1     
MENTAL HEALTH TREATMENT ACCESS AMENDMENTS

2     
2020 GENERAL SESSION

3     
STATE OF UTAH

4     
Chief Sponsor: Steve Eliason

5     
Senate Sponsor: Todd Weiler

6     Cosponsors:
7     Cheryl K. Acton
Susan Duckworth


8     

9     LONG TITLE
10     General Description:
11          This bill modifies and enacts provisions relating to mental health treatment access.
12      Highlighted Provisions:
13          This bill:
14          ▸     defines terms;
15          ▸     requires the Forensic Mental Health Coordinating Council, in consultation with the
16     Utah Substance Use and Mental Health Advisory Council, to study and provide
17     recommendations regarding the long-term need for adult beds at the Utah State
18     Hospital;
19          ▸     modifies the membership of the Utah Substance Use and Mental Health Advisory
20     Council;
21          ▸     requires the Division of Substance Abuse and Mental Health to:
22               •     set standards for certification of assertive community treatment teams (ACT
23     teams);
24               •     make rules outlining the responsibilities of ACT teams;
25               •     award a grant for the development of one ACT team; and
26               •     implement and manage a housing assistance program for certain individuals
27     released from the Utah State Hospital; and

28          ▸     makes technical changes.
29     Money Appropriated in this Bill:
30          This bill appropriates:
31          ▸     to the Department of Human Services -- Division of Substance Abuse and Mental
32     Health -- Utah State Hospital, as an ongoing appropriation:
33               •     from the General Fund, $4,885,500;
34          ▸     to the Department of Human Services -- Division of Substance Abuse and Mental
35     Health -- Utah State Hospital, as a one-time appropriation:
36               •     from the General Fund, One-time, ($1,076,900); and
37          ▸     to the Department of Human Services -- Division of Substance Abuse and Mental
38     Health -- Community Mental Health Services, as an ongoing appropriation:
39               •     from the General Fund, $350,000.
40     Other Special Clauses:
41          None
42     Utah Code Sections Affected:
43     AMENDS:
44          62A-15-605, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2015, Chapter 403
45          63M-7-301, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2019, Chapter 246
46          63I-1-262, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2019, Chapters 246, 257, 440 and last
47     amended by Coordination Clause, Laws of Utah 2019, Chapter 246
48     ENACTS:
49          62A-15-1701, Utah Code Annotated 1953
50          62A-15-1702, Utah Code Annotated 1953
51          62A-15-1703, Utah Code Annotated 1953
52          62A-15-1704, Utah Code Annotated 1953
53     

54     Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:

55          Section 1. Section 62A-15-605 is amended to read:
56          62A-15-605. Forensic Mental Health Coordinating Council -- Establishment and
57     purpose.
58          (1) There is established the Forensic Mental Health Coordinating Council composed of
59     the following members:
60          (a) the director of the Division of Substance Abuse and Mental Health or the director's
61     appointee;
62          (b) the superintendent of the state hospital or the superintendent's appointee;
63          (c) the executive director of the Department of Corrections or the executive director's
64     appointee;
65          (d) a member of the Board of Pardons and Parole or its appointee;
66          (e) the attorney general or the attorney general's appointee;
67          (f) the director of the Division of Services for People with Disabilities or the director's
68     appointee;
69          (g) the director of the Division of Juvenile Justice Services or the director's appointee;
70          (h) the director of the Commission on Criminal and Juvenile Justice or the director's
71     appointee;
72          (i) the state court administrator or the administrator's appointee;
73          (j) the state juvenile court administrator or the administrator's appointee;
74          (k) a representative from a local mental health authority or an organization, excluding
75     the state hospital that provides mental health services under contract with the Division of
76     Substance Abuse and Mental Health or a local mental health authority, as appointed by the
77     director of the division;
78          (l) the executive director of the Utah Developmental Disabilities Council or the
79     director's appointee; and
80          (m) other individuals, including individuals from appropriate advocacy organizations
81     with an interest in the mission described in Subsection (3), as appointed by the members

