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Committee backs priority‑admissions plan for DCT, urges capacity and community investments
Summary
Senate File 2902, reflecting recommendations from the priority admissions task force on competency restoration and Direct Care & Treatment (DCT) admissions, was recommended to pass and referred to the State and Local Government Committee. The bill extends certain exceptions, supports community capacity investments and asks for ongoing monitoring.
A bipartisan package of recommendations aimed at reducing the number of people with serious mental illness waiting in jails and community hospitals for Direct Care & Treatment (DCT) admission was recommended to pass by the Minnesota Senate Human Services Committee and referred to the State and Local Government Committee.
Sue Aberholden, executive director of NAMI Minnesota and a member of the priority admissions task force, urged the committee to adopt the task force’s report and its multi‑pronged recommendations. The panel’s proposals include continuing the 48‑hour accountability rule tied to availability of a medically appropriate bed (with a sunset extension), expanding community crisis and diversion services, funding basic mental‑health care in jails, providing a public dashboard for transparency, and allowing limited exceptions to admit up to 10 civilly committed community hospital patients per fiscal year to DCT when beds are available.
GinLee Palin of the Minnesota Association of Community Mental Health Programs and Danny Acker of the Minnesota Hospital Association testified in support. Acker told the committee hospitals face increasing numbers of civilly committed patients in community hospitals who require one‑to‑one care and security measures; he said the exception to admit up to 10 community hospital patients to DCT “will allow civilly committed patients to be treated and cared for better, but will free up more access at community hospitals.”
Witnesses and members emphasized that adding state hospital beds alone is not a complete solution. Ablending of approaches — diversion, crisis response, community capacity, and some state capacity additions — was the task force’s recommendation. Several witnesses and senators noted the need for dedicated funding for both capital (beds) and operating staff to deliver the services.
Sen. Abler moved that Senate File 2902 be recommended to pass and referred to State and Local Government. The motion carried by voice vote. Committee members asked for ongoing work among stakeholders to align language and to pursue bonding and operating funding where necessary.
