GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

SESSION 1997

S	1 

SENATE BILL 1531*

Short Title:  Continue Pscyh. Hosp. Study.	(Public)

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Sponsors: Senators Martin of Guilford; and Dannelly.

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Referred to:  Appropriations.

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June 1, 1998

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT TO APPROPRIATE FUNDS TO CONTINUE THE STUDY OF THE STATE PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITALS, AND FOR ADVANCED PLANNING FOR A NEW PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITAL AT DOROTHEA DIX HOSPITAL.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
Section 1.  There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Department of Health and Human Services the sum of two million nine hundred thousand dollars ($2,900,000) for the 1998-99 fiscal year for the following purposes:
(1)	$900,000 to continue the efficiency study of the State psychiatric hospitals authorized under Section 11.44 of S.L. 1997-443.  The continuing study shall address issues raised in the MGT of America, Inc. report and shall also include a review of the public system of mental health services, including Mental Health Area Authorities.
(2)	$2,000,000 for advanced planning through the design and development stage for a new psychiatric hospital at Dorothea Dix Hospital and to study the comparative costs for construction and operation of new facilities versus interior redesign and operation of the existing facilities at Broughton, Cherry, and John Umstead hospitals congruent with the programmatic needs of psychiatric populations.
Section 2.  This act becomes effective July 1, 1998.