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Legislative counsel outlines amendment to s193 (Brunswick Facility Bill); committee holds straw poll
Summary
Legislative counsel described an amendment to s193 (the Brunswick Facility Bill) that tightens standards for forensic facilities, requires planning for multiple facilities and an ability to separate resident populations; the committee conducted a straw poll and added the amendment to the notice calendar for a future floor date.
Patrick, Office of Legislative Counsel, summarized an amendment to s193, the Brunswick Facility Bill, and the committee conducted a straw poll on whether to support the amendment.
The amendment, Patrick said, focuses on the requirements and processes for forensic facilities — emphasizing design and operation "in a manner that supports the therapeutic, recovery-oriented, trauma-informed environment" and clarifying how the facility must provide for the safe housing and management of persons committed following competency or insanity findings. Patrick also described changes in subdivision 3 and a new expectation that facility plans address the possible operation of multiple facilities rather than limiting that possibility only "if required by the clinical needs" of transferred persons.
The amendment includes reporting and rulemaking language added in Health and Welfare; Patrick said the Department of Corrections (DOC, named in the transcript) must return an interim report in October to keep the legislature apprised of progress on the facility. He reported that Health and Welfare unanimously approved the measure in its committee review and that the Institutions committee considered it with only three members present.
The Chair called for a straw poll on supporting the amendment. Patrick said, "I do support the amendment because I think it makes the bill better, but I still don't think it makes the bill good enough that I can support the bill." The straw poll was used for guidance only; no formal roll-call vote was recorded in the transcript.
The Chair said the amendment will be added to the notice calendar under s193 and is being set up for a floor date on Tuesday. Committee members discussed coordinating sponsors and agreed to finalize who will carry the amendment to the floor. The Department of Corrections' interim report in October remains a stated next step; no final floor action was recorded during this meeting.
