HB 1985 -- Comprehensive Psychiatric Services

Sponsor:  Stevenson

This bill changes the laws regarding the admission of a person
for comprehensive psychiatric services.  The probate judge seated
in the county where a mental health facility is located is
allowed to authorize a mental health professional to serve as the
mental health coordinator for the facility.  If a voluntary
patient at a mental health facility requests to be released, the
facility can detain the patient only if a mental health
coordinator or a licensed physician signs an affidavit to detain
the respondent for evaluation and treatment.  If a voluntary
patient who is a minor requests to be released, the facility can
detain the minor only if a mental health coordinator or a
licensed physician completes an affidavit for detention for
evaluation and treatment to begin the involuntary detention of
the minor.  These affidavits must comply with the requirements
for involuntary detention under Section 632.305, RSMo.  An
application for detention for evaluation and treatment must
specify the factual information on which the belief is based and
must contain the names and addresses of all persons known to the
applicant who have knowledge of the facts through personal
observation.  The application may be filed in the court having
probate jurisdiction in any county where the respondent may be
found or in the county of the facility where the respondent has
been taken for evaluation and treatment.

Missouri House of Representatives
95th General Assembly, 2nd Regular Session
Last Updated September 14, 2010 at 3:12 pm