(a) To confront the crisis of individuals found incompetent to stand trial (IST) and in recognition of the importance of these defendants who are committed to the State Department of State Hospitals to begin receiving competency treatment as soon as practicable, the California Health and Human Services Agency along with the State Department of State Hospitals shall convene an Incompetent to Stand Trial Solutions Workgroup to identify short, medium, and long-term solutions to advance alternatives to placement at the State Department of State Hospitals. (b) Workgroup members shall be appointed by the Secretary of California Health and Human Services and the workgroup shall be chaired by the Director of the State Department of State Hospitals. Members of the workgroup shall serve without compensation. Members may include, but are not limited to, representatives from the following entities and interested parties: (1) California Health and Human Services Agency. (2) State Department of Health Care Services. (3) State Department of Developmental Services. (4) Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. (5) Department of Finance. (6) Other state agencies, as needed. (7) Judicial Council. (8) Other partners, including local government and justice system representatives of entities involved in the commitment of IST defendants to the State Department of State Hospitals and representatives of patients and their family members, as needed. (c) The workgroup shall submit recommendations to the California Health and Human Services Agency and the Department of Finance no later than November 30, 2021, outlining short-term solutions that can be accomplished by April 1, 2022, medium-term solutions that can be accomplished by January 10, 2023, and long-term solutions that can be accomplished by January 10, 2024, and January 10, 2025, to support the State Department of State Hospitals in serving individuals with the most intensive behavioral health treatment needs and providing timely access to treatment for individuals found IST on felony charges. (d) The workgroup may meet as often as bi-weekly until the workgroup is disbanded by the Secretary of California Health and Human Services. (e) The workgroup may consider, but is not limited to, recommendations that accomplish any of the following: (1) Reduce the total number of felony defendants determined to be IST. (2) Reduce the lengths of stay for felony IST patients. (3) Support felony IST defendants to receive early access to treatment before transfer to a restoration of competency treatment program to achieve stabilization and restoration of competency sooner. (4) Support increased access to felony IST diversion options. (5) Expand treatment options for felony IST individuals, such as community-based restoration programs, jail-based competency treatment programs, and state hospital beds. (6) Create new options for treatment of felony IST defendants including community based, locked and unlocked facilities. (7) Establish partnerships to facilitate admissions and discharges to reduce recidivism and ensure that the most acute, high-risk, and at need patients receive access to State Department of State Hospitals beds, while patients with lower risk or acuity are treated in appropriate community settings. (f) (1) â Until December 31, 2024, if the Secretary of California Health and Human Services determines that either of the conditions stated in subparagraphs (A) or all of the conditions stated in subparagraph (B) have occurred, the State Department of State Hospitals may take the actions described in paragraph (2), if authorized by the Secretary of California Health and Human Services and the Department of Finance, and after Department of Finance has provided no less than a 30-day notification to the Joint Legislative Budget Committee and the State Department of State Hospitals has provided notification to the county public guardian and county behavioral agencies. (A) The recommendations require
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