HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2108        FILED ON: 1/15/2015

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 1798

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_________________

PRESENTED BY:

Kay Khan

_________________

To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:

The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:

An Act relative to juvenile mental health.

_______________

PETITION OF:

HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2108        FILED ON: 1/15/2015

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 1798

[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE HOUSE, NO. 1791 OF 2013-2014.]

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_______________

In the One Hundred and Eighty-Ninth General Court
(2015-2016)

_______________

An Act relative to juvenile mental health.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
 

SECTION 1. The department of mental health in collaboration with the department of youth services and the department of public health is hereby authorized and directed to conduct a comprehensive review of the mental health and substance abuse service needs of adolescents in the care of or detained in the commonwealth through the order of a juvenile court, including without limitation juveniles detained in the department of youth services or in the custody of the department of children and families, or receiving services from the department of mental health, the court clinics, probation, or otherwise, and including without limitation any such departments, offices, agencies or instrumentalities of the commonwealth, and any private organizations and agencies operating under arrangement with departments or agencies of the commonwealth. To complete said review, the department of mental health, department of youth services, and department of public health shall solicit input from the office of probation, the department of children and families, the department of education, the juvenile court, juvenile court clinics, the committee for public counsel services, the department of developmental services, the division of insurance, the division of medical assistance, the Massachusetts Association of District Attorneys, at least one individual representing the interests of parents and families, at least one advocate for juvenile justice, at least one representative of a service provider community, and at least one representative from the Massachusetts Association of Health Plans. Said review shall be for purposes of identifying the following:

(i) existing and proposed models of alternatives to detention, within and outside the commonwealth, of providing mental health and substance abuse services to juveniles in detention, and as alternatives to detention; community resources and other dependencies which affect the appropriateness and effectiveness of models of alternatives to detention; and data demonstrating the relative efficacy, cost-effectiveness, and effect on public safety of alternative models;

(ii) unmet mental health and substance abuse needs of juveniles within the juvenile court systems of the commonwealth, including an explicit comparison of the best practices and models identified in paragraph (a) of this section with services and models available in the commonwealth;

(iii) recommendations for addressing unmet needs, including without limitation through the court clinics of the juvenile courts, and through contracting by the department of mental health for community-based services through community providers, or through consortia of community providers, local government agencies and others operating in congruence with local courts involved in the juvenile justice system.

SECTION 2. Chapter 119 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2012 Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting after section 68C the following section:-

68D. The purpose of the "diagnostic assessment" authorized in section 68A, above, is to provide a screening, evaluation and service planning system so as to provide the Juvenile Court with information regarding the needs of juveniles before the Court in delinquency matters, so as to assure the appropriate use of detention, and provide the Court a method for assuring that those juvenile defendants with mental health or substance abuse issues who may be safely maintained in their communities are not detained in locked detention settings during the pendency of delinquency or Youthful Offender proceedings. Evaluation under this section and Section 68A shall require consent of the juvenile defendant's parent or legal guardian and, through the defendant's counsel, the juvenile. Should consent be withdrawn during the period of evaluation, the evaluation shall be suspended until the matter can be brought back before the court.

A juvenile may not be held in detention, except as pursuant to chapter 276 sections 58 or 58A. Within amounts appropriated by the legislature for these purposes, where the Court is considering an order of detention for evaluation of a juvenile defendant in a locked detention setting pursuant to 68A, the juvenile shall receive on the same court day and prior to issuance of an order of detention a preliminary screening by a juvenile court clinician to make recommendations to the court on matters relevant to the further evaluation of the juvenile; the report to the court regarding the results of this screening shall include a recommendation on whether the evaluation ordered by the Court pursuant to 68A may be completed in a less restrictive environment than a locked facility, and whether the immediate needs of the juvenile warrant further examination for possible hospitalization for clinical care. The Court shall then order the evaluation pursuant to 68A to occur in the least restrictive environment. The report of the screen to the court shall not include statements of self-incrimination and shall include only information relevant to the recommendation to be offered to the court regarding the setting for further evaluation. No additional information shall be released without an order from the court, except as to defense counsel.

A juvenile shall not be held in a locked detention facility of the Department of Youth Services for 68A evaluation unless the Court makes findings that failure to detain in a locked detention facility would pose a substantial risk of failure to appear for future hearings before the Court on the delinquency or Youthful Offender matter. Unless these findings are made, the Court shall order the 68A evaluation to occur in the least restrictive setting reasonably available including, but not limited to, the Court Clinic or a program to which the youth is assigned as an alternative to a locked detention setting. Orders of recognizance may not be revoked and a juvenile detained in a locked detention facility solely for failure to comply with the 68A examination; provided, however, that once a 68A evaluation is ordered the examiner shall complete the evaluation if so directed by the Court with information from other sources should the juvenile decline interview or other direct participation. Revocation of orders of recognizance or bail and a subsequent order for detention in a locked DYS facility shall occur only upon additional findings by the Court that failure to detain would result in: (a) substantial risk of failure to appear in the delinquency or Youthful Offender matter; or (b) findings of dangerousness made following proceedings in accordance with Ch. 276 sections 58 and 58A. Provided, however, that if a likelihood of serious harm to self or other is by reason of mental illness or substance abuse, the Court shall proceed under the provisions of MGLc. 123, sections 12, 15 or 35.

The order for further 68A examination following the screening shall specify one or more referral questions for response by the qualified examiner. Defense counsel shall be afforded an opportunity to object to referral questions and to suggest referral questions; provided, however, that forensic examination of Competency to Stand Trial and Criminal Responsibility cannot be ordered as part of a 68A evaluation in lieu of proceedings under Chapter 123, section 15. In addition to the forensic mental health examination by a qualified examiner, the court may also order screenings for substance use.

The examiner shall submit within 20 days of the 68A order a written report of the 68A examination to the court and to defense counsel; provided, however, that the examiner may request the court to authorize an additional 20 days if the examination cannot be completed within the first period of 20 days. Upon filing of the report with the court and defense counsel, before the 68A report is provided to the prosecution, probation or any other person or entity, the juvenile's counsel shall be afforded an opportunity for prior review of the report and to request a hearing before the court should defense counsel want to request of the court that portions of the report be redacted or subject to protective order as being privileged, not material to or otherwise admissible in the instant proceeding, before a copy is provided to the prosecution. Further release of the 68A examination report beyond the Juvenile Court, Probation, defense counsel, the prosecution, and the parents or legal guardian of the juvenile shall require an order of the Juvenile Court identifying the persons or entities to receive copies of the report and the purpose for which the report is being released by the Court.

Whether conducted while in a locked DYS detention facility or a less restricting setting, the 68A examination report shall offer responses to the referral questions and be sufficient to identify such services as might be required to meet the mental health and substance abuse needs of the juvenile during the pendency of the delinquency or Youthful Offender proceedings. The report of the 68A examination shall include recommendations regarding what, if any, mental health, substance abuse, child protection, educational or other services the juvenile may require to be maintained in the community during the pendency of the delinquency or Youthful Offender proceedings and needed for ongoing care, intervention or treatment. The examiner shall not inquire about open or uncharged delinquency or Youthful Offender charges without prior authorization to do so by defense counsel for the juvenile.

Upon review of the 68A examination report and the recommendations of the examiner, the court may consider the report in determining an alternative to detention under Section 68 of this Chapter. On motion of counsel for the juvenile, or in the court's own discretion, the court may refer the child to the Department of Mental Health or other relevant state agency for the receipt of services as an alternative to detention in a locked DYS setting, subject to the child's substantial compliance with the terms of the interim service plan authorized by the court during the proceedings if necessary to assure the child’s appearance in court. No information obtained in the course of the 68A screening, 68A examination or the provision of services subsequently recommended and ordered by the court may be introduced as a confession by the juvenile nor used in the prosecution of the case in chief, or any other proceeding, against the juvenile defendant, nor may any of the information be used in disposition unless some part of the report is first offered by counsel for the juvenile

When conducted and other than a DYS operated setting and within amounts appropriated therefore by the legislature, the Department of Mental Health or other relevant state agency, or qualified provider of mental health, substance abuse or other services acting under arrangement with the Department or other relevant state agency, shall within 24 hours of referral from the Juvenile Court begin to formulate and implement a care and intervention plan. This plan shall include as relevant to each case a plan for the coordination of mental health, substance abuse, educational, social service and other service providers, and where to place the juvenile until said court date. This coordination plan shall include designation of a case manager or other appropriate care coordination mechanism, services to address the child's mental health and substance abuse service needs, and a mechanism to report on the juvenile's progress and the effective collaboration of state agencies, educational authorities, service providers, and others contributing to meeting the clinical care needs of the child for so long as the juvenile is the subject of Juvenile Court proceedings.

Nothing in this chapter shall preempt the presumption of personal recognizance or any of the requirements of sections 58 and 58A of chapter 276.

SECTION 3. Chapter 123 of the General Laws as so appearing is hereby amended by inserting after section 16 the following section:-

16A. Alternatives to detention for minors in juvenile justice proceedings

(a) Within amounts appropriated therefore, the department shall contract with eligible providers of mental health services for provision of adequate and effective mental health and substance abuse services for minors referred for evaluation and services pursuant to sections 68D of chapter 119 of the General Laws, for whom the provision of mental health and substance abuse services, delivered in a timely and appropriate manner in an outpatient or inpatient setting, would ameliorate mental health or substance abuse needs and, as ordered by the court, dispense with the need for detention in a facility under the direction of the department of youth services or otherwise.

(b) For purposes of this section, “eligible providers” shall mean appropriately qualified residential and non-residential providers of pediatric mental health services; local government mental health agencies or authorities; or local or regional consortia of such providers, agencies or authorities, operating within cooperative arrangements with, as the case may be, local offices of probation, law enforcement, community health organizations, or public health agencies, and court-associated clinic services. Such consortia may allocate diagnostic and therapeutic services among them in a locally or regionally appropriate and effective manner, provided that the evaluation and services for a given juvenile will be managed by a continuously dedicated case manager and, in the department’s judgment, that the networked allocation of evaluation and services will be as or more effective than competing applications for the same region or locality. Eligible providers shall also be equipped to provide academic and recreational services as necessary and appropriate for the service needs of youth referred to them. Eligibility criteria for services shall be established by the department of mental health in consultation with the Juvenile Mental and Behavioral Health Coordinating Committee, established by this section.

(c)The department(s) shall engage sufficient numbers of qualified providers, sufficiently distributed within the state, to timely meet the mental health service needs of minors referred by the court for evaluation, assessment, and services pursuant to section 68D of chapter 119 of the General Laws.

(d) To implement the requirements of this section, the department shall within 60 days after the effective date of this act, and within 60 days after the effective date of any subsequent appropriation directed to this purpose in any fiscal year other than appropriations directed to the continuation of previous contracts, issue and disseminate, including posting on its external website, a draft request for information, or request for proposals as the case may be, for public comment. Thirty days thereafter, the department shall close the public comment period, and no later than ninety days thereafter issue a request for information or proposals, as the case may be, soliciting contracting proposals under this section. Before issuing the draft request for information, or proposals as the case may be, the department shall consult with and seek comment from pertinent departments of the commonwealth, and pertinent providers, agencies, authorities and associations involved with the provision of pediatric mental health and substance abuse services, or the juvenile justice system, or advocacy for children, including at least the following, which the department shall seek to assemble and constitute in a continuing advisory capacity denominated the juvenile mental and behavioral health coordinating committee: the chief of probation, the chief justice of the juvenile court, the commissioner of public health, the commissioner of children and families, the commissioner of youth services, the commissioner of education, the commissioner of early education, the commissioner of developmental services, the commissioner of insurance, the director of the division of medical assistance, one representative of court clinic services, one representative from the committee for public counsel services, one representative from the Massachusetts Association of District Attorneys, one individual representing the interests of parents and families, one advocate for juvenile justice, one representative of the service provider community, and one representative from the Massachusetts Association of Health Plans.

(e) Proposals shall be solicited and evaluated by the department based on the criteria established in consultation with the juvenile mental and behavioral health coordinating committee. Successful applicants shall be required to have demonstrated that they will timely provide appropriate mental health and substance abuse services that, based on data submitted with their proposal, are reasonably anticipated to reduce the necessity of detention in facilities operated by or under the authority of the department of youth services through diagnosis and treatment of the juveniles’ mental health and substance service needs. Proposals shall address all matters required under section 68D of chapter 119 of the General Laws. The department shall also require applicants to identify the extent to which they have provided for local input from and coordination with local and regional government agencies and authorities, community organizations, and philanthropic organizations concerned with mental health services for minors, and community safety.

(f) The department shall annually report to the governor, the president of the senate, the speaker of the house of representatives, the joint committee on mental health and substance abuse, the joint committee on children and families and the legislative mental health caucus on its compliance with this section, including the extent to which actions taken by the department, or contractors under this section, have failed to comply with the requirements of this section, and have not addressed all needs for such mental health and substance abuse services. The report shall also include the department’s efforts to demonstrate the effectiveness of such programs on reducing detention in other facilities in the commonwealth not under the jurisdiction of the department while maintaining the public safety. The report shall further include the impact that the implementation of section 68D has on the department’s other responsibilities with regard to forensic mental health services, including but not limited to the impact on the juvenile court clinics, and the impact of said implementation on the daily census of detained youth in the department of youth services. The report shall be publicly available, and shall be posted by the department on its external website.

SECTION 4. Upon approval by the legislature and subject to appropriation, the procedure for screening and 68A evaluation shall be implemented as a pilot in the Springfield Juvenile Court for a period of eighteen months. At the conclusion of the eighteen month pilot, a joint report from the Department of Mental Health, Department of Youth Services and the Committee for Public Counsel Services shall be submitted to the Secretary of the Executive Office of Health and Human Services, the Legislature and the Chief Justice of the Juvenile Court reporting on the outcome of the pilot implementation and any recommendations. Upon filing of the report, further statewide implementation of the statute shall be stayed until authorizing legislation is passed.