Legislative Update

In early 2008, Dan Satterberg and Department of Corrections Secretary, Eldon Vail, convened a work group after the 2007 New Year's Eve stabbing death of Shannon Harps to examine the interplay between our mental health and criminal justice systems.

While there is still room for reform within both systems, it is evident that the 2009 Legislature seriously considered the proposals that stemmed from the work group, and passed legislation that will continue the momentum generated by the work group's discussion.

SHB 1201 establishes the offender re-entry community safety program (formerly known as the community integration assistance program) to provide intensive mental health services to mentally ill offenders housed in the Department of Corrections.

SHB 1300 allows mental health providers to share with prosecutors and law enforcement important mental health treatment information regarding certain mentally ill offenders.

SHB 1349 makes it easier to renew orders for less restrictive treatment for patients who have been involuntarily committed more than once and who would benefit from additional treatment.  SHB 1349 also changed the standard for when mental health professionals are allowed to file petitions to revoke orders for less restrictive treatment.  SHB 1349 now allows those petitions to be filed before a patient becomes ill enough to present a likelihood to commit serious harm.

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