Bill Text: NJ SCR136 | 2010-2011 | Regular Session | Amended

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Bill Title: Establishes "Legislative Review Panel on State Psychiatric Hospitals and Developmental Centers."

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 3-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2011-03-21 - Substituted by ACR156 (1R) [SCR136 Detail]

Download: New_Jersey-2010-SCR136-Amended.html

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[First Reprint]

SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION No. 136

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

214th LEGISLATURE

 

INTRODUCED DECEMBER 6, 2010

 

 

Sponsored by:

Senator  JOSEPH F. VITALE

District 19 (Middlesex)

Senator  RICHARD J. CODEY

District 27 (Essex)

 

Co-Sponsored by:

Senator Van Drew

 

 

 

 

SYNOPSIS

     Establishes "Legislative Review Panel on State Psychiatric Hospitals and Developmental Centers."

 

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

     As reported by the Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee on January 20, 2011, with amendments.

  

A Concurrent Resolution establishing the "Legislative Review Panel on State Psychiatric Hospitals and Developmental Centers."

 

Whereas, It is the public policy of this State that persons in the public mental health system receive inpatient treatment and rehabilitation services in the least restrictive environment and in accordance with the highest professional standards; consequently, the State should encourage the expansion of the Statewide community mental health system in order to lessen inappropriate hospitalizations and reliance on psychiatric institutions, and enable State and county community-based psychiatric services to provide the rehabilitative care needed by persons with mental illness; if appropriate; and

Whereas, Persons with developmental disabilities for whom it has been determined that community placement is appropriate but who are still residing in State developmental centers, and for whom State resources are being expended to support an inappropriate level of care, and those persons with disabilities who are on community services waiting lists, should be able to live in their communities, with access to a range of community-based services and supports; and

Whereas, To achieve these goals, it may be necessary for the State to shift financial and human resources from State psychiatric hospitals and developmental centers, and instead use these resources to develop, strengthen, and expand, as appropriate, community-based care for persons with mental illness, and community services, supports, and residential options for persons with developmental disabilities; and

Whereas, It is the duty of the Legislature to study the issues relating to providing care and services to persons with mental illness and developmental disabilities, and to develop a plan ensuring that the current and long-term needs of patients of State psychiatric hospitals and residents of State developmental centers, as applicable, are met in the most cost-effective manner and in the setting most appropriate to the person's circumstances; now, therefore,

 

     Be It Resolved by the Senate of the State of New Jersey (the General Assembly concurring):

 

     1.    a.  There is established the "Legislative Review Panel on State Psychiatric Hospitals and Developmental Centers."

     b.    The purpose of the review panel shall be to:

     (1)   study issues relating to the care and costs of providing services to persons who currently are patients in State psychiatric hospitals or residing in State developmental centers;

     (2)   develop a plan for the effective functioning of State psychiatric hospitals and developmental centers that will ensure that the current and long-term needs of patients or residents of the hospitals and centers, as applicable, are met in the most cost-effective manner and in the setting most appropriate to the person's circumstances; and

     (3)   in accordance with the provisions of subsection c. of this section, review all relevant patient and resident data for State psychiatric hospitals and developmental centers, and examine those issues that relate to State psychiatric hospitals, short-term care facilities, county psychiatric hospitals, and community-based care for persons with mental illness throughout the State, and to community-based services, supports, and residential options throughout the State for persons with developmental disabilities.

     c.     (1)  In order to effectuate the purposes of subsection b. of this section, the review panel shall, for State psychiatric hospitals:

     (a)   evaluate the current and long-term needs for all inpatient psychiatric beds in the State, including those in State psychiatric hospitals, short-term care facilities, and county psychiatric hospitals;

     (b)   assess the availability of appropriate and adequate supportive services in the community, including, but not limited to, housing, case management, medication, and  treatment;

