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Stitt says funding for mental‑health work on incompetency waits remains under contract review
Summary
When asked about House Bill 2513 and roughly $9.5 million for addressing wait times for defendants deemed incompetent to stand trial, Gov. Kevin Stitt said the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse is working on contracts and hiring to control costs and implement the program.
Reporters asked Gov. Kevin Stitt about House Bill 2513, which the questioner described as funding to reduce long waits for defendants deemed incompetent to stand trial. The question said the session indicated roughly $9.5 million would be appropriated to address the problem.
Stitt said officials were focused on contract controls and organizational changes to prevent open‑ended billing that has strained the agency in the past. “I think 1 of the biggest things we're working on is the contract, so we're not in this issue next year,” he said, adding that the state has “appropriated the same amount they did last year.”
He also noted agency changes under way: “They're hiring a new CFO. They have a whole new payroll group. They're they're trying to get their arms around, what was really happening over the last, probably over the last, you know, decade or more.” Stitt said specifics on the $9.5 million question were not available at the event and directed reporters to agency staff for further detail.
At the press event, the governor framed the issue primarily as a contracting and fiscal‑management problem rather than a shortfall in legislative appropriation.
