HB 334 Summary

• Renames the "Rivers McGraw Mental Health Diversion Pilot Program Act" to the "Rivers McGraw Mental Health Court Act" and expands mental health courts statewide rather than limiting them to pilot districts.

• Establishes the State Mental Health Courts Advisory Committee to develop standards, certification requirements, and expansion plans for mental health courts with 7-11 members appointed by the Supreme Court.

• Creates the Mental Health Court Fund in the State Treasury to provide supplemental funding to all mental health courts in the state upon legislative appropriation.

• Requires the Administrative Office of Courts to implement a uniform certification and recertification process (every 2 years) for mental health courts meeting established minimum standards for evidence-based practices and data collection.

• Allows youth court intake units to recommend and courts to order referral of children to youth court mental health courts, and authorizes chancellery and circuit court judges to participate in mental health court promotion as part of their judicial duties.