An Act To Provide Enhanced Mental Health Services to the County Prison Population
Maine Legislature, Session 127, LD 0657
Committee Amendment CA_A_H222 (House)

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT ,It" to H.P. 438, L.D. 657, Bill, "An Act To 
Provide Enhanced Mental Health Services to the County Prison Population" 
Amend the bill by striking out the title and substituting the following: 
'Resolve, To Provide the Legislature with Information on the Need for Mental 
Health Services in County Jails' 
Amend the bill by striking out everything after the title and inserting the following: 
'Sec. 1. Working group. Resolved: That the Consumer Council System of 
Maine, as established in the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 5, section 12004-1, subsection 
60-B, shall convene a working group to collect data to determine the unmet needs for 
mental health services in the county jails. Between September 1, 2015 and January 15, 
2016, the Consumer Council System of Maine shall convene a series of meetings of the 
working group to determine the need for mental health services, the components and 
costs of current mental health service delivery and the estimated extent and costs of the 
unmet needs. The working group shall review the mental health services needs of short-
term and long-term inmates in the county jails, including, but not limited to, needs 
associated with acute, chronic and severe and persistent mental illnesses and needs that 
are associated with post-traumatic stress disorder, alcohol and drug addiction, domestic 
violence and sexual assault. The Consumer Council System of Maine shall invite each of 
the following organizations to send a representative to participate in the working group 
meetings: the Maine District Attorneys Association, the National Alliance on Mental 
Illness-Maine, the Maine Sheriffs' Association, the Maine Coalition Against Sexual 
Assault, the Maine Coalition to End Domestic Violence, the Maine County 
Commissioners Association, the office of substance abuse and mental health services in 
the Department of Health and Human Services, the Department of Corrections, the Maine 
Association of Substance Abuse Programs, the Behavioral Health Community 
Collaborative and the Maine Association of Mental Health Services. The Consumer 
Council System of Maine shall provide notice of the meetings of the working group to the 
members of the Joint Standing Committ,ee on Criminal Justice and Public Safety; and be 
it further 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
COMMITIEE AMENDMENT"~"to RP. 438, L.D. 657 
Sec. 2. Report. Resolved: That, by February 1,2016, the Consumer Council of 
Maine shall report to the Joint Standing Committee on Criminal Justice and Public Safety 
on the need for mental health services in the county jails, the components and costs of 
current mental health service delivery and the estimated extent and costs of the unmet 
needs. 
The report may contain recommendations and suggest possible sources of 
funding. After reviewing the report the joint standing committee is authorized to submit 
legislation to the Second Regular Session of the 127th Legislature.' 
SUMMARY 
This amendment is the minority report of the committee. This amendment to the bill, 
which was a concept draft, directs the Consumer Council System of Maine to convene a 
broadly representative working group to collect data to determine the unmet needs for 
mental health services in the county jails. The amendment directs the Consumer Council 
System of Maine to report to the Joint Standing Committee on Criminal Justice and 
Public Safety on the need for mental health services in the county jails, the components 
and costs of current mental health service delivery and the estimated extent and costs of 
the unmet needs by February 1,2016. The amendment authorizes the Consumer Council 
System of Maine to include in its report recommendations and possible sources of 
funding. The amendment authorizes the joint standing committee to submit legislation to 
the Second Regular Session of the 127th Legislature. 
FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED 
(See attached) 
_~ 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
Approved: 05114115 
;W'.a~ 
LD657 
LR 1392(02) 
An Act To Provide Enhanced Mental Health Services to the County Prison Population 
Fiscal Note for .Bill as ~m~nded b~ Committee .Amendment 'k (/I ~ J ~ 
COnimltte~: Cnmmal JustIce and PublIc Safety 
Fiscal Note Required: Yes 
Fiscal Note 
Minor cost increase - General Fund 
Fiscal Detail and Notes 
The additional costs to the Department of COlTections and the D~parhnent of Health and Human Services to study 
and report on the need for mental health services in county jails are expected to be minor and can be absorbed 
utilizing existing budgeted resources. 
LR1392(02) - Fiscal Note - Page 1 of 1