Honorable James White, Chair, House Committee on Corrections
FROM:
John McGeady, Assistant Director Sarah Keyton, Assistant Director Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
HB3620 by Reynolds (Relating to the creation of a mental health treatment for incarceration diversion pilot program.), As Introduced
No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
The bill would amend the Health and Safety Code to create an incarceration diversion for mental health treatment pilot program in certain counties. The bill authorizes the Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) to inspect the operations of the pilot program and would require the agency to submit an evaluation report of the program to the Governor and certain members of the Legislature. The creation of the pilot program would be contingent on the continuing agreement of commissioners courts to contribute to the program each year
The pilot program would expire September 1, 2021.
It is assumed that the provisions of the bill relating to HHSC could be absorbed using existing resources.
Local Government Impact
The bill would create a pilot incarceration diversion program in Ft. Bend County. According to the County, the bill would result in a savings to the county of between $247,000 to $376,500 due to reductions in incarceration costs for an estimated 10 inmates who were booked into the jail at least eight times in the previous two years. The county estimates expenditures for the pilot program would be $380,000 per year for residential placement, case management, and treatment services. The county anticipates that the program would result in a net savings of $3,500 to $93,000 per year.