SB 5537 — Expanding community-based behavioral health facilities through issuance of state bonds.

S-2189.2SUBSTITUTES-0084.3SENATE SENATE BILL 5537State of Washington66th Legislature2019 Regular SessionBySenateSessionBySenators Ways & Means (originally sponsored by Senators Braun, Keiser, Darneille, Palumbo, Frockt, Rolfes, Conway, Becker, Brown, Wagoner, Warnick, Honeyford, Cleveland, Dhingra, O'Ban, and Zeiger)READZeigerRead FIRSTfirst TIMEtime 02/27/19.AN01/23/19.Referred to Committee on Ways & Means.AN ACT Relating to expanding community-based behavioral health facilities through issuance of state bonds;

making appropriations;

providing a contingent effective date;

Additional resources for these community settings help prevent the need for an inpatient level of care at a state hospital or other long-term inpatient hospital setting.NEWsetting.PART IIBOND AUTHORIZATIONNEW SECTION.  Sec.

102.

The department of commerce, in collaboration with the health care authority and department of social and health services, shall administer grants to community hospitals or other community entities to expand and establish new capacity for behavioral health services in communities.

Amounts authorized in this act may be used for construction and equipment costs associated with establishment of the facilities.

Amounts authorized in this act may not be used for operating costs associated with the treatment of patients using these services.

The department shall establish criteria for the issuance of the grants, which must include:(1) Evidence that the services provided as a result of the grant may reduce the demand for treatment and services at state mental hospitals;(2) Evidence that the application was developed in collaboration with one or more behavioral health organizations, as defined in RCW 71.24.025;(3) Evidence that the applicant has assessed and would meet gaps in geographical behavioral health services needs in their region;(4) A commitment by applicants to serve persons who are publicly funded and persons detained under the involuntary treatment act under chapter 71.05 RCW;(5) A commitment by the applicant to maintain the beds or facility for at least a ten-year period;(6) The date upon which structural modifications or construction would begin and the anticipated date of completion of the project;(7) A detailed estimate of the costs associated with opening the beds;

and(8) The applicant's commitment to work with local courts and prosecutors to ensure that prosecutors and courts in the area served by the hospital or facility will be available to conduct involuntary commitment hearings and proceedings under chapter 71.05 RCW.PART IIBOND AUTHORIZATIONNEW SECTION.  Sec.

(1) The proceeds from the sale of bonds authorized in section 201 of this act shall be deposited in the community behavioral health bond account, created in section 502402 of this act.(2) If the state finance committee deems it necessary or advantageous to issue taxable bonds in order to comply with federal internal revenue service rules and regulations pertaining to the use of nontaxable bond proceeds or in order to reduce the total financing costs for bonds issued, the proceeds of taxable bonds shall be transferred to the community behavioral health taxable bond account created in section 501401 of this act.

This bill would authorize bonds to expand community-based behavioral health facilities to serve and treat adults and children with behavioral health disorders."PART IVAPPROPRIATIONSNEWIVTECHNICAL PROVISIONSNEW SECTION.  Sec.

(1) The sum of two hundred million dollars, or as much thereof as may be necessary, is appropriated for the fiscal biennium ending June 30, 2021, from the community behavioral health bond account, created in section 502 of this act, to the university of Washington for the design and construction of a behavioral health teaching hospital to be located in Seattle.(2) The sum of three hundred million dollars, or as much thereof as may be necessary, is appropriated for the fiscal biennium ending June 30, 2021, from the community behavioral health bond account, created in section 502 of this act, to the department of commerce for the purpose of grants to community-based behavioral health facilities consistent with section 102 of this act.PART VTECHNICAL PROVISIONSNEW SECTION.  Sec.

501.

502.402.

503.403.

Sections 101 through 206, 501,401, and 502402 of this act constitute a new chapter in Title 43 RCW.NEWRCW.--- SECTION.  Sec.END ---

504.

If the people ratify section 201 of this act as specified under section 301(1) of this act, sections 101 through 206, 401, 501, and 502 of this act take effect January 1, 2020.--- END ---