2019 -- H 5751 SUBSTITUTE A

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2019

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H O U S E   R E S O L U T I O N

CREATING A SPECIAL LEGISLATIVE COMMISSION TO STUDY THE EFFICACY OF

INVOLUNTARY INPATIENT TREATMENT FOR NON-COURT INVOLVED

INDIVIDUALS DIAGNOSED WITH SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER

     

     Introduced By: Representatives Casey, Canario, Jacquard, Hull, and Morin

     Date Introduced: February 27, 2019

     Referred To: House Judiciary

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     RESOLVED, That a special legislative commission be and the same is hereby created

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consisting of seventeen (17) members: three (3) of whom shall be members of the Rhode Island

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House of Representatives, not more than two (2) from the same political party, to be appointed by

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the Speaker of the House; one of whom shall be the Director of the Rhode Island Department of

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Health (RIDOH), or designee; one of whom shall be the Director of the Rhode Island Department

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of Behavioral Healthcare, Developmental Disabilities, and Hospitals, or designee; one of whom

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shall be from the Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, to be appointed by the

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Speaker of the House; one of whom shall be the Rhode Island Mental Health Advocate, or

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designee; one of whom shall be the President of the Hospital Association of Rhode Island, or

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designee; one of whom shall be the Rhode Island state Attorney General, or designee; one of

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whom shall be a representative of the health insurance industry, to be appointed by the Speaker of

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the House; three (3) of whom shall be representatives from groups that work with or advocate for

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persons who experience mental illness of substance use disorders, to be appointed by the Speaker

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of the House; one of whom shall be the President and Chief Operating Officer of Butler Hospital,

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or designee; one of whom shall be the Chief Justice of the Rhode Island Supreme Court, or

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designee; one of whom shall be the Executive Director of the Rhode Island Medical Society, or

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designee; and one of whom shall be of the President of the Rhode Island Chapter of the American

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College of Emergency Physicians, or designee.

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     In lieu of any appointment of a member of the legislature to a permanent advisory

 

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commission, a legislative study commission, or any commission created by a General Assembly

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resolution, the appointing authority may appoint a member of the general public to serve in lieu

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of a legislator.

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     The purpose of said commission shall be to examine the need for an advance directive or

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other mechanism to hold persons who are under the immediate effects of a substance use disorder

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involving opioids, and shall include, but not be limited to, a study and review of:

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     Medical literature and expert opinions on the long-term relapse rates of individuals

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diagnosed with substance use disorder following involuntary inpatient treatment including:

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     The differences in outcomes for coerced and non-coerced patients;

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     The potential increased risk of an individual suffering a fatal overdose following a period

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of involuntary treatment;

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     The length of time necessary for detoxification of opioids and recommended time

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following detoxification to begin medication-assisted treatment;

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     The legal implications of holding a non-court involved individual who is diagnosed with

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substance use disorder but is no longer under the influence of substances;

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     Whether the current capacity, including acute treatment services, clinical stabilization

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services, transitional support services and recovery homes, is sufficient to treat individuals

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seeking voluntary treatment for substance use disorder;

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     The availability of other treatments for substance use disorder, including those treatments

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used in less restrictive settings; and

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     The effectiveness of the existing involuntary commitment procedures pursuant to this

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chapter at reducing long-term relapse rates.

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     Forthwith upon passage of this resolution, the members of the commission shall meet at

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the call of the Speaker of the House and organize and shall select a chairperson from among the

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legislators.

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     Vacancies in said commission shall be filled in like manner as the original appointment.

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     The membership of said commission shall receive no compensation for their services.

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     All departments and agencies of the state, shall furnish such advice and information,

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documentary and otherwise, to said commission and its agents as is deemed necessary or

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desirable by the commission to facilitate the purposes of this resolution.

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     The Speaker of the House is hereby authorized and directed to provide suitable quarters

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for said commission; and be it further

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     RESOLVED, That the commission shall report its findings and recommendations to the

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House of Representatives no later than June 18, 2020, and said commission shall expire on July

 

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13, 2020.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

H O U S E   R E S O L U T I O N

CREATING A SPECIAL LEGISLATIVE COMMISSION TO STUDY THE EFFICACY OF

INVOLUNTARY INPATIENT TREATMENT FOR NON-COURT INVOLVED

INDIVIDUALS DIAGNOSED WITH SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER

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     This resolution would create a seventeen (17) member special legislative study

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commission whose purpose it would be to make a comprehensive study of the efficacy of

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involuntary inpatient treatment for non-court involved individuals diagnosed with substance use

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disorder, and who would report back to the House of Representatives no later than June 18, 2020,

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and whose life would expire on July 13, 2020.

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