Panel divided over bill to let Life Skills Transition Center temporarily serve non‑DD youth in crisis

The House Human Services Committee heard Senate Bill 2112, a proposal to permit the Life Skills and Transition Center (LSTC) in Grafton to admit “noneligible” minors — that is, minor residents who do not meet eligibility for developmental disability (DD) services — for short-term crisis stabilization. The bill would add a noneligible definition to statute, allow stays of up to 90 days with a possible 90‑day extension, require the DHHS commissioner and LSTC superintendent to concur on any admission of a noneligible youth, and impose a sunset on the authority on June 30, 2027, plus semiannual reports to legislative management.

Why it matters: Supporters told the committee that human service zones face recurring placement crises in which children with complex, multilayered needs have no appropriate community placements, sometimes remaining in zone offices, hotels or other temporary settings. Proponents argued LSTC is a state-operated safety-net resource that can provide short-term stabilization and multidisciplinary planning, allowing zones time to secure longer-term placements or community supports.

Supporters’ testimony: Jessica Thomason, executive director for the Human Services Division at DHHS, said the measure targets a small number of youth with very complex behavioral, developmental or psychiatric needs who lack other suitable placements and for whom short-term, structured stabilization could prevent deeper system involvement or out-of-state placement. Kelsey Bless (DHHS Children and Family Services) and human service zone directors including Kim Jacobson described episodes where children have stayed in zone offices for extended periods because no licensed provider would accept them.

Heather Jenkins, superintendent at LSTC, described the center’s youth transition program, its 12‑person home‑like residences and the multidisciplinary approach LSTC uses to prepare youth for reintegration. Jenkins said LSTC has returned youth to communities after stabilization and that the program’s goal is temporary crisis care and transition planning, not long-term placement.

Opponents’ testimony: Mental-health advocates and disability organizations strongly objected. Carlotta McClary of Mental Health America and the North Dakota Federation of Families said the state should invest in community-based crisis beds, partial hospitalization and psychiatric residential treatment (PRTF) capacity rather than broaden LSTC’s mission. Veronica Zietz of the Protection and Advocacy Project and Kirsten Dvorak of The Arc of North Dakota said LSTC exists under state law and the constitution to serve residents with developmental disabilities and that allowing non‑DD admissions risks denying beds to DD residents and commingling populations with different needs and vulnerabilities.

Providers’ concerns: The North Dakota Association of Community Providers cautioned that LSTC and other DD services already face staffing shortages and that expanding the center’s eligible population could strain capacity and undermine care for eligible residents. Several witnesses urged stronger community services, expanded treatment foster care and host‑home pilots as alternatives.

Policy details and safeguards: The bill as engrossed requires concurrence from both the DHHS commissioner and the LSTC superintendent before a noneligible admission; it limits stays, includes a sunset date and mandates regular reporting to legislative management on utilization, barriers to community placement and steps DHHS is taking to expand community services. DHHS officials testified they are piloting host‑home models and pursuing system-of-care grants to expand community-based crisis resources.

Next steps: The hearing produced extensive, divided testimony but no committee vote in the published transcript. Proponents asked for the temporary authority so the state can address immediate placement crises while pursuing longer-term community solutions; opponents urged caution, additional safeguards and a focus on expanding community-based services and PRTF capacity.

Speakers quoted or referenced in this article: Jessica Thomason (DHHS Human Services Division), Kelsey Bless (DHHS Licensing Unit), Heather Jenkins (superintendent, LSTC), Kim Jacobson (Agassiz Valley Human Service Zone), Carlotta McClary (Mental Health America of North Dakota), Veronica Zietz (Protection and Advocacy Project), Kirsten Dvorak (The Arc of North Dakota), Angela Denias (North Dakota Association of Community Providers), Chairman Ruby.

Clarifying details: {"definition_noneligible":"Minor who is a legal resident of the state and has not been deemed eligible by the department for Developmental Disability Services (bill text)","maximum_length_of_stay":"90 days, with an additional 90 day extension possible (bill text)","reporting_requirement":"DHHS to report to legislative management every 6 months on utilization, barriers, and strategies","sunset":"June 30, 2027 (bill text)"}

Proper names: Life Skills and Transition Center (LSTC); Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS); Ruth Myers Adolescent Center; Human Service Zones; Nexus Path Family Healing; Agassiz Valley Human Service Zone.

Community relevance: Affects child-welfare placements across human service zones; touches juvenile court proceedings, child welfare and behavioral-health systems.