Boyd comments on Intros 133, 453, and 809
Boyd says DOC values the TGNC-NBI task force and wants collaboration to continue. He supports children having mental health access but says DOC is not the best agency to provide or refer those services, and he describes escorting patients during emergency lock-ins when safe.
The legislation before the committee speaks to that same responsibility.
Intro 133 concerns people whose safety and dignity require our sustained attention.
We value the task force contributions and the experience that advocates and community partners bring to improving the treatment and housing of transgender, gender nonconforming, nonbinary, and intersex people in our care.
The feedback and collaboration that has been born out of these meetings has resulted in meaningful changes to practices within our jails.
We want that collaboration to remain strong and look forward to further conversations.
Intro 453 recognized that incarceration also affects children and families.
A child visiting a parent deserves to feel welcome, supported, and safe.
Department has worked diligently over the past few years to build on our family-centered visiting initiatives and has worked with partners whose expertise has helped children and families receive targeted support
and attention so that visitation is meaningful and relationships remain intact.
While we agree that children should have access to mental health services should they need it,
We do not believe that the department is the best agency to offer those services or make referrals to such services.
Intro 809 addresses access to care during emergency lock-ins.
Protecting people from immediate harm and meeting their health care needs are both essential responsibilities.
In recognition of this, the department continues to escort individuals to medical appointments during emergency lock-ins
when it is safe to do so and coordinates closely with CHS to address any clinic encounters that may have been missed as a result of a lock-in, often as soon as the same day.
We look forward.
To working with CHS and the council to address any remaining gaps to ensure that people continue to have access to the services that they need.