j_micjs_2016a_2016-07-20t08:52:14z0 Hearing Summary

Date: 07/20/2016

08:52 AM -- General Overview of Advisory Task Force Recent Activities and Accomplishments



(Note: Due to technical difficulties about the first 15 minutes of the meeting did not record.)



Representative Singer called the meeting to order. A copy of the meeting agenda and the membership list for the Task Force Concerning the Treatment of Persons with Mental Illness in the Criminal and Juvenile Justice System (MICJS) (Attachments A and B) were distributed to the committee. Susan Walton, Advisory Task Force Chair, and Camille Harding, Advisory Task Force Co-Chair, introduced themselves to the committee. Ms. Walton discussed the importance of the task force meetings. She highlighted the activities of the task force subcommittees on housing, data and information sharing, and competency restoration and stated that the subcommittees would be providing full reports later in the meeting.



16MICJS0720AttachA.pdf 16MICJS0720AttachB.pdf



09:05 AM



Ms. Walton and Ms. Harding responded to questions about the research that the subcommittees are conducting. Senator Martinez Humenik encouraged the task force to review what other states are doing related to various issues. There was discussion about the legislative process. Senator Newell referenced two Legislative Council Staff memos, one concerning housing legislation and one concerning the definition for serious mental illness and screening tools (Attachments C and D). Representative Singer mentioned the lack of staffing for the task force.



16MICJS0720AttachC.pdf 16MICJS0720AttachD.pdf



09:14 AM



Ms. Walton discussed the Medication Consistency Workgroup of Behavioral Health Transformation Council that some MICJS Task Force members also serve on. She discussed the work of the Medication Consistency Workgroup concerning the development of a medication formulary and purchasing options for various facilities. Senator Martinez Humenik and Ms. Walton dialogued about the issues related to medication for inmates. Ms. Harding responded to questions about the interagency involvement in the Medication Consistency Workgroup.





09:21 AM



The committee and Ms. Walton discussed the level of involvement of the various task force members. Ms. Walton discussed the lack of participation by the the task force representatives from the Department of Labor and Employment and the Division of Housing in the Department of Local Affairs. Senator Newell suggested having letters sent to Department of Labor and Employment and the Division of Housing to encourage their participation on the task force. Ms. Walton discussed the pending appointments of a Judicial Branch representative and Bill Martinez from the Colorado Mental Health Institute at Pueblo. Committee discussion about task force member involvement and task force staffing ensued. The committee directed Legislative Council Staff to draft letters to Department of Labor and Employment and the Division of Housing in the Department of Local Affairs concerning the involvement of the departments' representatives in the task force's activities.