Approve amended agreement with the Department of State Hospitals, updating the rate per service and increasing the maximum compensation to $70,000 for the term of the contract for telehealth evaluations of felony incompetent to stand trial individuals in the Yolo County Detention Facility. (No general fund impact) (Lopez/Johnson)

Approve amended agreement with the Department of State Hospitals (DSH), updating the rate per service and increasing the maximum compensation to $70,000 for the term of the contract for telehealth evaluations of felony incompetent to stand trial (IST) individuals in the Yolo County Detention Facility.

In accordance with Welfare and Institutions Code 4335.2, a program has been established by the DSH to perform reevaluations of felony IST individuals who have been waiting for admission to a DSH facility 60 days or more from the date of their commitment. The goal of this program is to reduce the number of defendants awaiting placement into a competence restoration treatment program by identifying and assessing IST individuals who may have been restored to competency in jail, who have stabilized and are appropriate for outpatient treatment, or who may be appropriate for community placement, supporting the principle of deinstitutionalization for individuals who can best be supported in a less restrictive setting such as mental health diversion or community based restoration. Reevaluations also provide an opportunity for DSH to offer medication consultation and technical assistance to the Sheriff's Office to support effective use of psychotropic medications and stabilization of IST defendants waiting for placement. Reevaluations are performed primarily through remote telehealth interviews, video conferencing, and other technologies. Responsibilities of the Sheriff's Office under this program include providing DSH with updated records of IST defendants who have been selected by DSH to participate in the program, coordination and scheduling, securing and maintaining necessary equipment and secured internet connections for remote telehealth interviews, and providing the necessary logistics to facilitate the interviews. 

The agreement for DSH telehealth evaluations was approved by the Board of Supervisors on January 11, 2022. In the original agreement language, DSH was to compensate the Sheriff's Office a flat rate of $500.00 per IST evaluation to reimburse for a portion of staff time utilized for logistics and coordination.  This language has now been amended to a flat rate of $1,000 per IST evaluation for evaluations occurring after July 1, 2022, through June 30, 2023.  Accordingly, the maximum compensation allowable has been increased to $70,000 for the term of the agreement. 

Because this agreement is between two government entities, the Sheriff's Office requests Board authority to approve the amendment.

County Counsel has approved the agreement as to form.

The competitive bid process does not apply to this Recommended Action.