
  2.35     (5) regional treatment center staff; and 
  2.36     (6) members of affected communities. 
  3.1   By February 1, 1998, the committee shall prepare and transmit to 
  3.2   the legislature a report recommending staffing level standards 
  3.3   for regional treatment centers.  The committee shall also 
  3.4   recommend any changes in statutes and rules needed to implement 
  3.5   its recommendations. 
  3.6      Sec. 3.  [CRISIS SERVICES.] 
  3.7      During the 1998-1999 biennium, the commissioner shall 
  3.8   implement state-operated crisis services in each regional 
  3.9   treatment center catchment area.  Crisis services will support 
  3.10  county authority and responsibility as outlined in state law for 
  3.11  persons with developmental disabilities and persons with mental 
  3.12  illness. 
  3.13     Sec. 4.  [APPROPRIATION.] 
  3.14     $....... is appropriated from the general fund to the 
  3.15  commissioner of human services for the 1998-1999 biennium to 
  3.16  further the development and operation of state-operated crisis 
  3.17  services under section 3.