Legislative Document No. 1295 H.P. 938 House of Representatives, March 19, 2019
An Act To Determine the Need To Increase the Number of Forensic Emergency and Crisis Beds
Reference to the Committee on Criminal Justice and Public Safety suggested and ordered printed.
ROBERT B. HUNT Clerk
Presented by Representative TALBOT ROSS of Portland. Cosponsored by Senator DOW of Lincoln and Representatives: BAILEY of Saco, MADIGAN of Waterville, MAXMIN of Nobleboro, MOONEN of Portland, Senators: CLAXTON of Androscoggin, GRATWICK of Penobscot, MOORE of Washington, ROSEN of Hancock.
Printed on recycled paper 1 Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
2 CONCEPT DRAFT
3 SUMMARY 4 This bill is a concept draft pursuant to Joint Rule 208.
5 This bill proposes to direct the Department of Health and Human Services and the 6 Department of Corrections to determine the current need for forensic emergency and 7 crisis beds to ensure the prompt and humane treatment of arrested individuals who are 8 suffering from mental illness and awaiting trial. In making this determination, the 9 departments shall consider:
10 1. The number of currently available forensic emergency and crisis beds;
11 2. The number of individuals currently awaiting placement pretrial;
12 3. The annual average number of individuals needing forensic services pretrial;
13 4. Proposals to address unmet needs and associated costs; and
14 5. Other factors that would lessen wait times for placements and provide needed 15 mental health services to individuals pretrial.
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