This bill aims to enhance the correctional system in Minnesota by clarifying the levels of substance abuse care provided by the commissioner of corrections and expanding access to mental health unit beds for incarcerated individuals. It amends several sections of Minnesota Statutes 2024, specifically sections 241.021 and 241.69, to include provisions for both adults and juveniles in state-operated correctional facilities. The bill establishes that treatment programs must adhere to standards set by the Department of Human Services, and it allows for the development of alternative standards when necessary.

Key amendments include the establishment of mental health units within correctional institutions for the treatment of mentally ill inmates, as well as provisions for assessment, evaluation, and stabilization of individuals in need of short-term care. The bill also outlines the process for judicial commitment for those requiring long-term care and allows for the provisional discharge of inmates who are no longer in need of institutional care. Additionally, it ensures that individuals whose sentences expire while still requiring mental health treatment can be transferred to designated state hospitals for continued care.

Statutes affected:
Introduction: 144.445, 241.021, 241.69
1st Engrossment: 241.021, 241.69