A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT requiring the commission for mental health, developmental disabilities, and substance abuse services to designate an additional region to meet the needs of individuals residing in south central north carolina who have been diagnosed with mental illness, intellectual or developmental disability, or substance abuse disorder; and appropriating funds to the department of health and human services for the construction of a new state psychiatric hospital in this newly designated south central region.
Whereas, from 2001 to 2012, the total population of North Carolina increased from 8,203,734 persons to 9,781,022 persons, which represents an increase of over one and a half million residents; and
Whereas, the number of North Carolina residents in need of services for serious mental illness increased from 517,447 in 2001 to 613,379 in 2012; and
Whereas, since 2001, the number of inpatient psychiatric beds in this State has decreased by fifty percent (50%), from approximately 1,750 beds to approximately 850 beds; and
Whereas, this decrease in the number of inpatient psychiatric beds is attributed, in part, to North Carolina's commitment to (i) developing and implementing effective measures to prevent inappropriate institutionalization of individuals with serious mental illness and (ii) providing adequate and appropriate public services and supports in the most integrated setting appropriate to meet the needs of individuals with serious mental illness; and
Whereas, in some instances, this decrease in the number of inpatient psychiatric beds for the treatment of acutely or chronically ill individuals diagnosed with serious mental illness has had the unintended consequence of negatively impacting the health of individuals diagnosed with severe mental illness for whom institutionalization is, in fact, appropriate; and
Whereas, in the absence of an adequate number of available inpatient psychiatric beds, many individuals with serious mental illness are increasingly gravitating toward hospital emergency departments or ending up in jails and prisons when they experience a disabling crisis; and
Whereas, hospital emergency departments, jails, and prisons are unequipped to provide acutely or chronically ill individuals diagnosed with serious mental illness with the appropriate psychiatric treatment for their condition; Now, therefore,
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.  The Commission for Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities, and Substance Abuse Services shall amend the rules adopted pursuant to G.S. 143b‑147(a)(1)a. to designate an additional region in south central North Carolina for the admission, treatment, and professional care of individuals residing in that area with a primary diagnosis of mental illness, intellectual or developmental disability, or substance abuse disorder. This newly designated south central region shall be comprised of at least all of the following counties: Anson, Cabarrus, Davidson, Davie, Forsyth, Mecklenburg, Montgomery, Moore, Randolph, Richmond, Rowan, Scotland, Stanly, and Union.
SECTION 2.(a)  There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Department of Health and Human Services the sum of twenty‑three million nine hundred ninety‑six thousand nine hundred six dollars ($23,996,906) for the 2013‑2014 fiscal year.  These funds shall be used for planning, site development, and construction of a new 200‑bed State psychiatric hospital to provide acute psychiatric treatment services to individuals residing within the new region designated in accordance with Section 1 of this act. The location of the new State psychiatric hospital shall be one that maximizes access by individuals residing within the region and efficiencies in service and administration. Once a site is chosen for the new State psychiatric hospital, the Department shall report the location to the Joint Legislative Commission on Governmental Operations, the Senate Appropriations Committee on Health and Human Services, the House of Representatives Appropriations Subcommittee on Health and Human Services, the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Health and Human Services, and the Fiscal Research Division.
SECTION 2.(b)  There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Department of Health and Human Services the sum of ninety‑five million nine hundred eighty‑seven thousand six hundred twenty‑five dollars ($95,987,625) for the 2014‑2015 fiscal year. These funds shall be used for construction of the new 200‑bed State psychiatric hospital described in Section 2(a) of this act.
SECTION 3.  Section 2 of this act becomes effective July 1, 2013. The remainder of this act is effective when it becomes law.