R 419

2019 -- H 5751 SUBSTITUTE A Enacted 06/28/2019

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

College of Emergency Physicians, or designee.

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

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

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

of a legislator.

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

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

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

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

diagnosed with substance use disorder following involuntary inpatient treatment including:

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

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

of involuntary treatment;

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

following detoxification to begin medication-assisted treatment;

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

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

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

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

seeking voluntary treatment for substance use disorder;

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

used in less restrictive settings; and

The effectiveness of the existing involuntary commitment procedures pursuant to this

chapter at reducing long-term relapse rates.

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

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

legislators.

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

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

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

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

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

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

for said commission; and be it further

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

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

13, 2020.

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LC001618/SUB A/4

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