Bill No.: HB0091 Drafter: JHR

LSO No.: 06LSO-0183 Effective Date: 7/1/2006

Enrolled Act No.: HEA0021

Chapter No.: 40

Prime Sponsor: Select Committee on Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services

Catch Title: Mental health and substance abuse appropriations.

Subject: Provides multiple appropriations to enhance the mental health and substance abuse services in the state.

Summary/Major Elements:

· This Bill is a result of a study by the Select Committee on Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services and appropriates funds for:

· A Wyoming State Hospital (WSH) facilities study;

· An advocacy liaison position at the WSH;

· Extensive community mental health services enhancements;

· A medicaid waiver that, if approved by the federal government, would allow a child to receive mental health services without the child's family having to relinquish legal custody of the child, as is currently required;

· Bereavement counseling to surviving members of deceased emergency responders, as defined by the bill, who died while responding to a natural or man-made civil or military disaster;

· A regional pilot project to enhance acute psychiatric services and mental health crisis stabilization in an underserved region of the state as designated by the Department of Health (WDH);

· The transportation of involuntarily hospitalized persons to the WSH or other designated hospital and back to the person's residence or another location at the person's request, consistent with a discharge plan;

· Mental health consumer services to provide consumer information and referral services;

· Mental health statewide system improvements to enhance availability of mental health professionals;

· Development of an outcomes development/data infrastructure system to track services provided and outcomes achieved in mental health and substance abuse;

· Various programs operated by the WDH, Substance Abuse Division;

· A contract with the Univ. of Washington Medical School, to conduct psychiatric residency rotations within Wyoming communities;

· A continued study by the Select Committee on Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services.

· The bill also requires various reports to be submitted to the Legislature

· The bill provides a total appropriation of $30,016,092 in state general funds and $2,406,260 in federal funds.

Comments:

· Report Required: several reports to be submitted by WDH to the Legislature

· Creates/amends major program: Several programs are created by this bill