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Mental health resolution moves forward

The Rapid City Journal - 1/24/2018

The state House of Representatives passed a resolution supporting additional mental health services in western South Dakota on Tuesday.

The bill is similar in composition to two separate resolutions approved by the Pennington County Board of Commissioners and Rapid City Council at the request of former state representative Al Scovel.

House Concurrent Resolution 1002 passed, 62 to 1, with Rep. Taffy Howard, R-Rapid City, casting the 'nay' vote.

Though the resolution expresses support and "recognizes the great need for additional mental health services in western South Dakota," no details about how to achieve such a goal, or any potential funding mechanisms, are mentioned.

South Dakota is one of five states that allow a person experiencing a mental health crisis to be held in a correctional facility. The closest state-run mental health facility to Rapid City and Pennington County is the Human Services center in Yankton, more than 350 miles away in the southeast corner of the state.