Video & Transcript Research : 'behavior analysis'
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MN
Minnesota 2025 1st Special Session
House Public Safety Finance and Policy Committee 2/25/25 - Part 1
Public Safety Finance and Policy
Transcript Highlights:
- release despite reporting poor Behavior release despite reporting poor Behavior commissioner<00:
- <00:21:31.760>
matters custody setting their behavior matters custody setting their behavior - In 1980, Minnesota adopted a good time system as an incentive for good behavior.
- In 1980, Minnesota adopted a good time system as an incentive for good behavior.
- But we recognize that we have to manage all behaviors of all people, and that's what we do.
ND
North Dakota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Senate Appropriations - Human Resources Division Apr 14th, 2025 at 02:00 pm
Appropriations - Human Resources Division
Transcript Highlights:
- Behavioral health facility grant, $5 million. Behavioral Health Facility Grant, $5 million.
- Section 6 is the Behavioral Health Facility Grant.
- to proceed to make them certified community behavioral health clinics.
- Those are all three under the behavioral health division.
- A lot of the increases are because of behavioral health.
Bills:
SB2015
Keywords:
corrections, rehabilitation, prison budget, department of corrections, adult services, youth services, correctional facilities, Heart River correctional center, Missouri River correctional center, James River correctional center, minimum security facility, county jails, regional jails, deferred maintenance, capital construction, strategic investment and improvements fund, Bank of North Dakota, line of credit, tasers, body cameras
Summary:
The Senate Appropriations Human Resources Division met with all members present and took up several bills, focusing most of the discussion on SB 1577 and SB 1619, along with a detailed review of the HHS budget bill draft. On SB 1577, Senator Magrum explained that the bill was being revised to focus on wastewater rather than raw water, possibly shifting the Washburn project to the Department of Water Resources so it could access matching funds, and potentially converting the bill into a line of credit if federal money is restored later. Members discussed whether to keep an emergency clause or instead use a date-based approach, and agreed the bill would likely be handled through the full committee and possibly reconsidered later. On SB 1619, Senator Davison said amendments were still being worked on, including changes requested by the Bank of North Dakota, and the committee planned to hold it for possible amendment before full committee consideration.
The bulk of the meeting was a section-by-section review of the HHS appropriations bill draft. Members discussed one-time funding items such as technology projects, child care programs, housing programs, behavioral health facility grants, infant and toddler care provider support, juvenile justice diversion, medical housing, and other public health and human services projects. Several adjustments were noted, including reductions or changes to IMD-related funding, incarcerated-person treatment funding, the child welfare technology project, and the provider rate increase. The committee also discussed the FTE block grant structure at length, with staff explaining that the apparent increase in positions reflected budgeting mechanics, zero-dollar “phantom” positions, and positions approved previously but not counted in the FTE total. Members raised concerns about transparency and whether the bill should list FTE numbers, but staff said the block grant was intended to give the department flexibility while quarterly reporting would provide oversight.
Other topics included Medicaid expansion funding and provider reimbursement rules, the move toward certifying human service centers as certified community behavioral health clinics, a moratorium on new ICF beds, and studies or reports on Medicaid, obesity, disability services, truancy, and behavioral health facility grants. The committee also discussed removing or revising broad intent language in Section 31 so the department would report findings rather than implement changes without further legislative action. No final votes were taken in the transcript; instead, members agreed to make a few technical adjustments, continue reviewing the bill, and likely revisit it the next day before moving it to conference committee.
NH
Transcript Highlights:
- I believe that until we receive deeper legal analysis, we should not take the risk of enacting what could
- ,<01:47:54.239>
we <01:47:54.480>should receive deeper legal analysis, we should receive - deeper legal analysis, we should not<01:47:54.960>
take <01:47:55.199>the <01:47:55.440 - What's particularly worrisome is that $12 million of that potential loss is to the Bureau of Behavioral
- What's particularly worrisome is that $12 million of that potential loss is to the Bureau of Behavioral
FL
Florida 2026 5th Special Session
Appropriations Committee on Transportation, Tourism, and Economic Development Mar 26th, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- But one role a government can play is changing behavior.
- And we were required to change our behavior because of the law.
- We have to change behavior.
- But let's stop the behavior in the first place. And this is the way to do it.
- Clear laws are the easiest way to change behavior.
