The proposed Bill No. 6551 aims to enhance the framework for assisted outpatient treatment for individuals with severe mental illness. Key amendments to current law include the definition of "serious harm" to encompass a substantial inability to meet basic needs and psychiatric deterioration. The bill broadens the criteria for assessing the need for mental health interventions and expands the pool of professionals eligible to conduct mental health assessments to include psychiatric advanced practice registered nurses and clinical social workers. Additionally, it establishes a flexible approach to involuntary treatment that prioritizes individual potential and the least restrictive interventions.

Furthermore, the bill mandates that hospitals and psychiatric treatment facilities evaluate patients for potential assisted outpatient treatment prior to discharge and requires notification to community mental health care providers regarding patient admissions and discharges. It also stipulates that the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services must provide training to healthcare providers on these new provisions. The overarching goal of the bill is to reduce recurrent hospitalizations, prevent premature deaths, enhance public safety, and provide more compassionate mental health care while respecting individual rights and promoting community-based services.