Senate Bill 109 proposes amendments to Wisconsin's emergency detention laws, specifically allowing certain medical and behavioral health clinicians to initiate the emergency detention of minors. This bill creates a new process for clinician-initiated detentions in counties outside of Milwaukee, where such authority is optional. The bill outlines the qualifications for clinicians who can initiate detentions, which include psychologists, psychiatrists, and other licensed mental health professionals. It also establishes that a county department must approve the clinician's determination that emergency detention is necessary, ensuring that the clinician's decision aligns with the statutory standards of dangerousness.

Additionally, the bill introduces new provisions regarding custody and transportation of minors during the emergency detention process, requiring counties to manage the logistics and costs associated with transportation to treatment facilities. It mandates that a statement of emergency detention be filed with the detention facility and the court, and it maintains liability protections for individuals acting in good faith under these procedures. The bill emphasizes the importance of training for clinicians authorized to initiate detentions, requiring counties to develop training programs to ensure compliance with the new regulations.

Statutes affected:
Bill Text: 51.15(3), 51.15