Summary:
The Appropriations Committee on Transportation, Tourism, and Economic Development met to review its fiscal year 2025-2026 budget proposal and several bills. The chair outlined a roughly $18 billion budget area, including major funding for the Department of Transportation work program, Visit Florida, library/cultural/historical initiatives, affordable housing, National Guard tuition assistance, and Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles needs. The committee adopted a motion allowing technical adjustments and then approved the budget proposal as a recommendation to the full Senate Appropriations Committee.
The committee next heard and approved CS/SB 666, creating a Miami Northwestern Alumni Association specialty license plate, with proceeds supporting scholarships, academic, athletic, and arts programs at Miami Northwestern Senior High School. Members praised the school’s academic and athletic achievements, and the bill was reported favorably without opposition. The committee also heard extensive testimony on CS/SB 1318, which would rename Florida’s texting-while-driving law as the hands-free driving law and expand the prohibition to handheld use of wireless devices, including in work zones. Supporters, including law enforcement, health care, bicycling, and crash victims’ advocates, argued it would save lives and make enforcement clearer; some senators supported the goal but raised concerns about enforcement, privacy, and impacts on drivers with older vehicles. The bill was reported favorably.
The committee then approved SB 1408, designating memorial highways in Hillsborough and Charlotte counties for Master Patrol Officer Jesse Madsen and Sergeant Elio Diaz, and SB 1516, creating the International Aerospace Innovation Fund to be administered by Space Florida to support partnerships between Florida and international aerospace companies. Both bills were reported favorably with little debate. Senators also requested to be recorded in the affirmative on selected bills, and the meeting adjourned.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Rehabilitative mental health service providers 3/4/26
Minnesota House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- /c><00:03:50.959>
out <00:03:51.120>our <00:03:51.440>our <00:03:51.840>behavioral - <00:03:52.239>
health help build out our our behavioral health help build out our our behavioral - In recent years, there have been changes made to the area of statute dealing with the behavioral health
- In recent years, there have been changes made to the area of statute dealing with the behavioral health
- Could you repeat where the 5.1—the place that we added the sections for behavioral health in the 245I
Summary:
House File 3520, as amended by an A1 technical amendment from DHS, was heard in committee. The bill was described as a policy-only measure aimed at modernizing mental health statutes to reduce confusion, ease staffing burdens, and improve recruitment and retention in a workforce facing shortages. The author said the bill was developed with mental health stakeholders over several years, shared with DHS, and intended to have no cost unless provisions are later flagged for fiscal impact.
Chris Westgard of Touchstone Mental Health testified in support and walked through the bill’s main provisions. Section 1 would exclude weekends and holidays from the 10-day deadline for completing diagnostic assessments after admission to intensive residential treatment services, which he said would reduce weekend and holiday work for limited staff. Section 2 would clarify statutory language governing the behavioral health fund’s coverage of intensive residential treatment and residential crisis stabilization services. Section 3 would update Youth ACT rules by allowing board-certified psychiatrists with relevant clinical experience to serve as prescribers, making registered nurses optional team members, and allowing teams with demonstrated experience to serve children and youth ages 8 to 20.
Members raised questions about statutory wording, including the use of “notwithstanding” and the term “qualified provider.” Nonpartisan staff said the bill could be tightened with a cross-reference if it advances. There was no public testimony against the bill. The committee laid House File 3520, as amended, over for possible inclusion.
LA
Transcript Highlights:
- House Bill 909, which requires coverage for behavioral health crisis services.
- HB 909 is seeking for commercial payers to cover behavioral health crisis services.
- HB 909 is seeking for commercial payers to cover behavioral health crisis services.
- House Bill 909, which requires coverage for behavioral health crisis services.
- HB 909 is seeking for commercial payers to cover behavioral health crisis services.
Keywords:
automobile repairs, insurance transparency, repair shop liability, non-OEM parts, policyholder rights, automobile insurance, appraisal process, insurance policyholders, dispute resolution, claim valuation, family leave, insurance, paid leave, employment benefits, caregiver support, behavioral health, crisis services, mental health care, insurance coverage, healthcare access
AZ
Transcript Highlights:
- And one thing that they agree on is basically bullying is a pattern of behavior.
- So we're going to see. behaviors or these problems will end up being the ones who face them.
- sympathy for that kind of behavior.
- I mean, for me, there's always been behavioral issues.
- I mean, for me, there's always been behavioral issues.
KY
Transcript Highlights:
- <00:10:16.720>
which their assaultive violent behavior which their assaultive violent behavior - behaviors were an issue as well.
- because of her aggressive behaviors. because of her aggressive behaviors.
- behaviors and her selfharming behaviors behaviors and her selfharming behaviors were<00:13:14.160
- We behavioral and mental health needs.
Summary:
The Senate Judiciary Committee met with a quorum and took up Senate Bill 125, sponsored by Sen. Danny Carroll, which would create a structure for evaluating and placing juveniles with acute mental illness, including a continuum of care and a process for resolving placement disputes between the Justice Cabinet and Juvenile Justice Cabinet through a judge. The committee adopted a committee substitute before hearing the bill. Carroll described several changes in the substitute, including removing language that would have made juvenile information nonconfidential in certain lawsuits, requiring public escape information to be removed once a juvenile is returned to custody, clarifying escape charges for juveniles absent without leave, and revising language about when hospitals may discharge high-acuity youth until a new facility is built.
Carroll and Justice Cabinet officials Mona Wamik and Dr. Clark Lester argued that Kentucky needs a secure high-acuity mental health facility for violent juveniles because detention centers are not equipped to provide psychiatric treatment, private hospitals often refuse these youth, and current staff cannot administer the level of care needed, including intramuscular medication. They also said the bill would support two new female detention centers to help return DJJ to a regional detention model. Carroll cited prior juvenile detention crises, ongoing lawsuits, and a Department of Justice investigation, saying the bill could affect whether Kentucky faces a consent decree. Wamik said the proposed high-acuity facility would serve youth clinically assessed as needing secure treatment and would be designed to balance security with clinical care.
Senators asked about how the bill would apply to a violent 14-year-old, whether the facility would simply isolate dangerous youth, what clinical care DJJ can currently provide, and staffing and cost estimates. Carroll said the bill would not change criminal accountability but would apply only if a youth were found to be severely mentally ill and need treatment placement. Dr. Lester said DJJ currently can provide only oral psychiatric medication and cannot administer intramuscular injections or the physical holds needed for acute psychiatric treatment. Cabinet staff said staffing would need to be higher than in a standard detention setting and estimated annual operating costs for the high-acuity facility at about $12 million, compared with about $8 million for a regular juvenile detention facility. No vote on final passage was taken during the portion of the meeting provided.
MN
Transcript Highlights:
- I think we all could see the illegal behavior and unlawful behavior and unconstitutional behavior of
- <03:40:23.040>
and could see the illegal behavior and could see the illegal behavior and unlawful - behavior and unconstitutional unlawful behavior and unconstitutional behavior<03:40:25.680>
of immoral and unconstitutional behavior, immoral and unconstitutional behavior, would<03:41:22.720- ,
- But that's the behavior that from DHS.
AZ
Transcript Highlights:
- He was mysteriously removed, and he's in juvenile with the same behavior.
- Not even judges have specific training in how to recognize narcissistic behavior, some of the behavioral
- , controlling behaviors, the poking.
- That is patterned behavior for years and years.
- For court-ordered behavioral intervention.
Keywords:
sentencing, correctional facilities, multiple sentences, death penalty, aggravating circumstances, juvenile offenses, class 2 felony, foreign donations, election administration, certification, Arizona Revised Statutes, transparency, public disclosure, victims' rights, attorney fees, government accountability, right to counsel, legal representation, parents' rights, family law
HI
Hawaii 2026 Regular Session
EDN Public Hearing - Tue Feb 3, 2026 @ 2:00 PM HST
Transcript Highlights:
- <00:26:11.279>
that different categories of behavior that different categories of behavior - to really focus on some of the behaviors to really focus on some of the behaviors that<00:35:17.119
- that can better articulate the behavior that can better articulate the behavior that<00:35:28.320
- This is not to excuse um the behavior or not doesn't mean that um the behavior or not doesn't mean that
- behavior escalates into threats, behavior escalates into threats, stalking<01:19:23.520>
or <01
Summary:
The committee on Education heard testimony on HB 1895, which would add education-worker protections by expanding harassment-related offenses. The Department of Education, HSTA, HGA, and several school employees and principals testified in support, describing increased harassment and threats toward teachers and staff, especially since COVID, and saying the bill would help deter bad actors. The Office of the Public Defender opposed the measure, saying the language was vague and overbroad, could criminalize ordinary parental advocacy or speech, and might not survive constitutional scrutiny. In response to questions, the public defender said existing statutes already cover threatening or assaultive conduct against educational workers, while DOE representatives said the bill was aimed at excessive and repetitive disruptive behavior. No vote or final action was taken in the excerpt.
