H-3703.1 _______________________________________________
HOUSE BILL 3125
_______________________________________________
State of Washington 56th Legislature 2000 Regular Session
By Representatives Linville, Ericksen, Morris and Quall
Read first time 02/07/2000. Referred to Committee on Appropriations.
AN ACT Relating to a pilot program of assertive community treatment; creating new sections; making appropriations; and providing an expiration date.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:
NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. The legislature finds that the program of assertive community treatment is an effective service delivery model of comprehensive community treatment, rehabilitation, and support services for people with severe and persistent mental illness. The intensive nature of the services combined with a team approach has proven effective in reducing inpatient psychiatric hospitalization, homelessness, and incarceration for hard-to-serve populations.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. Recognizing that other states have demonstrated program of assertive community treatment effectiveness through pilot projects, the legislature directs the secretary of the department of social and health services to contract one million dollars for a pilot program of assertive community treatment to be administered by a county with: (1) A willing provider who has facilities and services appropriate for the project; (2) an estimated population of approximately one hundred sixty-one thousand as of April 1, 1999; and (3) estimated involuntary treatment act commitment investigations of seven hundred one for 1999. This contract is contingent upon the explicit allocation of matching funds by the county of an additional one million dollars.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. The Washington institute for public policy is directed to complete a study of the effectiveness of the pilot project of program of assertive community treatment administered by the county designated under section 2 of this act. The study shall track the people receiving program of assertive community treatment services, comparing their usage of inpatient psychiatric hospital bed days, homelessness, incarceration, and other measures to be developed, prior to receiving program of assertive community treatment services and after receiving program of assertive community treatment services for one year. The study must be submitted to the appropriate committees of the legislature by December 1, 2001.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 4. The sum of one million dollars, or as much thereof as may be necessary, is appropriated from the general fund to the mental health division of the department of social and health services for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2001, to carry out the purposes of this act.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 5. The sum of two hundred thousand dollars, or as much thereof as may be necessary, is appropriated from the general fund to the Washington institute for public policy for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2001, to carry out the purposes of this act.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 6. Sections 1 through 3 of this act expire December 31, 2001.
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