Final answer:
Senate Bill 839 did not help to automate communication between jail and local mental health authorities; the provided information and the Prins and Draper (2009) reference do not mention any such automation.
Step-by-step explanation:
No, Senate Bill 839 did not help to automate communication between jail and local mental health authorities. The information provided in the mini-case study talks about a local County Commissioner of Mental Health who was assessing if children's visits to the Emergency Department (ED) could have been avoided with proper interventions from service agencies.
It also describes the collaboration between the Commissioner and the Department of Social Services to develop preventive interventions post a successful program evaluation project. However, it does not mention Senate Bill 839 or any legislation related to the automation of communication between jails and mental health authorities.
While a document by Prins and Draper (2009) titled 'Improving outcomes for people with mental illnesses under community corrections supervision: A guide to research-informed policy and practice' is noted, this reference also does not provide any details on Senate Bill 839 or the automation of such communication processes.