82     described in Subsections (1)(a) through (l).
83          (2) A member may not receive compensation or benefits for the member's service, but
84     may receive per diem and travel expenses in accordance with:
85          (a) Section 63A-3-106;
86          (b) Section 63A-3-107; and
87          (c) rules made by the Division of Finance pursuant to Sections 63A-3-106 and
88     63A-3-107.
89          (3) The purpose of the Forensic Mental Health Coordinating Council is to:
90          (a) advise the director regarding the state hospital admissions policy for individuals in
91     the custody of the Department of Corrections;
92          (b) develop policies for coordination between the division and the Department of
93     Corrections;
94          (c) advise the executive director of the Department of Corrections regarding
95     department policy related to the care of individuals in the custody of the Department of
96     Corrections who are mentally ill;
97          (d) promote communication between and coordination among all agencies dealing with
98     individuals with an intellectual disability or mental illness who become involved in the civil
99     commitment system or in the criminal or juvenile justice system;
100          (e) study, evaluate, and recommend changes to laws and procedures relating to
101     individuals with an intellectual disability or mental illness who become involved in the civil
102     commitment system or in the criminal or juvenile justice system;
103          (f) identify and promote the implementation of specific policies and programs to deal
104     fairly and efficiently with individuals with an intellectual disability or mental illness who
105     become involved in the civil commitment system or in the criminal or juvenile justice system;
106     [and]
107          (g) promote judicial education relating to individuals with an intellectual disability or
108     mental illness who become involved in the civil commitment system or in the criminal or

109     juvenile justice system[.]; and
110          (h) in consultation with the Utah Substance Abuse Advisory Council created in Section
111     63M-7-301, study the long-term need for adult patient beds at the state hospital, including:
112          (i) the total number of beds currently in use in the adult general psychiatric unit of the
113     state hospital;
114          (ii) the current bed capacity at the state hospital;
115          (iii) the projected total number of beds needed in the adult general psychiatric unit of
116     the state hospital over the next three, five, and 10 years based on:
117          (A) the state's current and projected population growth;
118          (B) current access to mental health resources in the community; and
119          (C) any other factors the Forensic Mental Health Coordinating Council finds relevant
120     to projecting the total number of beds; and
121          (iv) the cost associated with the projected total number of beds described in Subsection
122     (3)(h)(iii).
123          (4) The Forensic Mental Health Coordinating Council shall report the results of the
124     study described in Subsection (3)(h) and any recommended changes to laws or procedures
125     based on the results to the Health and Human Services Interim Committee before November 30
126     of each year.
127          Section 2. Section 62A-15-1701 is enacted to read:
128     
Part 17. Utah Assertive Community Treatment Act

129          62A-15-1701. Definitions.
130          As used in this part:
131          (1) "ACT team personnel" means a licensed psychiatrist or mental health therapist, or
132     another individual, as determined by the division, who is part of an ACT team.
133          (2) "Assertive community treatment team" or "ACT team" means a mobile team of
134     medical and mental health professionals that provides assertive community outreach treatment
135     and, based on the individual circumstances of each case, coordinates with other medical

136     providers and appropriate community resources.
137          (3) (a) "Assertive community treatment" means mental health services and on-site
138     intervention that a person renders to an individual with a mental illness.
139          (b) "Assertive community treatment" includes the provision of assessment and
140     treatment plans, rehabilitation, support services, and referrals to other community resources.
141          (4) "Mental health therapist" means the same as that term is defined in Section
142     58-60-102.
143          (5) "Mental illness" means the same as that term is defined in Section 62A-15-602.
144          (6) "Psychiatrist" means the same as that term is defined in Section 62A-15-1601.
145          Section 3. Section 62A-15-1702 is enacted to read:
146          62A-15-1702. Division duties -- ACT team license creation.
147          (1) To promote the availability of assertive community treatment, the division shall
148     make rules, in accordance with Title 63G, Chapter 3, Utah Administrative Rulemaking Act,
149     that create a certificate for ACT team personnel and ACT teams, that includes:
150          (a) the standards the division establishes under Subsection (2); and
151          (b) guidelines for:
152          (i) required training and experience of ACT team personnel; and
153          (ii) the coordination of assertive community treatment and other community resources.
154          (2) (a) The division shall:
155          (i) in accordance with Title 63G, Chapter 3, Utah Administrative Rulemaking Act,
156     make rules that establish standards that an applicant is required to meet to qualify for the
157     certifications described in Subsection (1); and
158          (ii) create a statewide ACT team plan that:
159          (A) identifies statewide assertive community treatment needs, objectives, and
160     priorities; and
161          (B) identifies the equipment, facilities, personnel training, and other resources
162     necessary to provide assertive community treatment.

163          (b) The division may delegate the ACT team plan requirement described in Subsection
164     (2)(a)(ii) to a contractor with whom the division contracts to provide assertive community
165     outreach treatment.
166          Section 4. Section 62A-15-1703 is enacted to read:
167          62A-15-1703. Grants for development of an ACT team.
168          (1) The division shall award grants for the development of one ACT team to provide
169     assertive community treatment to individuals in the state.
170          (2) The division shall prioritize the award of a grant described in Subsection (1) to
171     entities, based on:
172          (a) the number of individuals the proposed ACT team will serve; and
173          (b) the percentage of matching funds the entity will provide to develop the proposed
174     ACT team.
175          (3) An entity does not need to have resources already in place to be awarded a grant
176     described in Subsection (1).
177          (4) The division shall make rules, in accordance with Title 63G, Chapter 3, Utah
178     Administrative Rulemaking Act, for the application and award of the grants described in
179     Subsection (1).
180          Section 5. Section 62A-15-1704 is enacted to read:
181          62A-15-1704. Housing assistance program for individuals discharged from the
182     Utah State Hospital and receiving assertive community treatment.
183          (1) (a) The division shall, within funds appropriated by the Legislature for this purpose,
184     implement and manage the operation of a housing assistance program in consultation with the
185     Utah State Hospital, established in Section 62A-15-601, and one or more housing authorities,
186     associations of governments, or nonprofit entities.
187          (b) The housing assistance program shall provide the housing assistance described in
188     Subsection (1)(c) to individuals:
189          (i) who are discharged from the Utah State Hospital; and

190          (ii) who the division determines would benefit from assertive community treatment.
191          (c) The housing assistance provided under the housing assistance program may
192     include:
193          (i) subsidizing rent payments for housing;
194          (ii) subsidizing the provision of temporary or transitional housing; or
195          (iii) providing money for one-time housing barrier assistance, including rental housing
196     application fees, utility hookup fees, or rental housing security deposits.
197          (2) The division shall make rules, in accordance with Title 63G, Chapter 3, Utah
198     Administrative Rulemaking Act, to establish procedures for the operation of the housing
199     assistance program described in Subsection (1).
200          (3) The division shall report to the Health and Human Services Interim Committee
201     each year before November 30 regarding:
202          (a) the entities the division consulted with under Subsection (1)(a);
203          (b) the number of individuals who are benefitting from the housing assistance program
204     described in Subsection (1);
205          (c) the type of housing assistance provided under the housing assistance program
206     described in Subsection (1);
207          (d) the average monthly dollar amount provided to individuals under the housing
208     assistance program described in Subsection (1); and
209          (e) recommendations regarding improvements or changes to the housing assistance
210     program described in Subsection (1).
211          Section 6. Section 63I-1-262 is amended to read:
212          63I-1-262. Repeal dates, Title 62A.
213          (1) Subsections 62A-1-120(8)(g), (h), and (i) are repealed July 1, 2023.
214          (2) Section 62A-3-209 is repealed July 1, 2023.
215          (3) Section 62A-4a-202.9 is repealed December 31, 2021.
216          (4) Section 62A-4a-213 is repealed July 1, 2024.

217          (5) Section 62A-15-114 is repealed December 31, 2021.
218          (6) Subsections 62A-15-116(1) and (4), the language that states "In consultation with
219     the SafeUT and School Safety Commission, established in Section 53B-17-1203," is repealed
220     January 1, 2023.
221          (7) Subsections 62A-15-605(3)(h) and (4) relating to the study of long-term needs for
222     adult beds in the state hospital are repealed July 1, 2022.
223          [(7)] (8) Subsections 62A-15-1100(1) and 62A-15-1101[(8)](9), in relation to the Utah
224     Substance Use and Mental Health Advisory Council, are repealed January 1, 2023.
225          [(8)] (9) In relation to the Mental Health Crisis Line Commission, on July 1, 2023:
226          (a) Subsections 62A-15-1301(1) and 62A-15-1401(1) are repealed;
227          (b) Subsection 62A-15-1302(1)(b), the language that states "and in consultation with
228     the commission" is repealed;
229          (c) Section 62A-15-1303, the language that states "In consultation with the
230     commission," is repealed; and
231          (d) Subsection 62A-15-1402(2)(a), the language that states "With recommendations
232     from the commission," is repealed.
233          Section 7. Section 63M-7-301 is amended to read:
234          63M-7-301. Definitions -- Creation of council -- Membership -- Terms.
235          (1) (a) As used in this part, "council" means the Utah Substance Use and Mental Health
236     Advisory Council created in this section.
237          (b) There is created within the governor's office the Utah Substance Use and Mental
238     Health Advisory Council.
239          (2) The council shall be comprised of the following voting members:
240          (a) the attorney general or the attorney general's designee;
241          (b) [an] one elected county official appointed by the Utah Association of Counties;
242          (c) the commissioner of public safety or the commissioner's designee;
243          (d) the director of the Division of Substance Abuse and Mental Health or the director's

