GREEN SHEET REDIGEST
HB 961 2024 Regular Session Muscarello
CORRECTIONS/PRISONERS: Provides relative to the creation of a mental health
transition pilot program.
DIGEST
Proposed law provides that the Dept. of Public Safety and Corrections shall establish a
mental health transition pilot program to be administered within the parishes of Livingston,
St. Helena, and Tangipahoa to provide eligible individuals with transition services in the
community while on probation or parole.
Proposed law provides that in order to determine eligibility for the program, the department
shall conduct basic level screening of individuals placed on probation or parole for mental
health disorders as defined in the current edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of
Mental Disorders published by the American Psychiatric Assoc.
Proposed law provides that each eligible individual who participates in the program shall be
required, as a condition of probation or parole, to immediately do all of the following upon
being placed on probation or released on parole:
(1)Schedule and attend all appointments at the Florida Parishes Human Services
Authority or any local governmental entity, district, or authority, for any and all
mental health or substance use disorder treatments, if indicated.
(2)Complete a Medicaid application.
Proposed law provides that the department shall participate in a demonstration waiver
pursuant to present law (42 U.S.C. 1315) when established by the La. Dept. of Health and
approved by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.
Proposed law provides that the department shall do all of the following:
(1)Conduct an annual study to determine the recidivism rates of individuals who receive
a contracted entity's mental health transition services pursuant to proposed law.
Further provides that the study shall include the recidivism rates of individuals who
have been placed on probation or released from incarceration for a minimum of one
year after placement on probation or release.
(2)On or before Dec. 31st of each year, submit a written report to the governor, the
president of the Senate, the speaker of the House of Representatives, and the Joint
Legislative Committee on the Budget and provide a copy of this report to the
secretary of state. Further provides that the report may be submitted electronically
and shall contain the one-year rate of return of individuals to the custody of the
department.
(Adds R.S. 15:830.3)
Summary of Amendments Adopted by Senate
Committee Amendments Proposed by Senate Committee on Judiciary B to the
engrossed bill
1. Makes technical change.
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Prepared by Alan Miller.