REP. HANCOCK'S BELTRAMI COUNTY MENTAL HEALTH JAIL DIVERSION PROGRAM BILL MAKING PROGRESS

ST. PAUL – A bill being championed by State Representative Dave Hancock (R-Bemidji) that would establish a comprehensive community mental health center in Beltrami County is making headway in the Minnesota House.

The proposal - which would provide eight to ten crisis beds in Bemidji for those needing help, and would provide a three day program dealing with various stages of inpatient and outpatient care and housing – received a full hearing in the Minnesota House Health and Human Services Finance Committee on April 15.

Beltrami County Sheriff Phil Hodapp and Executive Director of the Upper Mississippi Mental Health Center Paul Nistler joined Rep. Hancock to testify in favor of the legislation.

"We're talking about helping folks that do not belong in jail, the emergency room, or back on the street," Hancock said. "In some crisis situations Beltrami County law enforcement has to transport people with mental health issues to Fargo, North Dakota. This legislation would provide needed assistance locally."

Specifically, Hancock's bill would appropriate $1.5 million to Beltrami County so it can start a mental health hub program. He said the center is needed because the daily Beltrami County jail population has increased by 600 percent in the last 35 years, and 70 percent of the local inmates have a diagnosed mental illness.

It is expected that over time, a mental health hub could save the county millions of dollars in jail and emergency room expenses.

"In short, this program would better meet the needs of the individual facing a crisis as well as law enforcement," Hancock said.

Hancock's bill was held over for possible inclusion in a comprehensive health and human services proposal that will be unveiled by the House majority in the coming days.