Bill > AB416

This bill amends the Lanterman-Petris-Short Act, which governs involuntary mental health commitments, to require county behavioral health directors to include emergency physicians as one of the professional disciplines eligible to be designated for performing involuntary mental health detentions. Specifically, the bill mandates that when counties develop procedures for designating professionals who can take individuals into custody for mental health evaluation (a process known as a 5150 hold), they must now include emergency physicians as a potential designated group. The bill defines an emergency physician as a physician providing medical screening and treatment in a hospital emergency department. Additionally, the bill extends liability protections to emergency physicians, meaning they cannot be criminally or civilly sued for actions related to detaining a person under these mental health commitment provisions. This change aims to broaden the pool of professionals who can initiate mental health interventions and provide clear legal protections for those professionals when acting in good faith to help individuals experiencing mental health crises.

Budget and Finance, Health and Social Services, Justice

https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billStatusClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260AB416