HB 1017 Summary

• Authorizes family members and interested parties to petition courts for guardian advocate appointments and requires courts to prefer previously designated surrogates for patients with mental health or substance abuse issues.

• Creates the Substance Abuse Assistance Pilot Program within the Department of Children and Families to provide comprehensive treatment alternatives, case management, and recovery services for eligible substance abuse impaired adults as an alternative to criminal imprisonment.

• Establishes mental health and substance abuse treatment advance directives (called the "Jennifer Act") allowing competent adults to execute written instructions for treatment decisions, including self-binding arrangements for early intervention during mental health crises.

• Permits principals to be admitted to inpatient treatment for up to 14 days under an irrevocable directive, with limitations on psychotropic medication administration and prohibition of psychosurgery or electroconvulsive therapy.

• Provides immunity from criminal prosecution and civil liability for health care providers and surrogates acting in good faith under mental health or substance abuse treatment directives.