The House Public Health Committee heard HB 1269 on mental health matters authored by Reps. Clere and Steuerwald. This bill addresses a number of mental health issues including: (1) authorizing the DOC or jail to serve as a representative of inmates for the purposes of applying for Medicaid eligibility, (2) requiring the DOC or jail to assist inmates to apply for Medicaid prior to release from incarceration, (3) requiring a person who is arrested and taken into custody to be assessed by a qualified and licensed mental health or addictions professional to determine if the person has a mental illness or substance addiction, establishing required reporting of assessment results and providing for re-assessments until release, and (4) appropriating $22,000,000 to the forensic diversion account on an annual basis and providing that this account is established to fund the custodial assessments following arrest.
Extensive testimony was heard in support of this bill from the Association of Community Mental Health Centers, Mental Health America of Indiana, Recovering Kids and Families, the Office of the Attorney General and the Prescription Drug Task Force, Indiana Sheriff’s Association, Indiana Minority Health Coalition, Children’s Coalition of Indiana, Indiana School Counselor Association and Universal Health Services. The bill was held for further discussion.
Read the bill at http://iga.in.gov/legislative/2015/bills/house/1269.