Committee approves July minutes and advances budget amendment for forensic evaluations

The Human Services Committee convened and approved minutes from its July meeting; a voice vote recorded one member opposed but the chair stated the motion carried.

Later the committee considered a resolution to amend the 2026 Department of Mental Hygiene budget to cover court-ordered forensic evaluations and forensic hospitalizations under New York Criminal Procedure Law (CPL) 730. Deputy Director Trish McClennon told the committee the county had budgeted $500,000 for these CPL 730 obligations but that spending as of July was $487,000 and that the department requested an additional $400,000 to cover current and anticipated orders.

McClennon explained these forensic evaluations and forensic hospital stays are not billable to clinic revenue or Medicaid and therefore require local funding. She said restorative hospital stays vary by case; hospitals charge roughly $1,200 per day and restoration often lasts months, making annual budgeting unpredictable.

The committee took a voice vote on the budget amendment. The transcript records at least one member voicing opposition during the vote but does not provide a roll-call tally. The record shows the meeting proceeded to the next agenda item, indicating the amendment advanced. The committee then adjourned.