This bill amends the involuntary emergency admission process by allowing individuals suspected of suffering from a mental illness and posing an immediate danger to themselves or others to be placed in protective custody by peace officers. The bill specifies that these individuals must be transported directly to an emergency room or a designated site for a psychiatric evaluation to determine if an involuntary emergency admission is warranted. The period of protective custody will end when a qualified medical professional makes a determination or after six hours, whichever comes first.

Additionally, the bill introduces new provisions that require individuals transported for a compulsory mental health evaluation to be taken by ambulance and under the care of an emergency medical technician, without needing the individual's consent for transport. However, if the individual is deemed a safety risk to emergency personnel, law enforcement will handle the transport instead. The bill does not impose any new costs on counties or local governments, but it raises questions about who will bear the costs of ambulance transport, which can vary significantly. The act will take effect 60 days after its passage.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 135-C:28
HB1070 text: 135-C:28