Involuntary commitments.

06LSO-0165.C1

FISCAL NOTE

The non-administrative fiscal impact is indeterminable.

Source of anticipated expenditure increases: 

Based upon the proposed legislation the source of expenditure increases will come from two areas:  The responsibility of the State to contract with other hospitals or licensed treatment providers for the provision of psychiatric services; and the change in responsibility for the costs of a continued emergency detention being shifted to the State.

Assumptions:

It is unknown what these costs will be as the Department of Health does not know what the costs of contracting for these services will be; the number of people that would need these services; or the number of emergency detentions that have an order for a continued emergency detention.  The State Hospital served 140 clients as emergency detentions in fiscal year 2005 at a cost of $520,000.  The Department of Health does not have information on involuntary commitments in local jurisdictions.

Prepared by: Pablo Hernandez, Dept. of Health

Phone:(307) 789-3464 ext. 354

For purposes of some comparison, according to a LSO survey of all counties, of which 22 of 23 ultimately responded, total reported expenditures associated with Title 25 cases for FY 2004 were $2.7 million.  However, due to differences in reporting and accounting, this is a very preliminary indication and does not adequately consider cost distinctions before and after the first 72 hours of detention as provided for in the proposed legislation. 

Prepared by:   Don Richards, LSO       Phone:  777-7881  

NOTICE-AGENCY ESTIMATE OF ADMINISTRATIVE IMPACT REQUESTED

In addition, this bill has administrative impact that appears to increase (or decrease) duties or responsibilities of one or more state agencies and may impact agency spending or staffing requirements. As introduced, the bill does not modify any state agency budget or current personnel authorizations.

The following state agencies will be asked to provide their estimate of the administrative fiscal impact prior to the first committee meeting held to consider the bill:

Department of Health