“Until a bill is passed, Montanans are at risk. It is that simple,” Montana State Budget Director Dan Villa told a senate committee March 29. The bill at issue was House Bill 387 sponsored by Montana City Republican Rep. Kirk Wagoner. The bill would extend some operations at the Montana Developmental Center for up to two years and also create a 12-bed Intensive Behavior Center (IBC).
Noting that a bill passed in the 2015 Legislative Session, SB 411, has closed down admissions to the MDC, leaving no crisis intervention service for Montanans with developmental disabilities, Wagoner told the Senate Public Health, Welfare and Safety Committee, “This is a piece that was needed three months ago, six months ago. There are people waiting.”
The elimination of admissions to the MDC means the state has no ability to accept clients court-ordered into services. In addition, roughly two dozen clients remain at the MDC, not yet accepted by private community providers, said Wagoner. Until placements can be found, those clients need somewhere to be beyond the June 30 final closure deadline set in SB 411.
