the Department of Health and Mental
Hygiene submits a plan to the budget
committees Senate Budget and
Taxation Committee, the Senate
Finance Committee, the House
Appropriations Committee, and the
House Health and Government
Operations Committee that provides for
a network of State-run psychiatric
facilities to include only two large regional
hospitals as well as any other proposed
reconfiguration of bed space. The plan
shall be submitted no later than
September 1, 2003.

It is the intent of the General Assembly that
the State shall develop a network of
State-run psychiatric facilities to include
two, rather than the current three, large
regional hospitals while maintaining
existing bed capacity. The General
Assembly understands that to improve
staffing and operational efficiency and to
enhance the treatment environment,
significant capital improvements are
required at Springfield, Spring Grove,
and Crownsville hospitals. Making such
improvements at all three hospitals would
cost in current dollars over $174,000,000.
However, making improvements to just
two facilities, to include one large new
hospital, could result in savings of up to
$70,000,000.

The plan shall include proposed bed
capacity by facility and a detailed
time-line on the transition necessary to
achieve reconfiguration. The budget
committees shall have 45 days to review
and comment upon the plan......................

Federal Fund Appropriation..........................

M00L01.02 Community Services

General Fund Appropriation.........................

- 1611 -

5,355,064
911,482	6,266,546

85,852,000

84,227,000

82,727,000

83,477,000

ROBERT L. EHRLICH, JR., Governor

Ch. 202