Action 8.
Regular Board of Supervisors Meeting
Board of Supervisors
- Meeting Date:
- 07/12/2022
- Title:
- Agreement with Pima County Mental Health Defender's Office
- Submitted By:
- Tim Mattix, Board of Supervisors
- Department:
- Board of Supervisors
Presentation:
No A/V Presentation
Recommendation:
Approve
Document Signatures:
BOS Signature Required
# of ORIGINALS
Submitted for Signature:
Submitted for Signature:
2
NAME
of PRESENTER:
of PRESENTER:
Richard G. Karwaczka
TITLE
of PRESENTER:
of PRESENTER:
County Administrator
Mandated Function?:
Federal or State Mandate
Source of Mandate
or Basis for Support?:
or Basis for Support?:
A.R.S. 36-500 et seq.
Docket Number (If applicable):
Information
Agenda Item Text:
Approve Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) with the Pima County Mental Health Defender's Office for attorney coverage of Cochise County Title 36 hearings, including both Court-Ordered Evaluations (COEs) and Court-Ordered Treatment (COT), at a per-case cost as outlined in the IGA, with a total estimated cost of $37,454, effective July 5, 2022 through July 4, 2023.
Background:
Cochise County is statutorily obligated to provide legal representation to people involuntarily hospitalized in Title 36 cases. Title 36 cases in Cochise County are transported to hospitals in Pima County. A defense attorney from the Cochise County is required to travel to the hospital in Pima County to provide legal representation.
This Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) between Cochise and Pima County will allow for the Pima County Mental Health Defender's Office to represent Title 36 cases, on behalf of Cochise County for Cochise County patients being held in Pima County hospitals. The Pima County Mental Health Defender's Office will represent proposed patients involuntarily hospitalized in Pima County hospitals upon initiation of the Title 36 process.
The IGA provides a cost-effective manner for Cochise County to have proposed patients represented as required by statute, while saving the County the time and cost of travel to Pima County for each hearing. Pursuant to IGA paragraph 3, Cochise County will reimburse Pima County $146 per case, and will reimburse payment for independent evaluations. In the event of contested cases, Cochise County will reimburse Pima County $150 for any additional evaluation reports and $100 should a doctor need to testify. Cochise County will also reimburse Pima County at a rate of $146 for any appeal. The anticipated total cost to the County is $37,454.
This Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) between Cochise and Pima County will allow for the Pima County Mental Health Defender's Office to represent Title 36 cases, on behalf of Cochise County for Cochise County patients being held in Pima County hospitals. The Pima County Mental Health Defender's Office will represent proposed patients involuntarily hospitalized in Pima County hospitals upon initiation of the Title 36 process.
The IGA provides a cost-effective manner for Cochise County to have proposed patients represented as required by statute, while saving the County the time and cost of travel to Pima County for each hearing. Pursuant to IGA paragraph 3, Cochise County will reimburse Pima County $146 per case, and will reimburse payment for independent evaluations. In the event of contested cases, Cochise County will reimburse Pima County $150 for any additional evaluation reports and $100 should a doctor need to testify. Cochise County will also reimburse Pima County at a rate of $146 for any appeal. The anticipated total cost to the County is $37,454.
Department's Next Steps (if approved):
n/a
Impact of NOT Approving/Alternatives:
Cochise County will still need to assign an attorney to travel to Pima County upon a case being entered.
To BOS Staff: Document Disposition/Follow-Up:
Provide signed agreement to Pima County Mental Defender's Office.