Senate Bill 2610

AN ACT TO ENACT THE ROSE ISABEL WILLIAMS MENTAL HEALTH REFORM ACT OF 2020; TO DEFINE CERTAIN TERMS; TO CREATE THE POSITION OF THE COORDINATOR OF MENTAL HEALTH ACCESSIBILITY WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATION; TO PROVIDE THAT THE COORDINATOR SHALL BE APPOINTED BY THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE DEPARTMENT AND SHALL SERVE AT THE WILL AND PLEASURE OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR; TO PROVIDE THE MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS OF THE COORDINATOR AND PROVIDE FOR PAYMENT OF THE EXPENSES OF THE COORDINATOR; TO REQUIRE THE COORDINATOR TO PERFORM A COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW OF THE MENTAL HEALTH SYSTEM, TO CONSULT WITH CERTAIN DEPARTMENTS AND ENTITIES, TO REVIEW THE QUARTERLY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND STATUS REPORTS OF THE INDIVIDUAL COMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTH CENTERS, TO DETERMINE WHERE IN ANY COUNTY OR GEOGRAPHIC AREA WITHIN A COUNTY THE DELIVERY OR AVAILABILITY OF MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES ARE INADEQUATE, AND TO REPORT ON THE STATUS OF THE MENTAL HEALTH SYSTEM TO CERTAIN GOVERNMENTAL AUTHORITIES; TO AUTHORIZE THE COORDINATOR TO HIRE STAFF; TO AUTHORIZE THE COORDINATOR TO INSPECT FACILITIES WITHIN THE MENTAL HEALTH SYSTEM, TO INTERVIEW CERTAIN PERSONS, AND TO ACCESS CERTAIN PROGRAMS, SERVICES, DOCUMENTS AND MATERIALS; TO REQUIRE THE COORDINATOR TO COMMUNICATE WITH THE COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS AND THE REGIONAL COMMISSION FOR THE COUNTY OR GEOGRAPHIC AREA WHERE MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES ARE INADEQUATE TO DETERMINE IF A PLAN IS BEING EXECUTED OR DEVELOPED TO INCREASE ACCESS TO MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES; TO HAVE THE COORDINATOR ASSESS THE VIABILITY OF ANY SUCH PLAN; TO REQUIRE THE COORDINATOR, WHEN ANY SUCH PLAN IS DETERMINED TO BE INSUFFICIENT, TO DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT HIS OR HER OWN PLAN TO FACILITATE INCREASED ACCESS TO MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES IN THE COUNTY OR GEOGRAPHIC AREA WHERE MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES ARE INADEQUATE; TO REQUIRE THE COORDINATOR TO FIRST MEET WITH THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OF THE COUNTY IN WHICH THE MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES ARE INADEQUATE AND THE REGIONAL COMMISSION IN WHICH THE COUNTY IS LOCATED TO EXPLAIN IN DETAIL THE POSSIBLE CONSEQUENCES OF THE FAILURE OF THE COUNTY AND COMMISSION TO ADDRESS THE INADEQUACY OF THE AVAILABLE MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES IN THE COUNTY OR THE GEOGRAPHIC AREA WITHIN THE COUNTY; TO REQUIRE THE COORDINATOR TO THEN WORK WITH THE REGIONAL COMMISSIONS THAT ARE ADJACENT TO THE COUNTY OR THE GEOGRAPHIC AREA WHERE MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES ARE INADEQUATE TO DETERMINE IF ONE OF THOSE REGIONAL COMMISSIONS IS WILLING TO PROVIDE THOSE SERVICES IN THE COUNTY OR GEOGRAPHIC AREA; TO PROVIDE THAT IF A REGIONAL COMMISSION IS WILLING TO PROVIDE THOSE SERVICES, THE COORDINATOR SHALL TAKE ALL NECESSARY STEPS TO FACILITATE THE TRANSFER OF THE RESPONSIBILITY OF PROVIDING THOSE SERVICES TO THAT REGIONAL COMMISSION; TO PROVIDE THAT IF NO REGIONAL COMMISSION ADJACENT TO THE COUNTY OR THE GEOGRAPHIC AREA WHERE MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES ARE INADEQUATE IS WILLING TO PROVIDE THOSE SERVICES IN THE COUNTY OR GEOGRAPHIC AREA, THE COORDINATOR THEN SHALL WORK WITH NONADJACENT REGIONAL COMMISSIONS TO DETERMINE IF ONE OF THOSE REGIONAL COMMISSIONS IS WILLING TO PROVIDE THOSE SERVICES IN THE COUNTY OR GEOGRAPHIC AREA; TO PROVIDE THAT IF THE COORDINATOR DETERMINES THAT NO REGIONAL COMMISSION IN THE STATE IS WILLING TO PROVIDE THE NECESSARY MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES IN THE COUNTY OR THE GEOGRAPHIC AREA WITHIN THE COUNTY WHERE THE SERVICES ARE INADEQUATE, THE COORDINATOR SHALL NOTIFY THE STATE BOARD OF MENTAL HEALTH; TO PROVIDE THAT THE BOARD THEN SHALL ISSUE A REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS TO OBTAIN PUBLIC OR PRIVATE PROVIDERS OF MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES TO PROVIDE THE NECESSARY MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES IN THE COUNTY OR THE GEOGRAPHIC AREA WITHIN THE COUNTY WHERE THE SERVICES ARE INADEQUATE; TO REQUIRE CERTAIN AGENCIES AND THE REGIONAL COMMISSIONS TO COOPERATE WITH THE COORDINATOR; TO AMEND SECTIONS 41-4-7 AND 41-19-33, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO PROVIDE THAT WHEN A REGIONAL COMMISSION IS PLACED ON PROBATION BY THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF MENTAL HEALTH FOR DEFICIENCIES IN THE COMMISSION'S PLAN BASED ON THE MINIMUM STANDARDS AND MINIMUM REQUIRED SERVICES, THE REGIONAL COMMISSION SHALL DEVELOP A SUSTAINABILITY BUSINESS PLAN WITHIN 30 DAYS OF BEING PLACED ON PROBATION, WHICH SHALL INCLUDE POLICIES TO ADDRESS CERTAIN SPECIFIED MATTERS; TO PROVIDE THAT THE DEPARTMENT SHALL PROVIDE ORIENTATION TRAINING TO ALL NEW COMMISSIONERS OF REGIONAL COMMISSIONS AND ANNUAL TRAINING FOR ALL COMMISSIONERS WITH CONTINUING EDUCATION REGARDING THE MENTAL HEALTH SYSTEM AND SERVICES; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

