Representative Richter asked what the capacity of each facility is. Ms. Nicolay said Watertown Home and School could hold up to ninety and West Farm up to forty-five.

Representative Richter asked what the definition of each of the levels the students go through is. Ms. Nicolay said that level one is the entrance level that each student comes in as. This level has many restrictions, such as supervised activities, group therapy requirements, and a limit on phone calls. The students are also encouraged to find job placement at this level. In level two, the students have more freedom and are allowed phone calls from friends, unsupervised school activities, and employment of ten to twenty hours per week, but are still required to attend group therapy sessions. In level three, the students can visit the mall and other public places unsupervised and have the greatest amount of freedom.

Senator Duxbury asked who provides transportation to and from school and employment for the students. Ms. Nicolay said the school and West Farm both provide transportation as well as the school bussing system, and local transit.

Senator Kleven asked how the students at both facilities receive medical care and who is responsible for the medical expenses. Ms. Nicolay said that in each town, the students can visit any medical facility, and medicaid pays for medical expenses because the students are part of the DOC.

Senator Drake asked if cooperation with other states is an alternative to place more students within both facilities. Ms. Nicolay said that South Dakota has enough DOC juveniles and that the schools are working with DOC to have more of them placed in these programs rather than the other programs available for juvenile offenders.

Grady Kuckel, Director of Rehabilitation Services (DRS), explained the mission of DRS and the recommended budget for FY2002. He said the neuromuscular assisted devices program carries the greatest increase in recommended funds and explained the goals of the expansion.

Senator Koskan asked if the increase will continue after FY2002. Mr. Kuckel said DRS hopes that it is not ongoing and the equipment can be reused, but because of the nature of recycling the equipment, DRS cannot guarantee that FY2002 will be the last year the funds are needed.

Ms. Patty Warkenthien, Director of the Division of the Blind and Visually Impaired, explained the mission and purpose of the Division and the recommended decrease in funds.

Representative Pummel asked if the Division is duplicating what the School for the Blind is doing. Ms. Warkenthien said that they do work cooperatively in sharing one employee in transitional

employment, but their goals are different.

Senator Duxbury asked how the Division measures its success. Ms. Warkenthien said its success is determined by how many are served and what they have provided.

Representative Klaudt asked if the School for the Blind could do the same things the Division is doing. Ms. Warkenthien stated that it is federal law that each state has a separate division for the blind or visually impaired.

Secretary John Jones spoke about the Human Services Center (HSC), its mission and services provided.

Senator Drake asked if the mental health programs on the front end of mental illness help in decreasing the number of people in HSC. Mr. Jones said HSC has not seen a decrease in the number of referrals since the other programs have begun.

Senator Duxbury asked if the number of juveniles entering HSC has increased. Mr. Jones said that it has increased from having a forty-bed juvenile wing to sixty-nine beds.

Senator Koskan asked where HSC's referrals come from. Mr. Jones said fifty percent of the referrals are involuntary admissions and they come from the court system, DSS, and parents. The voluntary admissions also come from guardians of juveniles who want assistance.

Senator Duxbury asked if the insurance parody has increased the amount of funds HSC has been able to collect. Mr. Jones said it has increased the amount by $500,000 and it is put back into general funds.

Mr. Jones explained the recommended budget. He said the greatest increases are for the pharmacy and BIT. The seven recommended FTE positions are for the additional needs in the juvenile wing.

Senator Dennert asked if Electro Shock Therapy (EST) is being used. Mr. Jones said it is used for those who have chronic depression and EST has a growing success rate.

Representative Richter asked what the disproportionate share is. Mr. Jones said that the federal government gives funding to those facilities which show a disproportionate share in the number of indigent cases within a community.

LeAnn Allstot