Attorney general and counties back $75 million request to add 50 DCT beds at Anoka Metro RTC

Attorney General Keith Ellison and county representatives told the House Capital Investment Committee on April 8 that the state should fund a 50‑bed residential treatment facility at the Anoka Metro Regional Treatment Center (AMRTC) to reduce lengthy waits for people on the priority‑admissions list.

Ellison, who co‑chaired the priority admissions task force, said the panel recommended increasing Direct Care and Treatment (DCT) bed capacity as the top action. "The first and most important recommendation of both of these reports is to increase bed capacity and access to services of direct care and treatment at all levels of care," Ellison said, describing average wait times of about 33.6 days at the end of 2024.

Vice Chair Jamie Frederick presented House File 2,587, which carries a $75 million A‑1 funding request to design and construct a 50‑bed facility on the AMRTC campus. Ellison said the money would fund demolition of the Miller Building and construction, furnishing and equipping of a new therapeutic residential building. He said the building would help move people out of jails and local hospitals into appropriate treatment settings.

Matt Freeman, human services policy analyst for the Association of Minnesota Counties, told the committee AMRTC is the state's largest psychiatric hospital and that lack of capacity is straining counties and local resources. "Imagine waiting 30 days for access to ICU care," Freeman said, comparing psychiatric bed shortages to other acute medical needs.

Speakers from law enforcement and county human services were listed among task‑force supporters, and multiple legislators on the committee echoed their concern at the length of waits and the strain on sheriffs, jails and hospitals. Representative Tim Scott (committee member) and other members described jail and hospital staff managing people who require inpatient mental‑health treatment.

Why this matters: The task force assembled by statute concluded that expanding inpatient capacity is a central and timely step in addressing the state's priority‑admissions backlog. Committee supporters said building 50 additional beds at AMRTC is one of several required steps — including better front‑end community treatment and workforce development — to reduce long waits and align placements with appropriate levels of care.

The committee did not vote on the request during the hearing; proponents asked the panel to include the funding in the capital investment package.