Bill > HB179

This bill amends several sections of Mississippi law to require a minimum 30-day in-patient treatment period for individuals with alcohol or drug addiction who are subject to involuntary commitment or court-ordered treatment. Specifically, the bill modifies existing statutes related to public intoxication, emergency care and treatment, and involuntary commitment procedures. For judges handling cases of repeated public intoxication, the bill now mandates that in-patient treatment cannot be for less than 30 days. Similarly, for individuals involuntarily committed due to alcohol or drug addiction, the bill changes previous language that allowed for treatment as short as five days to now require a minimum 30-day treatment period, unless otherwise specified by the court. The legislation aims to ensure more comprehensive treatment for individuals struggling with substance abuse by extending the mandatory minimum treatment duration. The bill is set to take effect on July 1, 2025, giving healthcare and judicial systems time to prepare for the new requirements. The changes apply to various treatment facilities, including public and private treatment centers, chemical dependency units, and alcohol and drug units, with the overarching goal of providing more substantial intervention and rehabilitation for individuals with substance abuse issues.

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https://billstatus.ls.state.ms.us/2025/pdf/history/HB/HB0179.xml