[{"_1":2,"_88":-5,"_89":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6393384,"mediaKeyId","2107452-ec78876f24202ab9ea2f3151f5320e4a","parentId",2107452,"title","Committee hears large rewrite to rename human service centers and add certified community behavioral health clinics; members flag need for follow‑up","audioSeconds",3125,"startMs",1869000,"endMs",4994000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2107452-ec78876f24202ab9ea2f3151f5320e4a&start=1869&end=4994","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2107452-ec78876f24202ab9ea2f3151f5320e4a/thumbnail_1869000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6393384/North-Dakota/Committee-hears-large-rewrite-to-rename-human-service-centers-and-add-certified-community-behavioral-health-clinics-members-flag-need-for-followup","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6393384-433ef277e86eb0b9feadc73e09017043/orig.mp4?Expires=1771222407&Signature=jiCQMn1HxXJVdH2QA3PyUNf3n3ipyWEY-qQzT9kpsHOCdlotJUPvWZQRzBGambUONAMCSFf1HocQYAsRrRVQy-NWvQbO-hcRdRtd9bNjsYWE8LqYQ7Al~lMdl4EXYd2soXTxUrLsFZhlZXAjRTdfbIrIHghduQ1hYDgGGc5Xu13uUowdKlmlXLHcNqIAE6BDphl-rMHchAYVLYnNgpEQr6vF4Xh~Y50zEFrZOtlx6O6EdG-pGBv34X53kn1AZzDPoL90DTsbi3GaB8k40d4wRk1h~uQQ35wR6cqM3j8UydgSss7ivYtzT0izY~QWkfKbRLWPu9VWL0QZ8y5reiyjEA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Senate Human Services, ND","date","2025-01-08T00:00:00Z","article","The Senate Human Services Committee held an extended hearing on Senate Bill 2113, a broad statutory package that would rename regional human service centers “state operated behavioral health clinics,” create a definition and process for certified community behavioral health clinics, and update multiple sections of Chapter 50‑6 of the North Dakota Century Code.

Jonathan Ulm, chief legal officer for the Department of Health and Human Services, explained the bill’s purpose as aligning statutory language with current structure and service delivery. Ulm told the committee the title change would reduce confusion between human service centers and human service zones, add definitions for certified community behavioral health clinic and state operated behavioral health clinic, and remove obsolete date language and provisions tied to prior restructuring.

The bill would also: update powers and duties for the renamed clinics; clarify licensing, certification, and accreditation language (including a request to fund certification efforts); remove a vendor‑specific exemption no longer needed; permit the department to pay stipends to recipients or providers serving on councils or boards; allow appeal of some court orders to the state Supreme Court; restore a rulemaking authorization for state operated behavioral health clinics; and create a statutory process for certification and special operating funds the department said it needs.

Why it matters: The changes are largely structural and technical but cover a broad swath of behavioral health policy and administration. Committee members described the bill as one of the most substantive restructuring measures in recent years and said it formalizes trends that have developed over the past decade.

Testimony and concerns: Multiple stakeholders testified in favor of the bill’s goals but urged clarifications and changes. Denise Harvey of Protection and Advocacy supported certified community behavioral health clinics but asked that courts continue to consider least‑restrictive community placements first for individuals age 25 and up. Nikki Wagner (North Dakota Long Term Care Association) and providers from gero‑psych facilities asked for a statutory exemption from a daily behavioral health bed reporting requirement in section 50641.3, arguing that gero‑psych units operate at near‑full occupancy and that daily reporting creates administrative burdens without practical benefit. Nikki Wagner and St. Luke’s administrator Amy Crite provided operational details: long average lengths of stay, infrequent openings, and barriers created when Medicaid enrollment or level‑of‑care paperwork delay transfers out of institutional settings.

Senators’ reactions and procedural posture: Senators praised the technical work but warned that dissolving the historic “one‑door” human service center model into multiple specialized entrances will require careful communication to consumers and families. Senator Hogan described the bill as a “new beginning” but noted it represented a substantive shift that merits careful review. Committee members raised questions about the cross disability advisory council, noting some federal programs require specific advisory bodies and that eliminating or consolidating councils could have downstream consequences. Several senators suggested holding the bill to coordinate it with related legislation (including changes to the cross disability advisory council and statutes governing the Life Skills and Transition Center).

Next steps: The committee closed testimony and indicated it may hold SB 2113 pending further work to reconcile related proposals and draft amendments. No committee vote on the main bill was recorded in the hearing.

