This bill proposes to amend current statutes regarding the treatment of patients in secure behavioral health residential facilities (SBHRFs). Under the current law, the Department of Health Services licenses SBHRFs to provide treatment for individuals who are seriously mentally ill and either court-ordered for treatment or committed due to being found dangerous and incompetent to stand trial. The new bill language specifies that patients committed under section 36-550.09 (civil commitment) cannot be treated in the same SBHRF that treats patients committed under section 13-4521 (criminal commitment). This change aims to ensure that these two groups of patients are treated in separate facilities.

Additionally, the bill maintains the existing requirement that SBHRFs provide secure, 24-hour treatment and supervision by trained staff, and it does not alter the maximum capacity of these facilities, which is capped at sixteen beds. The proposed amendments clarify the distinction between the types of patients that can be treated in SBHRFs, thereby enhancing the legal framework governing the treatment of individuals with mental health issues in Arizona.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 13-712, 13-4521, 36-425.06, 13-4517, 13-706, 13-4509, 13-702, 13-703, 13-704, 13-705, 13-708, 13-751, 13-4508
Senate Engrossed Version: 13-712, 13-4521, 36-425.06, 13-4517, 13-706, 13-4509, 13-702, 13-703, 13-704, 13-705, 13-708, 13-751, 13-4508
House Engrossed Version: 36-425.06
Chaptered Version: 36-425.06