CS for SB 1340 - Mental Health and Substance Abuse

• Defines "interested person" to include anyone reasonably expected to be affected by mental health proceedings, and expands authority to petition for guardian advocate appointments to include family members and interested parties.

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

• Establishes mental health and substance abuse treatment advance directives (the "Jennifer Act") allowing adults to pre-authorize or refuse specific treatments, designate surrogates to make decisions, and include self-binding arrangements that remain effective even if the person becomes incapacitated.

• Requires pilot program participants to execute valid advance directives with witness attestations and specifies services must be paid first through private insurance or Medicaid before state general revenue funds are used.

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