Complementary Behavioral Health Services in Jails

Legislative Oversight Committee Concerning the Treatment of Persons with Behavioral Health Disorders in the Criminal and Juvenile Justice Systems. Under existing law, the behavioral health administration (BHA) in the department of human services administers the jail-based behavioral health services program (program). The bill requires the BHA to, as part of the program, provide funding to jails to administer services that complement a person's primary course of treatment for a behavioral health disorder (complementary behavioral health services) to persons in custody in the jail. A jail shall use the funding to train jail staff to administer complementary behavioral health services and to provide complementary behavioral health services to persons in custody in the jail at no cost to the person. The bill requires the general assembly to annually appropriate up to $50,000 for the administration of complementary behavioral health services as part of the program. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)