Bill > HB424

This bill amends existing Mississippi law to authorize Assisted Outpatient Treatment (AOT) as an alternative to inpatient commitment for individuals with serious mental illness or co-occurring disorders who are unlikely to maintain stability without structured support. AOT is defined as a court-ordered plan of community-based behavioral health treatment administered in the least restrictive environment. The bill specifies that AOT can be initiated by state hospitals, crisis stabilization units, or chancery judges, and requires courts to make specific findings, based on clear and convincing evidence, that the individual has a serious mental illness, has a history of nonadherence leading to hospitalization or legal involvement, is capable of living safely in the community with a treatment plan, and will benefit from AOT to prevent serious harm. A treatment plan must be submitted and updated regularly, and individuals have the right to an attorney at all stages of AOT proceedings. Initial AOT orders are limited to 180 days and can be renewed for up to 12 months. The bill clarifies what constitutes noncompliance, requiring documented efforts to re-engage the individual and a clinical screening before filing an affidavit of noncompliance, which can only be filed by specific authorized individuals. It also mandates that before returning someone to a state hospital for noncompliance, they must first be screened at a community mental health center or crisis stabilization unit to determine if less restrictive care is possible. The county of residence is responsible for community coordination, transportation, and follow-up services, and the chancery court retains jurisdiction over AOT matters. The bill also updates terminology, replacing "outpatient commitment" with "assisted outpatient treatment (AOT)."

Health and Social Services

https://billstatus.ls.state.ms.us/2026/pdf/history/HB/HB0424.xml