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Committee approves study of Montana State Hospital performance
Summary
The House Health and Human Services Committee voted to pass House Joint Resolution 75, an interim study of the Montana State Hospital, citing overcrowding and the potential to repurpose on-site space; sponsor Rep. Scott DeMorris said the study will return findings to the legislature.
The House Health and Human Services Committee voted to pass House Joint Resolution 75, an interim study directing a review of the Montana State Hospital and a return of findings to the legislature, the committee recorded on a voice vote during executive action.
Representative Scott DeMorris, sponsor, told the panel he requested the study to 'examine what they're doing and how they're treating our most vital, our most critical patients in Montana' and to help the hospital 'succeed' after a history of problems. DeMorris identified a potential on-site retrofit that 'would be a small retrofit, another 27 beds,' and said that assessing the facility alongside community services could help direct state mental-health resources.
Committee members pressed DeMorris on how the resolution would relate to prior interim work. Representative Bennett asked whether the study would correlate with the Behavioral Health Task Force's findings; Vice Chair Howe said the task force examined new approaches and 'really didn't cover the Montana State Hospital,' calling HJR 75 a 'nice companion' to that work.
Representative Close asked whether hospital staff had been forthcoming during a site visit; DeMorris said cooperation was "hit or miss" and credited another legislator's persistence in keeping lines of communication open with Director Dr. Flanagan. Representative Kelly urged the study to consider related budget and construction proposals, noting that House Bill 5 had been reduced in committee to '32 beds and only $28,000,000.'
Supporters and opponents were not recorded in the hearing record; the committee received no proponents or opponents on the record during testimony. Vice Chair Buttrey moved to pass the resolution in executive action; the chair called for a voice vote and announced HJR 75 had passed the committee, with multiple representatives also recorded voting 'aye' by proxy.
The resolution directs an interim, performance-based study of the Montana State Hospital, including assessment of campus refurbishment and whether some patients could be served in community-based placements. The committee will receive the study's findings as part of its interim work.
