Montana Legislature
The Montana Legislative Session has wrapped up. We would like to thank everyone who made this session so successful. It was truly remarkable how many critical pieces of Legislation or policies were advanced for Montanans who live with mental illness and their families.
We are deeply grateful for all of the Legislators, Governor Steve Bullock, Commissioner Matt Rosendale, and advocates across the Big Sky who pushed to make our mental illness treatment and suicide prevention system more effective.
We are deeply grateful for all of the Legislators, Governor Steve Bullock, Commissioner Matt Rosendale, and advocates across the Big Sky who pushed to make our mental illness treatment and suicide prevention system more effective.
Here is a short list of bills that passed, one that failed, and other policy/funding mechanisms that moved forward.
HB 142 - Rep. Bishop - Montana Mental Health Parity Act. This bill will prevent discrimination against mental illness and substance abuse in Montana insurance plans. Thanks to Sen. Jen Gross for her untiring work in getting this bill through the Senate.
SB 62 - Sen. Cynthia Wolken - Peer Support Certification. This is a critical tool to safely expanding the use of peer specialists in Montana
HB 118 - Rep. Jonathan Windy Boy - Provide $1 million additional funding for suicide prevention activities. Special thanks to Governor Steve Bullock, Rep. Rob Cook, and Sen. Albert Olszewski for all of their efforts pushing forth this critical bipartisan effort to prevent suicide in Montana.
HB 2 - Overall Funding Bill
HB 381 - Rep. Dennis Lenz - Requiring School District Trustees To Address Suicide Prevention and Response. This legislation will help address a critical planning gap in schools across Montana.
SB 160 - Sen. Mary Caferro - Require DPHHS to streamline procedures related to mental health services (making it easier for providers to see different diagnoses and ages)
HB 572 - Rep. Alan Redfield - Establish licensure of eating disorder centers
HB 595 - Rep. Mary Ann Dunwell - Limit bureaucratic hassles in discharging residents from Montana State Hospital. This bill promises to save the state a significant amount of money in the long-term, while opening up needed beds, and allowing people to get back to their communities when they are ready.
SB 65 - Sen. Wolken - Generally revise laws regarding housing options for offenders.
SB 323 - Sen. Mary Caferro - This bill to standardize Montana's insanity defense towards the same model as followed by the vast majority of states died in Committee, but we are very thankful to Sen. Caferrro for starting the conversation about how to improve this outdated law that is expensive, bad for public safety and not geared towards the recovery of offenders with mental illness who have committed crimes.
Thanks again for everyone's work this session. We made some critical gains in improving Montana's mental illness treatment system. It was a group effort and it would not have been possible without everyone's help.
HB 142 - Rep. Bishop - Montana Mental Health Parity Act. This bill will prevent discrimination against mental illness and substance abuse in Montana insurance plans. Thanks to Sen. Jen Gross for her untiring work in getting this bill through the Senate.
SB 62 - Sen. Cynthia Wolken - Peer Support Certification. This is a critical tool to safely expanding the use of peer specialists in Montana
HB 118 - Rep. Jonathan Windy Boy - Provide $1 million additional funding for suicide prevention activities. Special thanks to Governor Steve Bullock, Rep. Rob Cook, and Sen. Albert Olszewski for all of their efforts pushing forth this critical bipartisan effort to prevent suicide in Montana.
HB 2 - Overall Funding Bill
- Mental health funding is generally stable
- Psychiatry Residency Program is funded. Special thanks to Sen. Albert Olszewski and the Billings Clinic for their work on this critical measure.
- Children's Mental Health Crisis is funded
- Adult Mental Health Crisis is funded
- PHHS will receive approximately $400,000 to conduct outcome measurement in the public health system. This is an amazing advance in an effort that NAMI Montana has advocated since at least 2009.
HB 381 - Rep. Dennis Lenz - Requiring School District Trustees To Address Suicide Prevention and Response. This legislation will help address a critical planning gap in schools across Montana.
SB 160 - Sen. Mary Caferro - Require DPHHS to streamline procedures related to mental health services (making it easier for providers to see different diagnoses and ages)
HB 572 - Rep. Alan Redfield - Establish licensure of eating disorder centers
HB 595 - Rep. Mary Ann Dunwell - Limit bureaucratic hassles in discharging residents from Montana State Hospital. This bill promises to save the state a significant amount of money in the long-term, while opening up needed beds, and allowing people to get back to their communities when they are ready.
SB 65 - Sen. Wolken - Generally revise laws regarding housing options for offenders.
SB 323 - Sen. Mary Caferro - This bill to standardize Montana's insanity defense towards the same model as followed by the vast majority of states died in Committee, but we are very thankful to Sen. Caferrro for starting the conversation about how to improve this outdated law that is expensive, bad for public safety and not geared towards the recovery of offenders with mental illness who have committed crimes.
Thanks again for everyone's work this session. We made some critical gains in improving Montana's mental illness treatment system. It was a group effort and it would not have been possible without everyone's help.
Ways to Get Involved:
The fight to defend and improve Montana's mental illness treatment system continues. Please stay involved throughout the budget fight.
1. Contact your legislators and let them know that mental illness issues matter to you and why. This broad endorsement of mental illness issues can be really powerful. You can look up your legislators' contact information here. Be considerate with their time and keep your statement concise. Be polite and to the point. Please explain how these issues have personally impacted your life.
2. Contact NAMI Montana and ask to be signed up for our policy alerts. Our email info@namimt.org and our phone number is (406) 443-7871. Then make your own policy alert list of your friends, family, and colleagues that would also be interested in advocating for mental illness issues. Then send them any of our policy alerts that you think they might be interested in.
3. Write a letter to the editor of your local newspaper that discusses a specific issue or generally how important it is that the Montana Legislature support Montana's mental illness treatment system and Montanans who live with serious mental illness. Here are links to write letters to some of Montana's local papers.
The fight to defend and improve Montana's mental illness treatment system continues. Please stay involved throughout the budget fight.
1. Contact your legislators and let them know that mental illness issues matter to you and why. This broad endorsement of mental illness issues can be really powerful. You can look up your legislators' contact information here. Be considerate with their time and keep your statement concise. Be polite and to the point. Please explain how these issues have personally impacted your life.
2. Contact NAMI Montana and ask to be signed up for our policy alerts. Our email info@namimt.org and our phone number is (406) 443-7871. Then make your own policy alert list of your friends, family, and colleagues that would also be interested in advocating for mental illness issues. Then send them any of our policy alerts that you think they might be interested in.
3. Write a letter to the editor of your local newspaper that discusses a specific issue or generally how important it is that the Montana Legislature support Montana's mental illness treatment system and Montanans who live with serious mental illness. Here are links to write letters to some of Montana's local papers.
If you need help finding the contact information for your local paper, we can look it up for your. Just send us an email at info@namimt.org or call call at (406) 443-7871.
Thanks for standing up for Montanans who live with serious mental illness and their families. We are so much more powerful with your support.
Please give us a call if you have any other questions.
Thanks for standing up for Montanans who live with serious mental illness and their families. We are so much more powerful with your support.
Please give us a call if you have any other questions.