PRISONER MENTAL HEALTH CARE

Senate Bill 622

Sponsor:  Sen. Roger Kahn

House Committee:  Judiciary

Senate Committee:  Judiciary

Complete to 9-24-07

A SUMMARY OF SENATE BILL 622 AS PASSED BY THE SENATE 9-23-07

The bill would amend the Mental Health Code to allow the Department of Corrections to contract with third-party providers to operate the corrections mental health program; current law allows contracting only with the Department of Community Health (DCH). 

MCL 300.2003

 

FISCAL IMPACT:

The bill's fiscal impact would depend on whether the corrections mental health program was put out for bid, the scope and details of any bid request, and the details of any bids received; the impact therefore is not determinable at this time. 

The Department of Community Health provides acute and subacute residential and outpatient mental health treatment to prisoners considered to be seriously mentally ill.  According to the Department of Corrections, expenditures for DCH-provided staff services (including contractual services provided through DCH) are expected to total about $29.8 million in the current fiscal year.   Psychotropic medications for prisoners in the program are expected to cost about $9.7 million, and other operating costs are expected to be about $300,000. 

                                                                                                                       

                                                                                                  Fiscal Analyst:   Marilyn Peterson

■ This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan House staff for use by House members in their deliberations, and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.