An act relating to establishing a forensic facility

This bill establishes a new forensic facility within the existing Vermont Psychiatric Care Hospital by July 1, 2024, to provide specialized care for individuals involved in the criminal justice system. The legislation requires the Department of Mental Health to update rules for involuntary psychiatric medications and begin drafting regulations for therapeutic community residences by late 2023. The Agency of Human Services must submit a staffing and programming plan to the General Assembly, while the relevant departments are required to provide annual reports on patient demographics, waitlist numbers, and emergency procedures from 2025 through 2030. Additionally, the bill creates a working group to assess whether forensic-level care is needed for individuals with intellectual disabilities who are charged with violent crimes or found incompetent to stand trial.