The City Council is being asked to ratify a new $244,220 grant application to Montana Mental Health Settlement Trust for a 2-year program for the Billings Adult Misdemeanor Mental Health Court (BAMHC).  When the Council had no objections to an on-line inquiry, the City Administrator signed the grant December 3, 2010, in order to make a state application deadline.  If approved, this grant would replace 3-year Bureau of Justice Assistance planning and implementation grant that expires in August 2011.

Based on Billings' size and demographics, the city is expected to have about 6,350 residents affected by serious mental health issues.  BAMHC tries to reduce criminal recidivism in mentally ill individuals by screening chronic offenders for mental illness and by coordinating community care resources so clients can become successful family and community members.  The program lasts 15 to 18 months and, without additional funding, some of the 24 current clients may not be able to graduate.  The grant also helps train law enforcement officers on crisis intervention.

The grant for which the City is applying comes from settlement of a Montana Attorney General's suit against Eli Lilly, which allegedly sold the drug Zyprexa for unapproved, off-label uses.  The company also allegedly knew that the drug put patients at risk for health conditions including hyperglycemia, diabetes, pancreatitus and cardiac problems.

The grant was initiated by the current Municipal Court Judge, who has been elected to the District Court and is leaving the City on Jan. 3, 2011.  If the grant is awarded and a new Municipal Court Judge or the City Council decide that the program is something in which Billings is no longer interested, then the grant simply would not be accepted.

• Ratify the grant application made by the City Administrator; or
• Decline to ratify the grant application, in which case the application would be withdrawn.