Sec. 1. 25 MRSA §2804-J is enacted to read:

§2804-J.__Mental illness and substance abuse or dependence

training

1.__Training standards.__The board shall establish training in the areas of mental illness and substance abuse or dependence.__ The training must include:

A.__Training in signs and symptoms of serious mental illness and substance abuse or dependence;

B.__Appropriate intervention to facilitate mental health services within jails and correctional facilities; and

C.__How best to respond to minor infractions of the law committed by a person with mental illness or suffering from substance abuse or substance dependence.

2.__Preservice.__Preservice law enforcement training standards established under section 2804-B must include a minimum of 12 hours of training described in subsection 1.

3.__Basic corrections training.__Basic corrections training standards established under section 2804-D must include a minimum of 12 hours of training described in subsection 1.

4.__In-service law enforcement training.__In-service law enforcement training standards established under section 2804-E must include a minimum of 3 hours of training described in subsection 1.

5.__In-service corrections training.__In-service corrections training standards established under section 2804-F must include a minimum of 3 hours of training described in subsection 1.

6.__Officers certified as of October 1, 2001.__Law enforcement officers and corrections officers certified as meeting training requirements as of October 1, 2001 must complete 12 hours of mental illness and substance abuse and dependence training by July 1, 2003.

Sec. 2. 30-A MRSA §1558-A is enacted to read:

§1558-A.__Transfer of prisoners with mental illness

A county jail may not transfer a prisoner or accept custody of a transferred prisoner solely as a mechanism to treat, control