H.B. 217 Summary

• Authorizes advanced practice registered nurses (clinical nurse specialists and certified nurse practitioners with psychiatric-mental health certification) to take persons into custody and transport them to hospitals for mental health examinations, alongside existing authority granted to psychiatrists, physicians, psychologists, health officers, and law enforcement.

• Requires that clinical nurse specialists and certified nurse practitioners hold certification as psychiatric-mental health specialists from the American Nurses Credentialing Center or similar board-approved organization to exercise this authority.

• Applies the same standards to nurse-initiated transports as existing law: individuals must be believed to be mentally ill persons subject to court order who represent substantial risk of physical harm to self or others if allowed to remain at liberty.

• Maintains existing procedures for written statements, custody protocols, hospital examination requirements within 24 hours, and three-day detention periods pending voluntary admission or court-ordered commitment.