HB 2059 Summary

• Expands authority of independent oversight committees on mental illness to include oversight of patients at Arizona state hospital receiving civil and forensic behavioral health services, including review of seclusion, restraints, incident reports, abuse/neglect allegations, and denial of rights.

• Requires department of administration to adopt policies defining oversight committee authority and responsibilities, with 30-day public comment period before adoption and director approval.

• Mandates posting of committee meeting agendas and annual reports on the department's public website for transparency.

• Clarifies committee access to client information and records (subject to federal law, attorney-client privilege, and work product doctrine) and establishes procedures for departments/providers to object to requests in writing.

• Adds specific protections for developmental disability oversight committee information requests and establishes 21-calendar-day deadline for director responses to written objections regarding client rights violations.