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Committee advances bill requiring DHHS to reimburse counties for temporary holding of civilly committed violent offenders
Summary
Senate File 57, sponsored by Senator Pike, would require the Department of Health and Human Services to reimburse counties for temporary holding or confinement costs when a civilly committed violent predator commits a public offense; the committee advanced the bill and requested additional data from the department.
Senator Pike opened remarks on Senate File 57, describing it as "a bill for an act requiring the Department of Health and Human Services to reimburse a county for the temporary holding of, or confinement of, a ... violent predator who commits a public offense, while subject to an order of civil commitment." The committee voted to advance the bill to the full Senate calendar as an individual bill.
Why it matters: The bill allocates state responsibility for costs that counties currently may bear when a person under civil commitment is temporarily confined locally after committing a public offense.
Discussion in committee: Senator Salsi (also announced as Salsey in the transcript) asked whether the bill would create a notification process to inform nursing home residents if a convicted offender or person of concern is placed in the facility; the chair said that question was "beyond the scope of this bill" and declined to obligate Senator Pike to answer. Senator Peterson said he had requested information from the Department of Health and Human Services about other facilities across the state where local taxpayers have borne the cost after state-run facility placements, and he asked that the department provide that information to the committee. Senator Peterson said he supports the bill but wants the department's data so the committee can understand whether other counties are similarly affected.
Action taken: Senator Pike moved the bill; the committee approved advancing Senate File 57 and the chair said it will move to the calendar as an individual bill.
Ending note: Committee members requested data from the Department of Health and Human Services on other instances where counties have borne holding or confinement costs so the committee can assess statewide impacts.