The committee then took up HB 1592, concerning protections for educational workers and sports officials. DOE, the Charter School Commission, HGA, HSTA, school principals, athletic programs, and many individual testifiers supported the bill, with several describing threats, harassment, and aggressive behavior at schools and athletic events. One principal said he had repeatedly involved law enforcement after threats and incidents on campus, and a teacher testified about the need to keep school environments safe and orderly. The Office of the Public Defender again opposed the bill, arguing that current law already enhances penalties for assaults and terroristic threatening against educational workers and sports officials, and that new offenses would have little deterrent effect. Committee members questioned whether the bill should be a separate statute and how to distinguish passionate advocacy from harassment; DOE said the line was crossed when conduct became excessive and repetitive, while the public defender urged clearer drafting and more emphasis on prevention, education, security, and de-escalation. No vote or final action was announced in the excerpt.
HI
Transcript Highlights:
- Please refrain from profanity or uncivil behavior.
- Such behavior may be grounds for removal from the hearing without the ability to rejoin.
- <00:02:56.959>
grounds behavior. - Such behavior may be grounds behavior.
- Most importantly, she hasn't behavior.
Summary:
The House Committee on Public Safety met on April 17, 2025, to hear STR20, which urges the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation to re-evaluate policies on in-person contact visitation at correctional facilities statewide so incarcerated people can stay connected with loved ones who support rehabilitation. Director Tommy Johnson testified that the department supports the intent of the measure and would review its policies and procedures to see whether contact visits could be restarted at all facilities, noting that some facilities already allow them. The committee also acknowledged 11 written testimonies in support, and one Zoom testifier, Panda Valdono, spoke in favor, arguing that in-person visitation supports rehabilitation, mental health, family connection, and successful reentry, and that visitation is not a major source of contraband.
After testimony, the committee initially lacked quorum and recessed until 3:40 p.m. When the meeting reopened with six members present, the chair recommended passing STR20 as is. The committee voted to adopt the chair’s recommendation, with members Morikawa, Puo, Witson, and Shimizu voting aye and several members excused. The measure was approved and the meeting adjourned.
NM
New Mexico 2025 Regular Session
House - Transportation and Public Works Mar 20th, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- face appropriate consequences, and enhanced deterrence of street racing and reckless driving behaviors
- The surviving racer had so little disregard for life that he engaged in this behavior with his own son
- With reckless driving, we have to prove that they had a lack of intentional driving behavior.
- Um, and, but that's kind of the difference: reckless looks at it as you're doing intentional behavior
- next weekend, and the exact same behavior after that.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Judiciary committee approves anti-kickback bill, HF2260 3/20/25
Transcript Highlights:
- Section 17 relates to a proposal from our behavioral health administration.
- This transfers all eligibility determinations for the behavioral health fund from counties to DHS.
- And so that behavioral health programs.
- <00:10:26.880>
health on grants in the behavioral health on grants in the behavioral health - because I um am not in the behavioral because I um am not in the behavioral health<00:10:46.880>
Summary:
The committee heard House File 2260, a Judiciary Committee clone of portions of the larger DHS policy bill, and adopted the A1 amendment, which was described as largely technical but also incorporating changes from the related human services bill. The bill was presented as covering several DHS-related policy areas, including background studies transparency, anti-kickback provisions for medical assistance and child care assistance, and personal data protections for human services judges. The amendment also added a number of provisions related to direct care and treatment, competency restoration billing and data sharing, fraud enforcement tools, behavioral health fund eligibility, and clarifications to prior law.
Testimony from DHS Office of Inspector General legislative director Ardian Diddy emphasized that the bill would improve transparency in background studies, update investigative and arrest data access, extend a limited set-aside to similar provider types, and correct an effective-date error from last session. He also said the anti-kickback language would mirror federal Medicaid law for medical assistance and create a state-level prohibition for CCAP, giving DHS and law enforcement more tools to investigate fraud and misuse. Additional provisions would add human services judges to existing personal data protections for judicial officials. Diddy also explained amendment sections from the governor’s fraud package, including authority to act against entities convicted of fraud or theft, data-sharing improvements, and a disqualification from management and billing positions.
