MACCAC Board of Directors Meeting AMC Board Room Friday, March 23, 2007 MEETING MINUTES

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1 MACCAC Board of Directors Meeting AMC Board Room Friday, March 23, 2007 MEETING MINUTES Members Present: Barbara Illsley, Dakota County Therese McCoy, Scott County Susan Mills, TCCC Mark Sizer, Stearns County Katherine Langer, TWCC Tom Roy, ARC Kitty Murdock, Hennepin County Ron Wiborg, Hennepin County Don Ilse, Anoka County Carol Roberts, Ramsey County Jon Ramlo, Rock/Nobles Counties Jerry Haley, Blue Earth County Sally Ruvelson, Ramsey County Chris Crutchfield, Ramsey County Midge Christianson, 6WCC Guests: John Tuma, MICA Mary Dombrovski, DOC Staff: Scott Simmons, AMC Cathy Hanson, AMC I. Call to Order: President-elect Midge Christianson called the meeting to order at 9:00 a.m. Midge stated that H.F. 2265, regarding searches of probationers, has been rolled into the proposed omnibus judiciary policy bill and is coming up for discussion at the House Public Safety Committee within the hour and merits immediate discussion. After discussing the issue, the consensus was that due to its late introduction, there was not time for directors to screen the bill. After this meeting a letter will be drafted to the committee chair expressing the concerns of the Board. Elements of concern include the lack of need for search authority, probation officer safety, Constitutional conflicts, and impact on peace officer/corrections officer roles and collaboration. II. III. Approval of Meeting Agenda: A discussion of the Thursday MACCAC committee structure and potential MACCAC training were topics requested to be added to the distributed agenda. Approval of Meeting Minutes: A motion to approve the February 23, 2007, meeting minutes was made by Ron Wiborg and seconded by Jon Ramlo; the motion carried. Barbara Illsley noted that the January minutes have not been posted on the web and the main page has an error. A brief discussion ensued regarding the desire of members to be able to review minutes earlier. Barbara moved to have staff draft minutes to the members before approval, so they will be able to review action items sooner. Sally Ruvelson seconded the motion; the motion carried. Staff will update the web and endeavor to send minutes to members within three business days of the monthly meeting date.

2 IV. Minnesota Department of Corrections Report: Mary Dombrovski, DOC, reported that the following RFP s are coming due: Restorative Justice: The amount of funding is $206,000 per year, beginning July 1, 2007 through June 30, Funds will be awarded as two one-year grants ranging from $10,000 to $40,000 per year covering the twelve-month periods of July 1, 2007 through June 30, 2008 and July 1, 2008 through June 30, All applications are due at 4:30 p.m., Tuesday, March 27, Remote Electronic Alcohol Monitoring (REAM) programs for driving-while-intoxicated offenders under court order to abstain from alcohol use. A total of $608,000 is available for statewide grants for the twelve-month periods of July 1, 2007, through June 30, 2008, and July 1, 2008, through June 30, These funds are available to judicial districts, counties, and community corrections act agencies. The proposals are due April 16, 2007 at noon. Mary also noted that Ken Merz and staff from the DOC jail inspection and enforcement unit will be doing a workshop from 1:45 to 3:00 p.m. on March 28 at the AMC Legislative Conference. Other legislative highlights: a. Sex offenders: The governor s recommendation for sex offender programs were $1.8 M first year (adult); $200,000 for juvenile, $500,000 treatment at community level. The Senate zeroed out and lumped together funding at $1 million (if the governor s recommendation were to be followed with regard to the percentage of the fund it would mean 72% to sex offender agents, 8% juvenile agents, and 20% to additional treatment funds). For the most part, the funding that goes out goes to small programs. Mary s concern is that if DOC does a competitive RFP process and legislation requires criteria, it s a lot of work for small programs to put together a proposal. As a state agency, they will shorten the requirement and fund accordingly. Then they ll go back a few months later and state that more criteria are needed. The goal of the department is to get the funding where it belongs and in a way that makes sense without making agencies crazy. b. Short-term offenders: The per diem could be passed at $30 a day. There was a request for a formal study to be done by the department looking at long-term solutions for the short-term problem. No formal study will likely be done, but at the Commissioner s direction, Ken Merz will work with folks to address policy and funding issues. c. Jail per diems: There was a bill heard March 22 to require DOC to develop uniform calculation of jail per diem costs. This bill by Rep. Kohls requires uniform numbers through the county sheriffs. An existing law basically states that this has to be done for state facilities. Members expressed concern about this process hoping that all parties would be involved in the discussion if it moves forward. d. Sex offender treatment: Midge commented that she hoped that the sex offender treatment money that was added be redistributed in a competitive RFP. There are many agencies that didn t qualify the first time around. Mary stated that no sex offender funds would go out for RFP for the next biennium. She also stated that the reason it is not being reissued is that the DOC is looking for the requirements and regulations that will come out of their report to the legislature. Members asked, Why is MACCAC not being consulted on the distribution of this funding as was promised? There is no opportunity for incoming providers to access this funding. This is contrary to the commitment DOC previously made to the directors. Members agreed to appoint a couple of members to meet with DOC to come up with a solution. Kathy Langer asked to go on record for the purpose of this discussion to express her concern that if the money gets held up pending MACCAC s input and decision, programs will close and there will be untreated sex offenders out there in a short time. Barbara Illsley and Don Ilse volunteered to meet with Harley Nelson to address this issue. Individual members 2

