ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Phoenix, Arizona
appropriations; seriously
mentally ill
Purpose
Appropriates an additional
$50 million in FY 2001-2002 and $100 million in FY 2002-2003 from the state
general fund to the Department of Health Services (DHS) to provide behavioral
health services to persons with a serious mental illness.
Background
In 1981, a class action suit
was filed alleging the State and Maricopa County did not fund a comprehensive
mental health system. The lawsuit, Arnold
vs. Sarn, sought to enforce the community mental health residential
treatment system (A.R.S. §§ 36-550 through 36-550.08) on behalf of persons with
a serious mental illness in Maricopa County.
In 1986, the trial court entered judgment holding the State had violated
its statutory duty, which the Supreme Court affirmed in 1989. In 1995, the parties negotiated criteria to
exit the lawsuit; however, the State has not yet met its obligations as
determined by the lawsuit.
In July 1999, the Human
Services Research Institute released an independent study (also known as the
“Leff report” or “gap analysis”) that was commissioned by DHS to estimate the
types, amounts and costs of mental health service needs of persons with a
serious mental illness in Maricopa County pursuant to the provisions of the
lawsuit. Based on the results of the
study, $317 million is required for a comprehensive, full capacity mental
health system within Maricopa County, and a total of $528 million in federal,
state and county monies is needed to support a statewide system.
For
the next two fiscal years, the Joint Legislative Budget Committee staff
recommended increasing the DHS budget for services to persons with a serious
mental illness by a total of $158.9 million in FY 2001-2002 and $212 million in
FY 2002-2003. As revised by the Senate
Appropriations subcommittee, the appropriations for both fiscal years are
$127.5 million and $157.4 million, respectively. H.B. 2629 appropriates, in addition to other legislative
appropriations, $50 million in FY 2001-2002 and $100 million in FY 2002-2003
from the state general fund to DHS to enhance the quantity and quality of
behavioral health services to persons with a serious mental illness.
Provisions
1. Appropriates, in addition to other legislative appropriations, $50 million in FY 2001-2002 and $100 million in FY 2002-2003 from the state general fund to DHS to enhance the quantity and quality of behavioral health services to persons with a serious mental illness.
2. Exempts the appropriations from lapsing.
3. Provides for a general effective date.
House Action
APPROP 3/6/01 DP 12-3-0-1
3rd Read 3/8/01 55-4-1-0
Prepared by Senate Staff
March 16, 2001