HB 883

            
2020 SESSION

20104910D

HOUSE BILL NO. 883


Offered January 8, 2020


Prefiled January 7, 2020

A BILL to direct the Department of Criminal Justice Services 
 to evaluate the costs and benefits of implementing a deflection to treatment 
 program for individuals with substance use disorder or mental illness. Report.
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Patron-- Subramanyam

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Referred to Committee on Health, Welfare and Institutions

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Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
 
 
1. � 1. That the Department of Criminal Justice Services, together with the Department of Behavioral Health 
 and Developmental Services, shall 
 evaluate the costs and benefits of implementing a deflection to treatment program that provides for deflection of individuals with 
 mental illness or substance use disorder to community-based treatment rather than arrest of the person or charging of the 
 person, or that allows for the holding of potential charges in abeyance, reduces 
 criminal justice system involvement of and facilitate linkages to treatment and 
 support services for individuals with substance use disorder or mental illness, and provide recommendations related to implementation of a deflection of treatment program in the 
 Commonwealth. In conducting its evaluation, the Department shall evaluate (i) the 
 number of individuals with substance use disorder or mental illness who become 
 involved with the criminal 
 justice system each year, (ii) the number of such individuals who might be diverted from the criminal justice system to 
 treatment through a deflection to treatment program, (iii) the resources currently available 
 to meet the treatment needs of individuals diverted from the criminal justice system through 
 a deflection to 
 treatment program, (iv) the costs and benefits of implementing a deflection to treatment program generally and the 
 Five Deflection Pathways in accordance with 
 the  Police, Treatment and Community Collaborative specifically, including any law enforcement and treatment 
 resources required by each of the five Deflection Pathways, (v) any 
 additional resources necessary to meet the treatment needs of individuals deflected to 
 treatment, and 
 (vi) any statutory, regulatory, budgetary, or other changes necessary to implement a 
 deflection to treatment program for 
 individuals with 
 substance use disorder or mental illness in the Commonwealth and, to the extent that adequate treatment 
 capacity does not exist to provide clinically appropriate treatment to 
 individuals 
 deflected to treatment, recommendations for how to address such lack of 
 capacity. The 
 Department shall report its findings and recommendations to the Governor and the General 
 Assembly by December 1, 2020.