SPONSOR: Cook
COMMITTEE ACTION: Voted "Do Pass" by the Standing Committee on Health and Mental Health by a vote of 17 to 0. Voted "Do Pass" by the Standing Committee on Rules-Administrative by a vote of 8 to 0.
Currently, an application for detention and evaluation for treatment at a mental health facility is to be executed by any adult person, who is not required to be an attorney or represented by an attorney, without a notarization requirement.
This bill repeals the provision that notarization is not required and specifies that no notarization will be required for any application, or for any affidavits, declarations, or other supporting documents, that were completed or executed by certain peace officers, licensed physicians, mental health professionals, registered professional nurses, or employees acting on behalf of a hospital, as such persons are described in the bill.
PROPONENTS: Supporters say that these types of referrals tend not to happen at times of normal business, and it can be exceedingly difficult to find someone to do the notarization, which is required for the 96-hour hold to take effect.
Testifying in person for the bill were Representative Cook; Missouri Hospital Association.
OPPONENTS: There was no opposition voiced to the committee.
Written testimony has been submitted for this bill. The full written testimony and witnesses testifying online can be found under Testimony on the bill page on the House website.
Statutes affected: