MS HB1049

Establishes Crisis Intervention Teams (CITs) as partnerships between law enforcement agencies, community mental health centers, and hospitals to provide psychiatric emergency services as alternatives to jail confinement for individuals with substantial likelihood of bodily harm.

Defines "substantial likelihood of bodily harm" to include threats or attempts of suicide/homicide, placing others in reasonable fear of violence, inability to avoid severe impairment from specific risks, and substantial likelihood that serious harm will occur without emergency treatment.

Authorizes trained law enforcement officers (CIT officers) to take individuals with substantial likelihood of bodily harm into custody and transport them to designated hospital "single points of entry" for evaluation and treatment, with liability protections for good faith actions.

Requires hospitals serving as single points of entry to establish comprehensive psychiatric emergency services with licensed extended observation beds and staffing available 24/7, with maximum 72-hour treatment periods before transfer to more appropriate facilities.

Amends mental health commitment laws to allow referral to CITs before issuing arrest warrants, extend the 72-hour evaluation hold when clerk's office is closed, allow voluntary admission to discontinue holds without commitment filings, and permit commitment hearings at the patient's location.

Requires State Board of Mental Health to hold quarterly meetings instead of regular meetings.