HB 303 Summary

• Prohibits placement of minors in jails or secure facilities for emergency mental health evaluations, allowing only protective custody while awaiting transportation to treatment facilities.

• Creates new procedures for protective custody at correctional facilities or jails when treatment and evaluation facilities lack capacity, including notification requirements, 48-hour evaluations, and court review hearings within 96 hours.

• Extends court hearing deadlines from 72 hours to 96 hours after arrival for 30-day commitment determinations, allowing facilities adequate time for full evaluations.

• Defines "crisis stabilization center" as a short-term mental health service facility and clarifies that protective custody does not constitute an arrest or appear on criminal records.

• Establishes that the department has custody responsibility during state facility admission and during transportation, with authority to arrange and pay for necessary transportation and related expenses.