     (c)   evaluate the effects of patient displacement from the State psychiatric hospitals on general hospital emergency departments, correctional facilities, and homeless shelters, including in that evaluation data gathered from the closure of Marlboro Psychiatric Hospital and overcrowding at Ancora Psychiatric Hospital;

     (d)   assess the long-term psychiatric care needs of special populations, including, but not limited to, geriatric, forensic, and culturally and linguistically diverse populations, and persons with developmental disabilities;

     (e)   compare the readmission rates at State psychiatric hospitals, short-term care facilities, and county psychiatric hospitals, by category of facility, during the current fiscal year with the readmission rates for those facility categories during the prior three fiscal years, and compare the rate of referrals for treatment from screening services during the current fiscal year with the rate of referrals during the prior three fiscal years;

     (f)    analyze and estimate projected cost savings that may be realized if ancillary services at State psychiatric hospitals are outsourced;

     (g)   provide a complete analysis of the costs of caring for patients at all State psychiatric hospitals, including, but not limited to, a comparison among the State psychiatric hospitals of their respective: cost of care; staffing ratios; overtime costs; and costs of renovations and capital expenses projected over the next five years, including the total cost of bringing Ancora Psychiatric Hospital into compliance with federal standards;

     (h)   examine the feasibility of partial closures at each State psychiatric hospital and actions needed to allow for the utilization of the most modern facilities; and

     (i)    analyze The Joint Commission survey results for each of the State psychiatric hospitals and the cost-effectiveness of making changes recommended by The Joint Commission.

     (2)   In order to effectuate the purposes of subsection b. of this section, the review panel shall, for State developmental centers:

     (a)   evaluate the current and long-term needs for community placements for persons with developmental disabilities who choose such placements, and the current and long-term needs of those persons who wish to remain in developmental centers;

     (b)   examine the feasibility and costs of developing, strengthening, and expanding community-based services, supports, and residential options for persons with developmental disabilities;

     (c)   assess the availability of appropriate and adequate supportive services in the community, including, but not limited to: crisis intervention; respite care; medical, behavioral health, social, and recreational programs; employment and skills training; peer, family and in-home supports; and assistive and adaptive technology;

     (d)   compare the number of persons with developmental disabilities who remain on the Division of Developmental Disabilities waiting list for community services during the current fiscal year with the number of persons who were on the waiting list during the prior three fiscal years;

     (e)   provide a complete analysis of the costs of caring for patients at all State developmental centers including, but not limited to, a comparison among the State developmental centers of their respective: cost of care; staffing ratios; overtime costs; and costs of renovations and capital expenses projected over the next five years; and

     (f)    examine the feasibility of establishing a moratorium on new placements in State developmental centers or consolidating, downsizing and reducing the reliance on developmental centers over the next five years.

 

     2.    a.  The review panel shall be comprised of 10 members as follows: five members of the Senate appointed by the Senate President and five members of the General Assembly appointed by the Speaker of the General Assembly, with no more than three of either group of five being from the same political party.  The Senate President and the Speaker of the General Assembly shall ¹each¹ appoint one ¹[of the members] member from their respective Houses¹ to serve as ¹[chair and one of the members to serve as vice-chair] co-chairs¹ of the panel.

     b.    The panel shall organize as soon as practicable following the appointment of its members.  The chair shall appoint a secretary who need not be a member of the panel.  The panel shall meet and hold hearings at any place or places it shall designate during the sessions or recesses of the Legislature.

     c.     The panel shall be entitled to call to its assistance and avail itself of the services of the employees of any State, county or municipal board, bureau, commission or agency as it may require and as may be available to it for its purposes.  The panel may also employ stenographic and clerical assistants and may incur travel and other miscellaneous expenses necessary to perform its duties, within the limits of funds made available to it for its purposes.

 

     3.    The review panel shall report its activities, findings, conclusions, and recommendations for legislation or administrative action to the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the General Assembly within one year after the organization of the panel but no later than 60 days before the close of the legislative session in which this resolution is adopted.