The Legislature has delivered a stinging override to Gov. Greg Gianforte’s veto of House Bill 643, requiring the State to up the reimbursement of local inmates awaiting transfer to Warm Springs.
The override vote deadline was Monday and, at that point, 67 representatives and 34 senators had voted to override the bill carried by Rep. Tracy Sharp, a Republican from Polson.
The bill provided one-time funding of $5-million to reimburse counties holding mental health inmates awaiting space at the Montana State Hospital in Warm Springs. We’re told our county detention centers are holding 338 state inmates awaiting transfer to the Department of Corrections facilities. Of those, about half are in need of mental health treatment.
In his veto letter, the Governor called the bill well-intentioned, but a “Band-Aid” on the real problem, which is in the midst of getting fixed. Appearing on the KGEZ Good Morning Show, Gov. Gianforte tells us they’ve approved over $300-million to update the State Hospital at Warm Springs and the State Prison in Deer Lodge. He says mental health is essential for someone to become their whole self.
