Bill > SB1794

This bill establishes the Oklahoma Behavioral Health Vacancy Registry Act, requiring the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services to create and maintain a secure, electronic registry to track available treatment beds and capacity at certain behavioral health facilities, referred to as "covered facilities," which are licensed or certified to provide emergency detention, protective custody, assessment, or court-ordered competency evaluations and restoration services, but exclude general hospitals. The registry will provide near real-time information on available treatment slots and will include a dedicated module for court-ordered forensic competency services, aiming to expedite placements for individuals needing emergency care or court-mandated treatment. Covered facilities must report their licensed and staffed capacity, current availability, patient population details, admission limitations, and 24-hour contact information, and are required to update this information promptly and accurately. While participation for hospitals and hospital-based psychiatric units is voluntary, other covered facilities must participate and respond to placement requests from authorized referral sources, such as courts or crisis providers, within a timeframe set by the state's Board of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services, and must apply admission criteria consistently and without discrimination, with potential corrective actions for non-compliance. The registry will protect consumer privacy by excluding personally identifiable health information and will comply with federal privacy laws like HIPAA, though aggregate, de-identified data may be publicly reported. The bill also clarifies that it does not alter hospital obligations under the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act (EMTALA) and sets an effective date of November 1, 2026.

Budget and Finance, Health and Social Services

http://www.oklegislature.gov/BillInfo.aspx?Bill=sb1794&Session=2600