2009 Senate Bill 871

Revise government mental health services

Introduced in the Senate

Sept. 24, 2009

Introduced by Sen. Deborah Cherry (D-26)

To add additional language to the definition of “person needing mental health treatment” (and potentially subject to involuntary treatment). Under current law it defines a person “whose judgment is so impaired that he or she is unable to understand his or her need for treatment, and whose continued behavior as the result of this mental illness can reasonably be expected, on the basis of competent clinical opinion, to result in significant physical harm to himself, herself, or others.” The bill would add, “and who has engaged in an act or acts or made significant threats that are substantially supportive of the expectation”.

Referred to the Committee on Health Policy