Amendment ID: S2133-34-R1

Redraft Amendment 34

REHABILITATION OF ADDICTED OFFENDERS

Ms. Creem moves to amend the bill by inserting after section 45 the following section:-

"SECTION 45A. There shall be a commission to study and examine substance abuse treatment programs and providers within the correctional system in the commonwealth. The commission shall consist of: the secretary of administration and finance, or a designee; the commissioner of public health, or a designee; the director of the office of Medicaid, or a designee; the director of the bureau of substance abuse services, or a designee; the commissioner of the department of correction, or a designee; the chair of the parole board, or a designee; the commissioner of probation, or a designee; a representative from the Massachusetts sheriffs' association; a representative from Prisoners’ Legal Services of Massachusetts; a representative from the American Civil Liberties Union of Massachusetts; the senate chair of the joint committee on public safety and homeland security; 1 senator appointed by the senate minority leader; 1 representative appointed by the speaker of the house; and 1 member of the house of representatives appointed by the house minority leader.

The commission shall investigate ways to improve and expand programs to treat incarcerated individuals with substance addictions.  The investigation shall include, but not be limited to: (i) a survey of the statewide system, including existing programs in prisons and houses of correction; (ii) an analysis comparing capacity to need at each prison and house of correction; (iii) standards for certification and evaluation of such programs and treatments, based on evidence and research; (iv) the cost associated with conducting substance abuse screenings of all newly admitted persons to prisons and houses of correction, and making treatment available to all such persons who request it; and (v) research into possible funding sources for such programs, including Medicaid funding for eligible participants.

The commission shall file a report on its findings and recommendations, together with any draft legislation, with the clerks of the house of representatives and the senate, the chairs of the joint committee on health care financing, the chairs of the joint committee on public safety and homeland security, and the house and senate committees on ways and means, not later than March 15, 2015.”