3 are to get their comments to Barbara and Don as soon as possible for the purpose of meeting with Harley. Questions were asked of DOC: Sex offender management: The governor proposed $2.5 M. The Senate proposed so much less, so if that figure holds, how will DOC still look at putting programs out there? Are we looking at more unfunded mandates? What is the relationship between current sex offender management initiatives and the status of the report? Mary reported that it seems to have fallen off the radar. She stated that her concern is that with caseload/workload funding, depending on how it gets appropriated, sometimes goes to DOC with a separate line item in its budget. Mary stated that it would be nice to put the new money in the sex offender budget in that case. Mary requested that funds that came out of 2005 be put into those budgets. Scott suggested that MACCAC talk with Sen. Higgins on this issue and ask to put the funding under a flexible caseload/workload reduction account. V. MACCAC Appointments a. Juvenile Justice and Mental Health Initiative Interagency Advisory Task Force (IATF): Scott reviewed the DOC letter of request for task force member appointments. Thus far, Fred indicated that he is willing to be the MACCAC representative. Therese McCoy volunteered to be the MACCAC appointee. A motion was made by Barbara to appoint Therese as the MACCAC appointee; seconded and carried. Scott will call Chris Bray to confirm. b. Criminal and Juvenile Justice Information Policy Group Task Force (CriMNet Committee): Scott gave the members an overview of the AMC appointments. Tim Cleveland is one of the two AMC corrections administrator appointees. One administrator position has opened due to the retirement of Tracy Page. Tom Roy moved to recommend Jerry Haley fill the administrative position. Motion seconded by Barbara; motion carried. Committee Reports VI. Treasurer s Report: Kathy Langer reviewed the current income and expenditure statement. She also reviewed a revision from last month s spreadsheet reflecting an increase in static expenses should MACCAC hire a director. Almost all 2007 dues are in. VII. Legislative Report: House target: John Tuma commented that the funding prospects at this point are better in the House than the Senate. The House targets are over the governor s budget. The Senate has bifurcated funds to public safety between law enforcement and the judiciary. Both the judiciary and public safety funding bills are up on the Senate floor within a few days. a. Drug court update: MACCAC desires that the funds be ongoing and that local funds flow through administrative agencies rather than the Supreme Court. The House did give ongoing base funding in its proposal. Grants are flowing through the Supreme Court in the bill. b. Productive Day: HF 2267 (Mary Murphy) This bill requests funding for Arrowhead Regional Corrections. Tom stated that he wanted other directors to know that he had nothing to do with this funding bill. He feels it s an inappropriate way to deal with community corrections funding. He asked if this was an agency-wide issue that needs attention. Susan said if this language could go through, it would open the door for future local needs. Carol proposed that this may be an issue this group would want to take a look at in the future. It could be linked to transition as re-entry. As far as re-entry initiative, grants in the Senate public safety bill are basically re-entry grants (DOC and metro grants). 3

