HB 4674 Summary

• Establishes assisted outpatient treatment (AOT) as a court-ordered community-based mental health service option that may include medication, therapy, substance use disorder treatment, supervised living, and other services to prevent hospitalization or deterioration.

• Defines "person requiring treatment" to include individuals with mental illness who pose risk of harm, cannot meet basic needs, have impaired judgment, or have noncompliance history requiring AOT specifically (eligible only for AOT, not hospitalization).

• Sets time limits for involuntary mental health treatment orders: initial orders up to 60-180 days depending on type; second orders up to 90 days to 1 year; continuing orders up to 1 year, renewable consecutively.

• Creates procedural requirements including mandatory court hearings within 7 days of petition filing, appointment of legal counsel within 24-48 hours, right to independent clinical evaluation, and consultation meetings to inform individuals of treatment options before hearing.

• Allows courts to modify treatment orders without hearings if individuals fail to comply with AOT, and permits temporary hospitalization (up to 10 days, or longer with recommendation) for noncompliance with AOT orders.

• Effective Date: February 14, 2017