Ending: The Department of Health and Human Services described SB 2113 as a technical modernization and alignment to current practice; several stakeholders supported the bill with clarifying amendments. Committee members asked the department and legislative sponsors to supply reconciled language on the cross disability council and related statutes before final action.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Senate Human Services- Jan 8, 2025\t","oneSentenceSummary","The Senate Human Services Committee heard testimony on Senate Bill 2113, a broad rewrite renaming regional human service centers as state operated behavioral health clinics and creating a process for certificated community behavioral health clinics, but senators asked for further clarifications and flagged related bills for coordination.","taxTitle","Human Services, Senate, Legislative, North Dakota","taxId",28905,"location","North Dakota","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6393390,"Senate Committee OKs amendment, advances bill to modernize geropsychiatric admissions",1412,244000,1656000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2107452-ec78876f24202ab9ea2f3151f5320e4a&start=244&end=1656","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2107452-ec78876f24202ab9ea2f3151f5320e4a/thumbnail_244000.jpg","/articles/6393390/North-Dakota/Senate-Committee-OKs-amendment-advances-bill-to-modernize-geropsychiatric-admissions","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6393390-d937bc7695ce5f58fc4126bb0a9433bb/orig.mp4?Expires=1771222407&Signature=TV7iqXQSNs6-cwkJkUHtzGN0eAwPDzjjxJcbK6sohEKKUCAeALDBUDlKfC9IffkLR1NR7CD4LXPuA-Gl86b6ARsdv1BW~9WATVep9StW~Pz8MjWwGf1DzvSJ5K9X6-ejXQSsudrIdCGR7TG~bV2pHe3FDbikHCdTdWE89b6MKsiX13H46N9pzJ-mUDr~jRIKisBT3KWhRPJ36-T2KaMuZZkUw8mshjyYVIHaRf36dCvJMMbNx3BR58DwM9mmxVZbRAlTAUidpkKHtMblFCNAlcg5YgrFgvkSSgj7JIizFMJrq0Bk183Vv5fN6ohx70~vZl-I7BzHqNB4bXuWbrFMKw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Chair Judy Lee and members of the Senate Human Services Committee advanced Senate Bill 2081 on a unanimous voice vote after brief testimony and a narrowly focused amendment.

Pam Segnus, executive director of behavioral health at the Department of Health and Human Services, told the committee the bill would amend language in “chapter 50‑24.4‑29 regarding gero psychiatric facilities to align language to current process.” She said the department asked to remove the requirement that the North Dakota State Hospital perform an evaluation of every individual before admission to a gero‑psychiatric unit so “we avoid unnecessary evaluations by the North Dakota State Hospital” and to allow transfers directly when a person already has an evaluation from another provider.

The department also asked the committee to strike language “that prohibits the North Dakota State Hospital from offering gero psychiatric services through a unit set up exclusively to provide these services,” Pam Segnus said, explaining the change would let the department be responsive if private‑sector capacity became insufficient.

Why it matters: Committee members and providers said the changes would reflect current practice and reduce redundant steps that can delay placement or care. The change also preserves a priority pathway from the State Hospital while clarifying that the department does not control day‑to‑day admissions at private facilities.

Providers and advocates who testified spoke in support. Nikki Wagner, president of the North Dakota Long Term Care Association, said geropsychiatric units serve residents who require both skilled nursing and psychiatric care and described the three private gero‑psych units in the state (two 16‑bed units and one 20‑bed unit). Amy Crite, administrator at St. Luke’s Home in Dickinson, described her facility’s 20‑bed gero‑psych unit and said most residents come from the state hospital; she told the committee these units often serve as “home” for residents and operate at high occupancy.

Protection and Advocacy offered a comment urging the committee to keep home‑ and community‑based services available and to ensure less‑restrictive options are considered before institutional placements.

Amendment and votes: Senator Rorick moved the department’s amendment clarifying that admissions from the North Dakota State Hospital will be given first priority while noting the department “does not generally oversee the admissions of the facilities.” Senator Hogan seconded the amendment. The roll call recorded Senators Lee, Weston, Rohrs, Hogan, Van Osteen and Clemens voting in favor; the amendment passed 6–0. The committee then voted to pass SB 2081 as amended on a unanimous recorded voice vote.

Discussion vs. decision: The committee debated statutory language and operational detail but adopted the department’s amendment and voted the bill out of committee. The action was procedural (do pass as amended) and did not invoke a floor date or broader fiscal action in the hearing record.

Community details and operational context: Testimony identified three private gero‑psych units in North Dakota with bed sizes described (two 16‑bed units and one 20‑bed unit) and described typical referral pathways (majority from the North Dakota State Hospital, some from VA or acute care). Administrators described lengthy average stays and explained operational constraints that shape admissions practices.

Where things stand: SB 2081 passed the Senate Human Services Committee as amended and will move forward per the Legislature’s rules. The committee did not adopt additional amendments or set aside the bill; no fiscal motion or detailed implementation timeline was adopted during the hearing.

Ending: Committee members praised the technical fix and urged continued attention to matching statutory language with current practice as behavioral health services evolve.","The Senate Human Services Committee advanced Senate Bill 2081, updated to remove a statutory requirement that the North Dakota State Hospital perform evaluations for admission to geropsychiatric skilled nursing units and to clarify admissions priority and departmental oversight. The amendment and the bill passed the committee unanimously.","actionData","errors"]

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Committee hears large rewrite to rename human service centers and add certified community behavioral health clinics; members flag need for follow‑up

Senate Committee OKs amendment, advances bill to modernize geropsychiatric admissions