Members raised questions about possible conflicts of interest involving DHS employees with outside LLCs and about the need for stronger safeguards against fraud. The chair and other members referenced recent fraud cases and said the bill would help prevent similar abuses. Christy Grumman of DHS testified on the judge privacy section, saying there are about 35 human services judges and describing a recent incident in which a judge received violent threats serious enough to require the family’s temporary relocation by the State Patrol. Representative Hudson supported the anti-kickback provisions as a needed codification of agency authority. The committee then approved the amended bill and recommended it be re-referred to the Committee on Public Safety, Finance, and Policy.
NH
New Hampshire 2026 Regular Session
House Criminal Justice and Public Safety (02/18/2026)
Criminal Justice and Public Safety
Transcript Highlights:
- This is actually the key behavior.
- <01:54:06.239>
until can be ordered to good behavior until can be ordered to good behavior - explains to them what good behavior explains to them what good behavior means.<01:55:25.520>
- So, it's a it's a good behavior means.
- appreciating what good behavior means. appreciating what good behavior means.
NH
Transcript Highlights:
- of drug or alcoh alcoholfueled behavior. of drug or alcoh alcoholfueled behavior.
- that<01:37:47.199>
we extremely dangerous behavior that we extremely dangerous behavior that - It was terrifying to her behavior.
- criminal behavior. criminal behavior.
- Uh, in the remain of good behavior.
FL
Florida 2025 Regular Session
Appropriations Committee on Criminal and Civil Justice Feb 5th, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- Also, we have the Florida Behavioral Health Association to discuss the effectiveness of medication assisted
- illustrate the use of data and then to be a bridge for your second agenda item where the Florida Behavior
- It does involve medication in combination with counseling and behavioral therapy says can can include
- Our friends are realizing that the behaviors escalating and they need to come in.
- So you saw in the first slide that behavior health is in very important to this.
MA
Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session
Joint Committee on Mental Health, Substance Use and Recovery Jun 21st, 2026 at 01:00 pm
Joint Committee on Mental Health, Substance Use and Recovery
Transcript Highlights:
- I am the president and CEO of the Association for Behavioral Health Care, or ABH.
- Our son's behavior was extreme: rage, episodes, OCD symptoms, cognitive decline.
- He got intrusive thoughts and OCD behaviors. This was not our Sam.
- We stop asking what's driving the symptoms, and instead we manage behavior.
- He had increased anxiety, emotional dysregulation, obsessive behaviors.
Summary:
The Joint Committee on Mental Health, Substance Use and Recovery opened its first public hearing of the 2025–26 session with remarks from the Senate and House chairs outlining the committee’s priorities. They noted recent work on addiction and recovery legislation, the ongoing youth behavioral health crisis, and that members might need to leave periodically for floor votes. The chairs explained hearing procedures, including three-minute testimony limits, written testimony deadlines, and reporting deadlines for Senate and House bills. The hearing then focused on several bills related to youth mental health, overdose prevention, and psychedelic treatment research.
A major portion of the hearing centered on bills to improve youth crisis response and overdose prevention. Testimony strongly supported bills to print the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline on student ID cards, with speakers from mental health organizations, crisis centers, and individuals sharing personal stories of depression, suicide attempts, and the importance of making 988 as familiar as 911. Another set of bills would require schools to stock naloxone and provide overdose prevention education. Physicians, harm reduction advocates, students, and grieving family members testified that school-based Narcan access and education could save lives, reduce stigma, and help students recognize overdoses and understand Good Samaritan protections. Senator O’Connor and Tamika Perry also testified for a bill to strengthen substance use prevention education and reduce overdose abandonment, emphasizing the need to teach students about overdose risks and the legal protections for calling 911.
The committee also heard testimony on a bill to authorize a pilot program for psychedelic treatment in licensed facilities. Senator Friedman and several medical and behavioral health professionals argued the proposal was a narrow, research-based approach distinct from the broader ballot question rejected in 2024. They said the bill would allow only a small number of supervised clinics to use psychedelics for conditions such as depression, PTSD, anxiety, and substance use disorders, with data reporting and Department of Public Health oversight. Supporters described it as a cautious way to study promising treatments while avoiding unsupervised or commercialized use.
Finally, the committee heard support for a bill to create a special commission and five-year strategic plan for children’s behavioral health services, with testimony that the current system is fragmented, difficult for families to navigate, and strained by workforce and funding challenges. No votes or final actions were taken during the hearing; the committee primarily received testimony and questions on the bills.
ND
North Dakota 2026 1st Special Session
Special Education Funding Committee Mar 4th, 2026 at 09:00 am
Transcript Highlights:
- So, and then talking about behavior...
