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F I S C A L I M P A C T R E P O R T

SPONSOR Nava

ORIGINAL DATE

LAST UPDATED

2/18/07

HB

SHORT TITLE 3

rd

Judicial District Behavioral Health

SB 1094

ANALYST Lucero

APPROPRIATION (dollars in thousands)

Appropriation

Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

FY07

FY08

$200.0

Recurring

General Fund

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

Relates to Appropriation in the General Appropriation Act

ESTIMATED ADDITIONAL OPERATING BUDGET IMPACT (dollars in thousands)

FY07

FY08

FY09 3 Year

Total Cost

Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

Total

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

LFC Files

SUMMARY

Synopsis of Bill

Senate Bill 1094 appropriates two hundred thousand ($200,000) from the general fund to

Children, Youth and Families Department for expenditure in 2008 for flexible wrap-around

behavioral health services in the third judicial district.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

The appropriation of two hundred thousand ($200,000) contained in this bill is a recurring

expense to the general fund. Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of

fiscal year 2008 shall revert to the general fund.

Senate Bill 1094 – Page

2

SIGNIFICANT ISSUES

All youth involved in the juvenile justice system should receive continued or wrap-around

services for mental or substance use disorders, emotional or behavioral problems, and for suicide

risk. Many justice systems lack adequate resources to mandate comprehensive behavioral health

services. Many refer to the criminal justice system’s revolving door, where those with

behavioral disorders do not get adequate wrap-around services and re-offend.

Wrap-around behavioral health services typically include multi-agency, multi-system

involvement. Typically each child's team includes the child and parents and any foster parents,

and any individual important in the child's life. The team may also includes all other persons

needed to develop an effective plan, including, as appropriate, the child's teacher, the child's

Child Protective Service and/or Division of Developmental Disabilities case worker, and the

child's probation officer. The team (a) develops a common assessment of the child's and family's

strengths and needs, (b) develops an individualized service plan, (c) monitors implementation of

the plan and (d) makes adjustments in the plan if it is not succeeding.

There has been a significant increase in the need for mental health services for youth in the

juvenile justice system. As many as 75% of juvenile offenders (Teplin et al., 2002) have one or

more diagnosable psychiatric disorders. The justice system and those providing behavioral

health services face a myriad of challenges – potential role conflicts, confidentiality issues,

interface of multiple systems (i.e., police, probation, family courts, and social services), and

negative perceptions to-ward delinquent youth.

Youth with behavioral health needs present a special challenge to the juvenile justice system.

Research suggests that young persons with behavioral health needs are significantly more

common among youthful offenders than in other youth group (Cocozza, 1992; Atkins et al.,

1999; Garland et al., 2001). Studies have shown that as many as 65%-75% of youthful offenders

have one or more diagnosable psychiatric disorder (Teplin et al., 2002; Wasserman et al., 2003).

Detention alone is not effective at reducing recidivism, because within 3 years of release from

prison, approximately 2/3 of all offenders, including drug offenders, are rearrested

for a new

offense; 1/2 are convicted of a new crime; and 1/2 are re-incarcerated for a new crime or parole

violation.

TECHNICAL ISSUES

The bill is unclear whether the services are for adults or juveniles. With the appropriation being

made to CYFD, one might assume it is for wrap-around services for juveniles.

OTHER SUBSTANTIVE ISSUES

CYFD, through the behavioral health collaborative, contracts behavioral health services to

ValueOptions (VO). It is unclear if the sponsor of the bill wants an increased level of VO

services, or whether there are other behavioral health services (outside of those provided by VO)

are being sought.

The LFC has recommended that the legislature should consider creating a unified behavioral

health services budget, possibly located at Human Services Department (HSD) to improve

Senate Bill 1094 – Page

3

accountability, coordination, and integration of services. The appropriation in this bill may be

better suited at HSD if the services are aimed at adults.

ALTERNATIVES

The bill sponsor may want to consider sending the appropriation directly to the 3

rd

Judicial

District to allow the district more flexibility in how the behavioral health services will be

procured. Appropriating to CYFD may tie the services to those offered through the VO contract.

The sponsor may also want to clarify whether the services being provided for in the bill are for

juveniles, adults, paroled, probationers, pre- or post adjudication.

WHAT WILL BE THE CONSEQUENCES OF NOT ENACTING THIS BILL

Status Quo

DL/nt