244     designee;
245          (e) the state superintendent of public instruction or the superintendent's designee;
246          (f) the executive director of the Department of Health or the executive director's
247     designee;
248          (g) the executive director of the Commission on Criminal and Juvenile Justice or the
249     executive director's designee;
250          (h) the executive director of the Department of Corrections or the executive director's
251     designee;
252          (i) the director of the Division of Juvenile Justice Services or the director's designee;
253          (j) the director of the Division of Child and Family Services or the director's designee;
254          (k) the chair of the Board of Pardons and Parole or the chair's designee;
255          (l) the director of the Office of Multicultural Affairs or the director's designee;
256          (m) the director of the Division of Indian Affairs or the director's designee;
257          (n) the state court administrator or the state court administrator's designee;
258          (o) [a] one district court judge who presides over a drug court and who is appointed by
259     the chief justice of the Utah Supreme Court;
260          (p) [a] one district court judge who presides over a mental health court and who is
261     appointed by the chief justice of the Utah Supreme Court;
262          (q) [a] one juvenile court judge who presides over a drug court and who is appointed
263     by the chief justice of the Utah Supreme Court;
264          (r) [a] one prosecutor appointed by the Statewide Association of Prosecutors;
265          (s) the chair or co-chair of each committee established by the council;
266          (t) the chair or co-chair of the Statewide Suicide Prevention Coalition created under
267     Subsection 62A-15-1101(2);
268          (u) [a] one representative appointed by the Utah League of Cities and Towns to serve a
269     four-year term;
270          (v) the following members appointed by the governor to serve four-year terms:

271          (i) one resident of the state who has been personally affected by a substance use or
272     mental health disorder; and
273          (ii) one citizen representative; and
274          (w) in addition to the voting members described in Subsections (2)(a) through (v), the
275     following voting members appointed by a majority of the members described in Subsections
276     (2)(a) through (v) to serve four-year terms:
277          (i) one resident of the state who represents a statewide advocacy organization for
278     recovery from substance use disorders;
279          (ii) one resident of the state who represents a statewide advocacy organization for
280     recovery from mental illness;
281          (iii) one resident of the state who represents a statewide advocacy organization for
282     protection of rights of individuals with a disability;
283          [(iii)] (iv) one resident of the state who represents prevention professionals;
284          [(iv)] (v) one resident of the state who represents treatment professionals;
285          [(v)] (vi) one resident of the state who represents the physical health care field;
286          [(vi)] (vii) one resident of the state who is a criminal defense attorney;
287          [(vii)] (viii) one resident of the state who is a military servicemember or military
288     veteran under Section 53B-8-102;
289          [(viii)] (ix) one resident of the state who represents local law enforcement agencies;
290     [and]
291          [(ix)] (x) one representative of private service providers that serve youth with
292     substance use disorders or mental health disorders[.]; and
293          (xi) one resident of the state who is certified by the Division of Substance Abuse and
294     Mental Health as a peer support specialist as described in Subsection 62A-15-103(2)(h).
295          (3) An individual other than an individual described in Subsection (2) may not be
296     appointed as a voting member of the council.
297          Section 8. Appropriation.

298          The following sums of money are appropriated for the fiscal year beginning July 1,
299     2020, and ending June 30, 2021. These are additions to amounts previously appropriated for
300     fiscal year 2021. Under the terms and conditions of Title 63J, Chapter 1, Budgetary Procedures
301     Act, the Legislature appropriates the following sums of money from the funds or accounts
302     indicated for the use and support of the government of the state of Utah.
303     ITEM 1
304          To Department of Human Services -- Division of Substance Abuse and Mental Health
305               From General Fund
$4,885,500

306               From General Fund, One-time               
($1,076,900)

307               Schedule of Programs:
308                    Utah State Hospital                    $3,808,600
309          The Legislature intends that appropriations provided under this item be used for the
310     establishment and maintenance of 30 adult patient beds at the Utah State Hospital.
311     ITEM 2
312          To Department of Human Services -- Division of Substance Abuse and Mental Health
313               From General Fund
$350,000

314               Schedule of Programs:
315                    Community Mental Health Services               $350,000
316          The Legislature intends that appropriations provided under this item be used to award
317     grants under Section 62A-15-1703.