SB240 Enrolled is a legislative bill that amends the Code of Alabama 1975 to update the procedures and definitions related to the involuntary commitment of individuals with mental illnesses and co-occurring substance use disorders. The bill authorizes judges of probate to commit individuals who have a substance use disorder secondary to a primary mental illness diagnosis and allows for the establishment of procedures to limit the liberty of a respondent pending a final hearing. It also introduces a new section, 15-16-26, which provides a process for the committing probate judge to seek relief for the respondent from temporary criminal confinement to fulfill a pending commitment order. The bill includes insertions that define "co-occurring substance use disorder" and "substance use disorder," and it clarifies that mental health providers are not required to expand services without the necessary funds.

The bill modifies the language used in the commitment process, replacing "probate judge" with "judge of probate," and updates the criteria for both outpatient and inpatient commitment, including the inclusion of mental illness with a secondary diagnosis of co-occurring substance use disorder. It mandates immediate reporting of involuntary commitment orders to the Alabama State Law Enforcement Agency and the NICS system. The bill also outlines the conditions for renewing outpatient treatment commitment orders and adds a new subsection (d) clarifying that mental health providers are not obligated to expand services without funding. Additionally, it sets procedures for assessing the appropriateness of outpatient treatment for individuals committed for inpatient treatment and allows for the modification of the original commitment order. SB240 will become effective on January 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 22-52-1, 22-52-1, 22-52-3, 22-52-7, 22-52-10, 22-52-10, 22-52-10, 22-52-10, 22-52-11
Engrossed: 22-52-1, 22-52-1, 22-52-3, 22-52-7, 22-52-10, 22-52-10, 22-52-10, 22-52-10, 22-52-11
Enrolled: 22-52-1, 22-52-1, 22-52-3, 22-52-7, 22-52-10, 22-52-10, 22-52-10, 22-52-10, 22-52-11