SB164 Summary

• Extends authority to presiding county juvenile court judges to allow community mental health officers to temporarily take juveniles aged 14 years and older into custody when they appear mentally ill and pose immediate danger to self or others.

• Amends designated mental health facility definition to allow any licensed hospital (rather than only state facilities) to receive juvenile patients aged 14 and older for evaluation, examination, admission, detention, or treatment.

• Requires juvenile court judges (in addition to probate judges) to make findings that necessary provisions and facilities exist in their county before the community mental health officer program can be implemented for juveniles aged 14 and older.

• Establishes that petitions for commitment of juveniles aged 14 and older shall be filed with juvenile court rather than probate court, with same procedural protections including probable cause hearings within 5 business days and final hearings within 30 days of detention.

• Becomes effective on the first day of the third month following passage and gubernatorial approval.