Senate Bill 537 Summary

• Establishes a new Rural Health Care Stabilization Program to provide below-market-rate loans to financially distressed eligible hospitals in rural (tier one and two) counties to support facility transitions and operational costs during restructuring

• Renames the Licensed Professional Counselors Act to the Licensed Professional Clinical Mental Health Counselors Act and makes conforming changes to terminology throughout related statutes

• Updates substance abuse professional practice regulations by renaming the board to the Addictions Specialist Professional Practice Board, restructuring board composition, and discontinuing the certified substance abuse residential facility director credential

• Amends involuntary commitment laws to expand who can serve as commitment examiners, clarify legally responsible persons for incapable adults, and increase facility detention periods from 10 to 15 days under advance instructions for mental health treatment

• Requires criminal history record checks for all employees, volunteers, and applicants at child care institutions, with considerations for relevant offenses and rehabilitation history