Committee advances bill to expand behavioral-health screenings for people arrested in county jails

Representative Williams presented House Bill 3,345, a Department of Mental Health request bill that updates existing statute to allow certified providers to screen for behavioral-health and substance-use needs on any charge — felony or misdemeanor — to accelerate diversion to treatment and identify service needs earlier. "The original statute...authorized the Department of Mental Health to certify providers to go in and do an initial screening for behavioral health and substance use needs," Deidre Hansbro, chief of justice services for the Department of Mental Health, said. She added the bill "updates that language" to include misdemeanor charges so diversion can occur faster.

Committee members asked who would perform evaluations and whether counties would bear costs. Hansbro said certified local contracted providers administer the screening tools, the department monitors reporting to courts and prosecutors, and the department absorbs the contract costs — "so there's no cost to the jail." Members also queried whether the proposal duplicated existing intake medical assessments in jails. Hansbro and other members said county intake screens vary widely, especially in rural areas, and that the bill's certified screenings are intended to inform courts and diversion decisions rather than replace medical intake.

After discussion, the committee voted to report the bill 'do pass.' The clerk recorded individual votes including Turner voting 'aye,' Timmons voting 'nay,' Williams voting 'aye' and Stewart voting 'nay'; the chair reported the committee vote as '4 yea, 2 nay.'