4 c. House Bonding Bill: Kathy Langer asked for comment on the 11-county bill requesting $150,000 for pre-design work to convert part of the Fergus Falls RTC to a multicounty regional secured treatment facility. The bills requires the commissioner of human services to prepare a report to the legislature assessing the need for and the viability of the facility and the benefits derived from a coordinated multicounty, regional approach to local chemical dependency needs in west central Minnesota. The report is due to the legislature by February 1, Kathy commented that there is a 60-bed facility nearby, so why would the state put funds into this facility? Scott commented that this bill came out of the concern for adequacy and availability of offender treatment in outstate Minnesota. It was suggested that jail and corrections administrators are expected to be the ones to determine whether or not there is a concern with inmate drug treatment. d. Nickel -a-drink: This bill is not moving forward. After polling was done, the focus turned to the Senate property tax proposal and the House top tier tax increase proposal. e. Mental Health Discharge Planning: Discharge planning grant language is included in Rep Greiling s mental health bill. The bill (HF 196) also provides that anyone getting out of correctional facilities is qualified for GMAC for 90 days. f. Suspension of benefit entitlement: This bill, SF 1387, suspends MA eligibility for offenders in local facilities rather than terminating it. There has been no negative discussion as DHS is negotiating this with EAP and have agreed to it. Estimates in Minnesota, based upon county figures, is that if it goes through $15 M to $20 M per year will be saved. g. Return of Unused Medications: This bill allows unused, unopened medications to be returned to the pharmacy of origin as the Board of Pharmacy had stated that it will not do waivers anymore. The bill was passed on to the House Health Finance Committee yesterday. h. Transition mental health planner: Requirement in HF 196 (Greiling) that each PSI had to include a mental health assessment as well for all jail intakes has been taken out of the bill. Great idea, but no funding is available to do this. VIII. Conference Committee: The committee met yesterday for 2007 planning. Midge and Kitty are co-chairing this year s conference planning. Kitty developed a time-line for planning the conference. Kitty reviewed the timeline for the conference including suggestions for the theme. The committee believes it s time to bring in a national keynote speaker. A speaker recommended by Carol Roberts is Steven Aos, Economist and Associate Director for Washington State Institute for Public Policy. Ron concurred as he has recently heard this speaker at a NACo conference speaking on EBP. Midge outlined areas where feedback is needed. It was suggested that input be requested via an e- mail to members. There was some discussion that a theme of re-entry would be relevant to members. Workshops could be offered on offender and housing space, release advance planning, programs, and initiatives. The committee will put together a budget and bring it back to next month s meeting. On other issues such as the registration fee, vendor fee, and entertainment, the committee will make recommendations to the Board in April. There was some discussion of surveying both community advisory board members and commissioners to find format and topics preferred. Volunteers recruited to work on this committee are: Midge Christianson, Kitty Murdock, Carol Roberts, Jerry Haley, and Susan Mills. Others are welcome. The committee will meet in advance of the April Board meeting. 4

5 IX. Executive Director/AMC Agreement Update: The MACCAC Directors met in closed session following the regular meeting to review progress on contract negotiations with AMC. Don Isle and Barb Illsley reviewed details of the most recent meeting between MACCAC representatives and AMC representatives Jim Mulder and Laurie Klupacs. An updated contract proposal was distributed and discussed. This contract includes AMC paying 25% of the Director's salary, in exchange for the Director acting as the staff person for the AMC Public Safety Policy Committee. A motion was made by Susan Mills, seconded by Mark Sizer, to approve the contract with AMC as presented at the meeting. Motion carried unanimously. A motion was made by Kathy Langer, seconded by Ron Wiborg, for the interview panel for the Director position to consist of Fred LaFleur, Midge Christianson, Don Isle, and Barb Illsley. The motion carried unanimously. Don will serve as the MACCAC contact person with AMC in further communication regarding advertising for the position, interview schedules, and other logistics. A motion was made by Susan Mills, seconded by Therese McCoy, that the upper limit for the Director s total salary be $70,000. Of this amount, MACCAC will be responsible for 75% and AMC for 25%. The motion carried unanimously. Treasurer Kathy Langer will review the contract and AMC personnel policy for future budgeting purposes in regard to vacation and sick accrual, salary increases, and other financial impacts. The interview team will make a recommendation to the full MACCAC Board for final approval of the appropriate Director candidate. The closed session ended and the Board returned to open session for the remainder of the meeting. X. Thursday Meetings: Don Ilse suggested a change for the structure of the Thursday afternoon committee meetings. He suggested that a standing forum be in place following the regular committee meetings where special issues could be brought up and discussed and ideas exchanged. Individuals could advise the Director/AMC staff person ahead of time that they had an item they wished to discuss and this would be forward to the rest of the members. It was agreed that this format will be placed on the April Board meeting agenda for further discussion. XI. Training: Sally Ruvelson shared that the MACCAC training group will be organizing a second training focusing on the culture of poverty. There will be a small registration fee. Mark Sizer volunteered Stearns County facilities as the location for the training. XII. Other: Tom Roy, on behalf of APPA, advised that APPA is seeking financial contributions towards the "branding project. Tom previously forwarded an to members regarding this project. MCA as well as other Minnesota correctional groups will be contributing. Therese McCoy moved to have MACCAC contribute $1,000 to the project. Discussion followed. Carol Roberts offered an amendment to discuss other possible amounts. Ron Wiborg seconded the amendment. Further discussion followed. As no agreement was forthcoming on the appropriate amount, a motion was made by Ron Wiborg, second by Sally Ruvelson, to table this issue until the April Board meeting. The motion carried unanimously. XIII. Adjournment: There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned by President-Elect Midge Christianson. 5