OH HB363

Director of the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services must adopt rules establishing procedures for planning comprehensive counseling and supportive mental health services in response to natural disasters, pandemics, mass casualty incidents, mass fatality incidents, mass shooting incidents, and declared emergencies.

The procedures must ensure mental health services are coordinated with public and private entities providing services at federal, regional, state, or local levels in response to these events.

The procedures must ensure comprehensive counseling and supportive mental health services are made available to and accessible by individuals involved in or affected by these events, including emergency service personnel, health care providers, social service providers, relief organizations, affected residents, and the general public.

The director retains authority to contract with licensed hospitals and other entities for care and treatment of mentally ill patients.

Existing section 5119.10 of the Revised Code is repealed and replaced with these amended provisions.