MS HB121

Amends Mississippi mental health commitment laws to authorize trained and certified law enforcement officers who are crisis intervention team members to hold persons with mental illness for up to 72 hours in licensed medical facilities without a warrant or civil order.

Grants civil and criminal liability immunity to law enforcement officers, physicians, and psychologists acting in good faith when detaining persons believed to be mentally ill.

Establishes comprehensive psychiatric emergency programs to be operated by state, local, or voluntary hospitals, providing 24/7 psychiatric emergency services, triage, and extended observation beds with a maximum 72-hour patient disposition period.

Creates a crisis intervention team pilot program in Hinds County with a single point of entry at one designated facility where law enforcement brings detainees for assessment and stabilization before transfer to appropriate mental health facilities.

Requires the State Board of Mental Health to adopt rules establishing minimum standards for crisis intervention team operations and training, and mandates progress reports to the Legislature by September 1, 2010 and January 1, 2011.