The bill HB2041 amends existing Arizona mental health laws to enhance the process for individuals opting for voluntary psychological evaluations instead of court-ordered evaluations (COEs). Key changes include allowing individuals to select their own licensed behavioral health provider for the evaluation, extending the evaluation completion timeframe from five to ten days, and requiring immediate delivery of evaluation results to the county evaluation agency. Additionally, the bill mandates that if a voluntary evaluation suggests a COE, it must be accompanied by an application for such an evaluation.

The bill also removes the previous stipulation that voluntary evaluations could only occur during a prepetition screening after an application had been made. It introduces new definitions for "voluntary evaluation" and "licensed behavioral health provider," and establishes requirements for notification and confirmation of evaluations. Furthermore, it clarifies that individuals undergoing voluntary evaluations must pay for the service based on their ability to afford it, while indigent individuals are exempt from charges. Overall, these amendments aim to streamline the voluntary evaluation process and improve access to mental health services.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 36-522, 36-545.05, 36-530, 36-531, 36-521, 36-521.01
House Engrossed Version: 36-501, 36-522, 36-545.05, 13-4510, 12-2801, 36-401, 32-1601, 36-441, 36-445, 36-2402, 36-2917, 36-3401, 36-530, 36-531, 36-521, 36-521.01, 32-3251
Senate Engrossed Version: 36-501, 36-522, 36-540, 36-545.05, 13-4510, 12-2801, 36-401, 32-1601, 36-441, 36-445, 36-2402, 36-2917, 36-3401, 36-530, 36-531, 36-521, 36-521.01, 32-3251, 36-541, 36-540.01, 36-550.09, 36-425.06, 36-546, 14-5101, 14-5401, 14-5308, 14-5310, 14-5401.01, 14-5309, 14-5405, 14-5312.01, 13-3101, 13-4517
Chaptered Version: 36-501, 36-522, 36-540, 36-545.05, 13-4510, 12-2801, 36-401, 32-1601, 36-441, 36-445, 36-2402, 36-2917, 36-3401, 36-530, 36-531, 36-521, 36-521.01, 32-3251, 36-541, 36-540.01, 36-550.09, 36-425.06, 36-546, 14-5101, 14-5401, 14-5308, 14-5310, 14-5401.01, 14-5309, 14-5405, 14-5312.01, 13-3101, 13-4517