Behavioral Health Crisis Transition Referral Program

Office of behavioral health - community transition specialist program - referral coordination of high-risk individuals - rules - data collection - SMART act report - appropriation. The act establishes the community transition specialist program (program) in the office of behavioral health (office) in the department of human services (department). The program coordinates referrals of high-risk individuals from certain behavioral health facilities and programs to transition specialists. High-risk individuals are under an emergency or involuntary hold, have a significant mental health or substance use disorder, and are not in consistent behavioral health treatment. Transition specialists provide services related to housing, program placement, access to behavioral health treatment or benefits, advocacy, and other supportive services. The department is required to adopt rules by October 1, 2018, to implement the program. The office is required to collect data and make recommendations to the department, and the department is required to include program information in the department's annual SMART act report.

$1,588,250 is appropriated from the general fund to the department of human services for use by the office of behavioral health to implement the community transition specialist program.

(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)