This bill proposes to amend current statutes regarding the treatment of patients in secure behavioral health residential facilities (SBHRFs). Under the current law, SBHRFs are licensed to provide treatment to individuals who are seriously mentally ill and either civilly committed or committed after being found dangerous and incompetent to stand trial. The new bill language specifies that patients committed under civil procedures (A.R.S. § 36-550.09) cannot be treated in the same SBHRF that treats patients committed after being found dangerous and incompetent to stand trial (A.R.S. § 13-4521).

Additionally, the bill maintains the existing requirement that SBHRFs provide secure, 24-hour treatment and supervision by trained staff, but it clarifies the separation of patient populations based on their commitment status. The bill does not alter the maximum capacity of SBHRFs, which remains at sixteen beds. Overall, the proposed changes aim to ensure that individuals committed under different legal circumstances receive appropriate and distinct treatment in separate facilities.

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