HB 1640 Summary

• Requires completion of a mandatory pre-affidavit screening by a community mental health center within 24 hours before any affidavit for civil commitment can be filed, except when a person is actively violent or refuses to participate.

• Mandates that pre-affidavit screening reports must identify and explore less restrictive alternatives to involuntary commitment and document why such alternatives are not appropriate before commitment can proceed.

• Reduces hearing timeframes after examiners' certificates are filed from 7-10 days to 3-5 days, with courts able to extend up to an additional 5 days if needed.

• Establishes quarterly reporting requirements for community mental health centers to boards of supervisors, including data on crisis unit occupancy, jail holds, pre-affidavit screenings, diversions to less restrictive alternatives, and Medicaid claims.

• Permits law enforcement to transport individuals in crisis to appropriate health care facilities in or outside their county and allows chaplaincy and sheriff expenses for commitment and transportation outside the county to community mental health centers.