Bill > SB430

This bill generally revises Montana's laws related to civil commitment and emergency detention of mentally ill persons. It introduces several key changes to how individuals with mental health issues can be detained, committed, and transferred between facilities. The bill expands the definition of an "emergency situation" to include scenarios where a person appears to require commitment due to mental health challenges, and adds more specific criteria for when a person can be detained. It establishes new requirements for transporting and transferring individuals to mental health facilities, with the Montana State Hospital now designated as a "placement of last resort". The bill also modifies provisions around contempt of court, particularly in situations involving mental health commitments, and clarifies that facilities cannot be forced to accept a patient if doing so would exceed their licensed capacity. Additionally, the bill provides more detailed guidelines for court-ordered commitments, emphasizing the need to choose the least restrictive treatment alternatives and requiring courts to make specific findings of fact when ordering commitment. The legislation aims to provide more structured and thoughtful approaches to managing mental health emergencies while protecting the rights of individuals experiencing mental health challenges.

Justice

https://bills.legmt.gov/#/laws/bill/2/LC2822