In the Senate

• Hob Bryan

  Sponsor

• Senate floor amendmentAdopted

  Adopted Mar 11

• House of Representatives committee amendmentAdopted

  Adopted Jun 12

l9n doesn't hold this bill's text yet.

In the Senate Feb 17 – Mar 11

1. Feb 17Referred to the Senate committee on Public Health and Welfare
2. Feb 26Reported from committee in the Senate: title sufficient, do pass as a committee substitute
3. Mar 11Committee substitute failed in the Senate
4. Amended in the Senate
5. Passed the Senate as amended

In the House of Representatives Mar 13 – Jun 12

1. Mar 13Sent to the House
2. Mar 25Rereferred to the House committee on Public Health and Human Services
3. Jun 3Reported from committee in the House: title sufficient, do pass as amended
4. Jun 12Amended in the House
5. Passed the House as amended

Back in the Senate Jun 16 – Jul 2

1. Jun 16Returned to the Senate to concur in the House's amendments
2. Jun 19Declined in the Senate to concur, and invited a conference
3. Jun 22Conferees named in the Senate: Bryan, Hopson and Polk
4. Jun 24Conferees named in the House: Mims, McGee and Scoggin
5. Jun 29Conference report filed in the House
6. Conference report filed in the Senate
7. Jun 30Conference report adopted in the House
8. Conference report adopted in the Senate
9. Jul 2Enrolled bill signed in the Senate

To the Governor Jul 2 – Jul 8

1. Jul 2Enrolled bill signed in the House
2. Jul 8Approved by the Governor