Drafter
Clerk 05/14/2015
title
A MOTION requesting that the executive develop and transmit a report addressing space constraints at the Involuntary Treatment Act court.
Body
WHEREAS, chapters 71.05 and 71.34 RCW, commonly known as the Washington State Involuntary Treatment Act, allows for a person to be civilly committed for defined periods if the person, as the result of a mental disorder, presents an imminent likelihood of serious harm, or is in imminent danger because of being gravely disabled, if an adult, or presents a likelihood of serious harm or is gravely disabled, if a minor, and
WHEREAS, King County superior court adjudicates civil commitment cases in its Involuntary Treatment Act court, which hears and resolves petitions for the involuntary commitment of adults and minors, thereby providing judicial oversight to the process of imposing involuntary mental health treatment under state law, and
WHEREAS, the caseload for the Involuntary Treatment Act court has risen from 2,420 in 2008 to 3,852 in 2014, increasing faster than any other category of superior court cases, and
WHEREAS, stakeholders have raised concerns about challenges to court operations due to space constraints, and
WHEREAS, plans for redevelopment of Harborview Hall contemplate the relocation and expansion of Involuntary Treatment Act court no sooner than 2018;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT MOVED by the Council of King County:
A. The executive is requested to develop and transmit to the council a report on how the county is addressing space constraints related to the significant increase in the caseload of the Involuntary Treatment Act court as well as both short- and medium-term space strategies to address the anticipated, continual increase in such cases, including:
1. A description of the anticipated level of need, based on current data and any information or projections the county may have related to matters that might impact caseload increases, from now through the anticipated availability for occupancy of the redeveloped Harborview Hall;
2. Estimated one-time and ongoing costs of options to expand into new or existing additional courtrooms or office space to accommodate anticipated need in the short and medium term; and
3. Consideration of the viability of phased construction for the Harborview Hall redevelopment that would enable the Involuntary Treatment Act court to relocate to an expanded space sooner than 2018.
B. The executive should transmit the report on the strategies and estimated costs to alleviate overcrowding by August 17, 2015, in the form of a paper original and an electronic copy with the clerk of the council, who shall retain the original and provide an electronic copy to all councilmembers, the council chief of staff, the policy staff director
and the lead staff for the law, justice and emergency management committee, or its successor.