Senate Bill 1121 Summary

• Amends Idaho Code Section 66-329 to allow involuntary commitment of persons determined to be "dangerous and mentally ill" as defined in Section 66-1305, in addition to existing commitment criteria.

• Persons may be committed by court order or designated examiner determination, expanding the pathways for involuntary care and treatment beyond the current "likely to injure" or "gravely disabled" standards.

• Maintains existing procedural protections including designated examiner evaluations within 14 days, court hearings within 7 days of examiner reports, right to legal counsel, and clear and convincing evidence standard for commitment.

• Commitment orders remain valid for indeterminate periods not to exceed 1 year, with department director discretion to place patients in least restrictive appropriate facilities or outpatient treatment settings.

• Preserves existing exceptions preventing detention of individuals with epilepsy, developmental disabilities, chronic alcoholism/drug abuse, or those receiving spiritual treatment, unless also mentally ill and presenting substantial risk of injury.