Okaloosa County BOCC — January 19, 2016 — Resolution CS FOR SB 604rev

RESOLUTION NO. 16-______ RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF OKALOOSA COUNTY, FLORIDA SUPPORTING FLORIDA SENATE BILL CS FOR SB 604 PERTAINING TO MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM AND EXPANDING ELIGIBILITY FOR MILITARY VETERANS AND SERVICE MEMBERS TO THESE COURT PROGRAMS; PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE. WHEREAS, persons with mental illness often come into conflict with the law as a direct result of the challenges created by their mental illness; and WHEREAS, the Okaloosa County Department of Corrections currently has numerous inmates with serious mental illness, and, as a result, the criminal justice system has become the primary service provider for offenders with mental illness; and WHEREAS, persons with mental illness who commit crimes are frequently in need of mental health services but often have been unable to obtain effective mental health services; and WHEREAS, the court system frequently faces tremendous obstacles in responding to persons charged with criminal offenses, that may be suffering from mental illness, and those individuals result in significant additional burden on the courts and on the jail and correction systems; and WHEREAS, the difficulties of providing adequate screening and treatment for incarcerated persons with mental illness, and the lack of funding for those services, often results in the offenders not being able to take advantage of the rehabilitative process; and WHEREAS, one in five veterans exhibit symptoms of a mental disorder or cognitive impairment; while one in six veterans that were recently deployed to combat operations suffers from substance abuse issues; and WHEREAS, CS/SB 604 would expand the authority of courts to use treatment-based mental health and substance abuse treatment programs and expand the eligibility criteria for these programs to enable the participation of children in delinquency court and veterans who were released under a general discharge; and WHEREAS, if adopted by the Florida Legislature and adequately funded, the programs authorized by CS/SB 604 would benefit Okaloosa County by providing a needed resource of those persons that suffer from mental illness, including veterans who have served our County. NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF OKALOOSA COUNTY, FLORIDA AS FOLLOWS: 1  1. That the above recitals are true and are incorporated herein as if fully set forth. 2. That the Board of County Commissioners of Okaloosa County support the adoption of CS/SB 604 and if adopted by the Florida Legislature, to adequately provide funding to implement its provisions. 3. This Resolution shall become effective upon adoption. DULY ADOPTED this 19th day of January, 2016. BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OKALOOSA COUNTY, FLORIDA ________________________________ CHARLES K. WINDES, JR., CHAIRMAN ATTEST: J. D. PEACOCK, II Clerk of the Circuit Court By: __________________________ Deputy Clerk (Seal) APPROVED AS TO FORM: By: ______________________________ Gregory T. Stewart County Attorney 2