Sec. 3. Criteria for transfer. Resolved: That the criteria for transfer to a state psychiatric facility must include the following:

1. Requiring hospitalization for 30 days or longer;

2. Mental illness of such acuity that the patient can not be safely and appropriately cared for in a community hospital or freestanding private psychiatric hospital; and

3. Requiring acute psychiatric hospitalization when there is not an option more suitable; and be it further

Sec. 4. Plan required. Resolved: That, if the percentage of patients determined to be appropriate for transfer under the criteria of section 3 and rejected from admission to the Augusta Mental Health Institute or the Riverview Psychiatric Center exceeds 30% of the patients for whom transfer is requested for 2 consecutive calendar quarters, the Department of Behavioral and Developmental Services, by the end of the next calendar quarter following such rejections, shall present to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over health and human services matters, within the next calendar quarter following the report, a plan to meet the needs of those patients who are being denied admission.

Emergency clause. In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this resolve takes effect when approved.

SUMMARY

This resolve directs the Department of Behavioral and Developmental Services to maintain bed capacity at the Augusta Mental Health Institute, establishes criteria for to meet submitting a plan for mental health needs and requires quarterly reports on transfer requests.