§13–4806.    IN EFFECT

    // EFFECTIVE UNTIL JUNE 30, 2027 PER CHAPTERS 290 AND 291 OF 2023 //

    (a)    The Commission shall establish the following workgroups:

        (1)    Geriatric behavioral health;

        (2)    Youth behavioral health, individuals with developmental disabilities, and individuals with complex behavioral health needs;

        (3)    Criminal justice–involved behavioral health;

        (4)    Behavioral health workforce development, infrastructure, coordination, and financing; and

        (5)    Improvement of health, social, and economic outcomes related to substance use.

    (b)    The workgroup required under subsection (a)(5) of this section shall:

        (1)    Evaluate and review:

            (i)    The availability, affordability, and accessibility of treatment for substance use disorder and recovery support services, including housing and employment services, in the State;

            (ii)    The number and percentage of individuals who are directed to services described in item (i) of this item by the criminal justice system of the State;

            (iii)    The health outcomes after receiving services described in item (i) of this item disaggregated by whether the services were sought voluntarily or mandated by the criminal justice system of the State;

            (iv)    The impact of current criminal justice involvement related to substance use in the State on the health and well–being of individuals, families, and communities;

            (v)    The cost to the State and local governments resulting from current criminal justice involvement related to substance use in the State;

            (vi)    The equitable application of current criminal justice involvement related to substance use in the State;

            (vii)    The current research on the efficacy of voluntary treatment for substance use disorder compared to treatment mandated by criminal justice systems, including criminal justice systems outside the State; and

            (viii)    The availability and accessibility of data on the issues enumerated in this item;

        (2)    Evaluate and review the Department’s regulations on the standards for the discharge of patients from substance use treatment programs to assess whether the standards adequately consider the patient’s mental health or substance use disorder diagnosis and the impact of the discharge standards on the patient; and

        (3)    (i)    Make recommendations on changes to State laws, policies, and practices needed to mitigate the harms related to the criminalization of substance use with the goal of improving the public health and safety of residents of the State; and

            (ii)    Make recommendations on changes to State laws, policies, and practices related to the discharge of patients from substance use treatment programs to consider the patient’s mental health or substance use disorder diagnosis in making an appropriate placement.

    (c)    The workgroups established under subsection (a) of this section shall meet at least two times per year at the times and places determined by the workgroup.

    (d)    The workgroups established under subsection (a) of this section shall include members of the Commission and may include individuals invited by the Commission or the Behavioral Health Advisory Council to serve on the workgroup.

    (e)    On or before July 1 each year, beginning in 2024, the workgroups established under subsection (a) of this section shall report and make recommendations to the Commission and the Behavioral Health Advisory Council.