SPONSOR: Cook
COMMITTEE ACTION: Voted "Do Pass" by the Standing Committee on Health and Mental Health by a vote of 12 to 0.
Currently, an application for detention and evaluation for treatment at a mental health facility may 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 specified in the bill.
This bill is similar to HB 543 (2025).
PROPONENTS: Supporters say that this bill is meant to streamline the process as situations arise frequently in which there is no notary present to fulfill the requirement.
Testifying in person for the bill were Representative Cook; and Missouri Hospital Association.
OPPONENTS: There was no opposition voiced to the committee.
OTHERS: Others testifying on the bill say that the physician has the final say in matters such as these, and this bill further clarifies that is the case.
Testifying in person on the bill was Jacob Scott, Missouri State Medical Association.
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: