1 HJR69
2 205536-2
3 By Representatives Shedd, Stadthagen, Ledbetter, Rowe,
4 Daniels, Gray, Hall, Moore (P), Allen, Simpson, Baker,
5 Collins, Meadows, Lovvorn, Robertson, Ball, Standridge, Drake,
6 Carns, Ellis, Treadaway, Pettus, Kiel, McMillan, Sorrells,
7 Mooney, Crawford, Rich, Hanes, Fincher, Whorton, Kitchens,
8 Shiver, Faust, Farley, Whitt, McCutcheon, Reynolds, Brown (K),
9 Wood (D), Shaver, Hurst, Lee, Marques, Easterbrook, Greer,
10 Estes, Ingram, Isbell and Jones (M)
11 RFD: Rules
12 First Read: 27-FEB-20
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2 ENROLLED, House Joint Resolution,
3 ESTABLISHING CRISIS DIVERSION CENTERS TO PROVIDE
4 BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CRISIS SERVICES FOR ALABAMA RESIDENTS.
5
6 WHEREAS, in Alabama, the suicide rate has outpaced
7 the national average every year since 1990, suicide is the
8 third leading cause of death for people aged 10 to 24 years
9 old, and veteran deaths by suicide ranked second among the 50
10 states; and
11 WHEREAS, individuals suffering from mental health
12 crises often ultimately need emergency medical care or find
13 themselves in the criminal justice system; and
14 WHEREAS, behavioral health crisis services have
15 emerged as effective tools to improve the lives of people
16 struggling with mental health or substance abuse issues; and
17 WHEREAS, there are currently no crisis diversion
18 centers located within Alabama; and
19 WHEREAS, crisis diversion centers are regional hubs
20 where an individual can seek services at a physical location
21 on a 24-hour basis; and
22 WHEREAS, crisis diversion centers provide intensive
23 levels of care in a centralized location while also providing
24 for community-based resources that serve the needs of urban,
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1 suburban, and rural communities in a cost-effective manner; and
2 WHEREAS, crisis diversion centers typically include
3 both walk-in access for individuals, and also provide
4 emergency departments and law enforcement agencies with the
5 ability to transfer individuals to the center for crisis care,
6 and utilize several practices such as short-term admission,
7 medication management, case management, discharge planning,
8 and referrals to ongoing behavioral health care services; and
9 WHEREAS, the Legislature wishes to improve
10 behavioral health crisis care by utilizing crisis diversion
11 centers to expand and enhance access to mental health care
12 services, provide a range of tools to divert individuals from
13 emergency rooms and the criminal justice system, maximize a
14 limited behavioral health workforce, and improve the quality
15 of life for Alabama's families and communities; now therefore,
16 BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF ALABAMA, BOTH
17 HOUSES THEREOF CONCURRING, That the first crisis diversion
18 centers in this state will be established in fiscal year 2021,
19 as they offer great flexibility to meet the unique needs of
20 individual communities, increase access to behavioral health
21 services, and are therefore an excellent alternative to more
22 costly care options such as hospitals.
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2
3
4 Speaker of the House of Representatives
5
6 President and Presiding Officer of the Senate
7 House of Representatives
8 I hereby certify that the within Act originated in
9 and was adopted by the House 05-MAR-20.
10
11 Jeff Woodard
12 Clerk
13
14
15
16 Senate 18-MAY-20 Adopted
17
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