Task force debates Title 25 cost bill, approves treatment‑court amendments; hospitals and counties warn on costs

Task force members spent the August 22 meeting discussing two related sets of proposals: a draft bill to change how counties pay for the first hours of involuntary hospitalization under Title 25, and an amended treatment‑court bill that would expand court‑supervised treatment and formally recognize diversion programs.

On the Title 25 cost draft (LSO 0030), staff explained a recent amendment to allow counties to “opt in” or “opt out” of paying specified costs for the first 72 hours of involuntary hospitalization; the change was intended to reflect widely varying local arrangements. Anna (staff) summarized the redraft and said the county opt‑in/opt‑out language had been added to the bill. Jeremiah Grama, representing the Wyoming County Commissioners Association, reported that county officials generally supported the option to choose but wanted clarity on eligible costs: “opting in, is determined by the devil in the details,” he said, adding counties would evaluate the proposal if eligible costs and limits were defined.

Hospital leaders…