Behavioral health services task force.

20LSO-0273
2020
STATE OF WYOMING
20LSO-0273
Numbered
2.0

HOUSE BILL NO. HB0030

Behavioral health services task force.

Sponsored by: Joint Labor, Health & Social Services Interim Committee

A BILL

for

AN ACT relating to the legislature; creating the behavioral health services task force; providing for membership on the task force; assigning duties and study topics to the task force; requiring a report; providing appropriations; and providing for an effective date.

Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Wyoming:

Section 1
.

(a)

There is created the
behavioral health services task force
consisting of the following members:

(i)

Three (3) members of the senate chosen from members of the senate labor, health and social services committee and senate judiciary committee, with not more than two (2) members from the same political party. The members shall be appointed by the president of the senate, one (1) of whom shall be appointed as a cochairman of the committee;

(ii)

Three (3) members of the house of representatives chosen from members of the house labor, health and social services committee and house judiciary committee, with not more than two (2) members from the same political party. The members shall be appointed by the speaker of the house, one (1) of whom shall be appointed as a cochairman of the committee;

(iii)

One (1) member who shall be the director of the department of health or his designee;

(iv)

Three (3) members who shall be mental health care providers specializing in mental health and
substance abuse, appointed by the governor with consideration given to geographic distribution;

(v)

One (1) member who shall be a law enforcement officer, appointed by the governor;

(vi)

One (1) member of the public who is a consumer of mental health or substance abuse services, appointed by the governor.

(b)

The task force shall be staffed by the legislative service office. State and local agencies shall provide information and assistance to the task force as requested by the task force.

(c)

The task force shall continue and update the findings and work of the 2005 select committee on mental health and substance abuse services, created by 2005 Wyoming Session Laws, Chapter 195, and shall endeavor to provide recommendations for the delivery of high quality, cost effective and accessible community mental health services, substance abuse services and prevention
programming to Wyoming's citizens. As part of its work, the task force shall consider and study:

(i) Changes to or gaps within the findings and recommendations of the 2005 select committee;

(ii) Necessary and advisable changes to Wyoming's statutory law;

(iii) The availability of and access to a continuum of mental health services, substance abuse services and prevention programming in the state, including but not limited to:

(A)

The number of beds available in institutions and hospitals for mental health and substance abuse treatment;

(B)

The training available for and levels of training achieved by health care providers who provide mental health services, substance abuse services and prevention programming;

(C)

Recruitment and retention of psychiatrists and other clinical and support staff;

(D)

The number of persons utilizing health care services, substance abuse services and prevention programming in this state and estimates of the number of persons needing those services but who are not receiving the services;

(E)

Adolescent and child mental health and substance abuse clinical services, including residential care;

(F)

Posthospital and postincarceration continuum of care and reintegration into communities.

(iv) Funding for the mental health, substance abuse and prevention systems of care, including but not limited to:

(A)

Funding sources and levels of funding from federal, state, local and private sources; and

(B) Use of a Medicaid behavioral health waiver.

(v) The costs of providing effective substance use services, mental health services and prevention programing and any alternatives available in Wyoming to lower costs or improve quality;

(vi)

Statutory authorization for prevention services and services provided by community behavioral health providers.

(d)

The task force shall meet as necessary and shall report its findings and recommendations to the joint labor, health and social services interim committee not later than October 1, 2020. If necessary to complete its work, the task force may submit a preliminary report on October 1, 2020 in anticipation of conducting additional studies and submitting a final report to the joint labor, health and
social services interim committee not later than October 1, 2021. Upon receiving a final report from the task force, the joint labor, health and social services interim committee shall consider any recommendations in the report and develop any legislation it deems appropriate for consideration by the legislature.

(e)

The task force shall terminate on December 31, 2021.

(f) When performing official duties as members of the task force, legislative members of the task force shall be paid salary, mileage and per diem in the amount and manner provided for members of an interim committee under W.S. 28
‑
5
‑
101 and 28-5-102 but shall earn no salary for preparation. Chairmen of the task force shall not earn any chairmen salary for their chairmanship of the task force. Members of the task force who are not government employees, government officials or legislators shall not receive a separate salary but shall be paid expenses in the amount provided by W.S. 9-3-102 and 9-3-103 for their official duties as members of the task force. A government employee
or official who is a member of the task force shall be considered to be acting within the scope of regular employment when conducting the official business of the task force and shall receive their regular pay without additional compensation except they shall receive mileage and per diem as provided under this subsection if they are not reimbursed by their employer.

Section 2.

(a)

There is appropriated twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000.00) from the general fund to the legislative service office for the purpose of providing payments to legislative members of the behavioral health services task force as authorized by section 1(f) of this act and for other expenses of the task force authorized by law or policy of the legislature. This appropriation shall be for the period beginning with the effective date of this act and ending June 30, 2022. This appropriation shall not be transferred or expended for any other purpose and any unexpended, unobligated funds remaining from this
appropriation shall revert as provided by law on June 30, 2022.

(b)

There is appropriated thirteen thousand dollars ($13,000.00) from the general fund to the governor's office for the purpose of providing payments to nonlegislative members of the behavioral health services task force as authorized by section 1(f) of this act. This appropriation shall be for the period beginning with the effective date of this act and ending June 30, 2022. This appropriation shall not be transferred or expended for any other purpose and any unexpended, unobligated funds remaining from this appropriation shall revert as provided by law on June 30, 2022.

Section 3
.

This act is effective immediately upon completion of all acts necessary for a bill to become law as provided by Article 4, Section 8 of the Wyoming Constitution.

(END)

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HB0030