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HB 1692

Creating student advisory groups.

2023-2024 Regular Session Introduced by Steve Bergquist and 6 co-sponsors

Authorizes an appropriation to DMH to expand outpatient and community behavioral health services for formerly incarcerated state inmates, improving access and reducing recidivism.

By resolution, returned to House Rules Committee for third reading.
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Bill Summary · HB 1692

Summary — HB 1692

Title: Appropriation; Department of Mental Health to expand outpatient and community‑based services for certain formerly incarcerated state inmates
Bill Number: HB 1692
Introduced: December 20, 2024
Primary Sponsors: J. Petty; M. Brown
Status: Unclear — header indicates “Died In Committee,” but the supplied document bundle includes multiple unrelated HB 1692 drafts from different states and procedural entries that conflict. The actual text for an appropriation to the Department of Mental Health is not present in the supplied documents. See “Notes on source material” below.

Note: The materials you provided contain unrelated legislative text (an Arkansas bill on polygraph and security licenses, an Illinois $2 appropriation bill, and an Indiana placeholder), plus mixed procedural entries. Because the specific text for an Arkansas (or other state) appropriation to expand DMH services for formerly incarcerated people was not included, the summary below describes the bill’s stated purpose and the likely/typical provisions such a bill would include. It does not quote or paraphrase a definitive bill text.

Main purpose and intent

To appropriate state funds to the Department of Mental Health (DMH) to expand outpatient and community‑based behavioral health services targeted to certain formerly incarcerated state inmates. The intent is to improve access to mental‑health and substance‑use treatment after release, support reentry, and reduce recidivism by addressing behavioral‑health needs in community settings.

Key provisions (expected / typical for this type of bill)

Because the bill text was not provided, these are the commonly included elements for an appropriation to expand DMH services:

  • An appropriation line item transferring a specified dollar amount from the General Revenue (or other state fund) to DMH for a fiscal year (amount not provided in the documents).
  • Authorization for DMH to use funds to expand or contract for:
    • Outpatient mental‑health and substance‑use disorder treatment (individual and group therapy);
    • Medication management (including MOUD for opioid use disorder);
    • Case management and care coordination to link clients to housing, employment, benefits, and primary care;
    • Peer support specialists and reentry navigators;
    • Mobile crisis or telehealth services to reach clients in rural areas;
    • Training for providers on reentry populations and continuity of care.
  • Eligibility definitions specifying which “formerly incarcerated state inmates” qualify (e.g., recently released from state prison, those on parole within X months, or individuals with documented behavioral‑health needs).
  • Contracting and provider requirements — e.g., community mental health centers or certified providers only.
  • Reporting and oversight — e.g., DMH required to report outcomes, expenditure reports, utilization, and recidivism measures to the legislature or an oversight committee.
  • Effective date and appropriation expiration or reauthorization language.

Who would be affected

  • Primary beneficiaries: formerly incarcerated individuals who meet the bill’s eligibility criteria and have behavioral‑health needs.
  • State agencies: Department of Mental Health (recipient and administrator of funds); Department of Corrections and parole systems (partners for discharge planning).
  • Community providers: community mental health centers, substance‑use treatment providers, peer‑support organizations, and behavioral‑health contractors.
  • State budget/taxpayers: the appropriation would increase spending in the relevant fiscal year(s); absent a specified amount, fiscal impact cannot be estimated.

Procedural / timeline aspects

  • The provided metadata is inconsistent. The header lists the bill as introduced Dec 20, 2024, and “Died In Committee.” Other procedural entries in the bundle indicate different actions (reads, referrals, even enactment notes) that appear to belong to other HB 1692 bills in other jurisdictions.
  • For a final status, fiscal note, exact appropriation amount, eligibility criteria, and reporting deadlines, the authoritative bill text and fiscal analysis from the relevant state legislature are required.

Recommendations / next steps

  • Please provide the full, authoritative bill text (or confirm the state and session) for HB 1692 that concerns the Department of Mental Health appropriation. With the actual text I can produce a detailed, clause‑by‑clause summary and estimate fiscal and programmatic impacts.
  • If you want an analysis assuming a particular appropriation amount or eligibility window, specify those amounts/dates and I will model likely service volumes, provider needs, and potential recidivism impacts.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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