Committee restores and funds some Department of Corrections mental-health positions, adds roughly $1.01 million

The Senate Finance Committee approved restoring several mental-health positions in the Department of Corrections after members said court orders and operational needs required some roles to be funded.

Senator Waters moved to remove items 1, 2 and 3 from the list and restore positions; committee discussion referenced conversations with Interim Commissioner Scipa and the new interim commission. Committee staff read the positions by line: some positions would be restored and funded, others restored but left unfunded to give the department flexibility.

The positions identified in committee discussion included a funded 42270 position; restored-but-not-funded positions including 12879 and 16929; and funded positions 19938, 41465 and 44283; another position (42271) was restored and unfunded. Committee staff said the net impact of funding the selected positions for the two numbered items described was $1,005,583 in new spending.

Committee members asked for clarity and then voted. The motion passed after members voiced their support.

The committee record shows the action is intended to comply with prior court orders and to address mental-health staffing needs in correctional facilities. The committee did not provide a schedule for hiring or identify effective dates for each restored position during the floor discussion.