HR0840 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0840 LRB103 41000 ECR 74109 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The State of Illinois has repeatedly emphasized the importance of timely and accessible mental health services; and

WHEREAS, The number of individuals facing mental health challenges in Illinois continues to rise at an alarming rate; and

WHEREAS, Mental health issues affect individuals across every socioeconomic status; and

WHEREAS, It is critically important to provide necessary assistance to those experiencing mental health challenges; and

WHEREAS, The provision of community-based mental health services varies greatly across the State; and

WHEREAS, Numerous facilities that previously provided inpatient mental health care have been eliminated and closed over the past few decades; and

WHEREAS, Efforts have been made and continue to be made to bring mental health services to those in need; and

WHEREAS, These efforts have not been sufficient to meet the growing mental health needs of Illinois citizens; and

WHEREAS, The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic has significantly exacerbated the already existing problem of unmet mental health service needs; and

WHEREAS, Mental health service providers face increasing challenges in finding necessary staffing to address the growing mental health needs of the people of Illinois; and

WHEREAS, Many individuals with unmet mental health needs have become entangled in the criminal justice system; and

WHEREAS, Numerous individuals facing mental health struggles have been incarcerated in county jails, environments not suited for addressing or treating mental health problems; and

WHEREAS, Many individuals with mental illness are found unfit to stand trial by the courts and are ordered to the Department of Human Services (DHS) for restoration to competency; and

WHEREAS, DHS was previously required to assign such individuals to an inpatient facility within 20 days of being found unfit to stand trial, after which the local county sheriff would transfer them; and

WHEREAS, DHS has successfully passed legislation to change that timeline to 60 days, with the possibility of additional 30-day extensions in perpetuity; and

WHEREAS, These extensions have placed significant burdens on county resources, diverting valuable time and attention away from the critical issues that county personnel are specifically trained and mandated to address, not only hampering the efficiency of our county systems but also undermining the well-being and safety of our communities; and

WHEREAS, This change in timeline has exacerbated the situation for those in need of mental health treatment, leaving individuals incarcerated when they should be receiving critical services from DHS; and

WHEREAS, The mental health crisis continues to grow with no end in sight; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDRED THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we urge the Department of Human Services (DHS) to work with stakeholders, including sheriffs, to submit monthly reports to the General Assembly detailing the number of available beds, the number of individuals needing mental health services on the waiting list, staffing changes implemented to support improvements, and the waiting time from the receipt of the judge's order for individuals deemed unfit to stand trial to when they begin receiving services; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be delivered to the Department of Human Services.