- But I want to go to, we've heard a lot about behavior issues, safety, the Behavior issues, safety, para
- There's also an increase in behaviors.
- And a behavior plan would need to be put in place.
- A behavior plan would need to be put in place.
Summary:
The committee met to discuss special education funding and retention, beginning with approval of the prior meeting minutes and then hearing a presentation from North Dakota United on a statewide special education survey and retention rubric. Presenters described how the rubric and survey were developed from special educator input around four domains: paperwork and due process support, workload, student and staff safety, and paraprofessional management. They reported high levels of stress and burnout, including increased workload, difficulty taking prep and lunch time, concerns about mental health, and widespread difficulty filling special education positions. Committee members questioned the survey’s lack of a general-education comparison group, the interpretation of terms like “rarely” and “sometimes,” and whether results could be broken down further by district size, unit, or disability area.
The survey results showed the weakest area was workload, with respondents reporting caseloads increasing without corresponding adjustments, little additional support or compensation when workloads rise, and few negotiated-agreement protections. Paperwork and due process also scored poorly, with many teachers saying they rarely receive dedicated time during the duty day, often work outside contract hours without compensation, and take work home on evenings and weekends. Student and staff safety scored somewhat better but still showed gaps in crisis follow-up, notification about violent behavior, protective gear, and leave options after incidents. Paraprofessional management also drew concern, especially low pay, insufficient staffing, limited administrative support, and the burden placed on teachers to supervise and train paras.
Several teachers then testified directly about the practical impact of these issues. One special education teacher described the job as combining instruction, legal compliance, and paraprofessional supervision, often requiring work beyond contracted hours and contributing to burnout and turnover. Another testified that special education case managers are effectively doing three full-time jobs and that the paperwork and caseload demands are a major reason people avoid or leave the field. Committee members discussed whether the problems are primarily local or state-level, whether more funding would solve them, and whether changes to the funding formula or weighting for high-cost students might be needed. No formal vote or action was taken beyond a recess and return to order for the next presentation, which continued the discussion of possible special education study objectives and potential policy directions.
MA
Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session
Joint Committee on Mental Health, Substance Use and Recovery Jun 21st, 2026 at 01:00 pm
Joint Committee on Mental Health, Substance Use and Recovery
Transcript Highlights:
- This includes unsafe behavior.”
- behavioral crisis.
- Those services are provided through the Behavioral Health Helpline and by new community behavioral health
- His behavior is very odd.
- PAs have ample training and experience in mental and behavioral health.
Summary:
The committee held its fourth public hearing of the 2025-2026 session on bills dealing with involuntary commitment and access to addiction treatment, especially proposals to move Section 35 civil commitments away from jails and prisons and into facilities licensed or approved by DPH or DMH. Chairs Velis and Domb framed the hearing as a discussion of how to support people in crisis with compassion, while also warning against using involuntary commitment as a way to remove unhoused people from public view. The hearing also touched on related concerns about discharge practices, treatment capacity, and the need for a broader continuum of care.
Testimony split largely along two themes. Addiction researcher Keith Humphreys argued that many people enter treatment under pressure, that involuntary treatment can be ethically justified in the face of overdose risk, but that it should not be mandated unless high-quality services exist first; he emphasized the need for inpatient care when someone is a grave danger, followed by case management and outpatient support. MAMH’s Kate Alicante supported the bill, saying Massachusetts is the only state that commits people with substance use conditions to jails or prisons and that carceral settings add trauma and stigma; she pointed to prior legislative steps, including the Section 35 commission and the planned closure of DOC’s MESAC facility, as evidence that the Commonwealth is moving toward health-based settings.
A major portion of the hearing focused on Stony Brook, a sheriff-run stabilization and treatment center in Hampden County. Boston City Councilor John Fitzgerald, several committee members, and multiple people in recovery described the facility as humane, well-run, and effective, with longer stays, medical monitoring, medication-assisted treatment, counseling, and warm handoffs to aftercare. Several witnesses said Stony Brook saved their lives or helped family members recover, and they argued that the sheriff’s office model should be expanded rather than eliminated. Others, including family members and advocates, countered that even a well-run correctional setting remains stigmatizing and that people should not be treated in facilities run by sheriffs or corrections when they have committed no crime.
No vote was taken. The hearing concluded with continued testimony, including Senator Friedman’s support for Section 35 as a civil commitment tool but not in a criminal justice setting, and her separate support for a bill to speed inpatient mental health treatment.