The House Courts and Criminal Code Committee heard HB 1006 on mental health programs authored by Rep. Steuerwald. The bill specifies the circumstances under which a person may be involuntarily committed to a facility for mental health services and specifies that these services are medically necessary by combining Ind. Code § 12-26-4 and Ind. Code § 12-26-5, on immediate detention and emergency detention. It also establishes a local mental health referral program to provide mental health treatment for certain persons who have been arrested. The bill also repeals obsolete provisions.
An amendment was introduced by Rep. Steuerwald to clarify that treatment under the direction of qualified medical professionals can occur during the detention period. The amendment was adopted by consent.
Testimony in support of the bill was heard from the Indiana Public Defender Commission, United Way of Central Indiana, Indiana Psychiatric Society, Indiana Council of Mental Health Centers, Mental Health America of Indiana, Recovery Centers of America, Indiana Judges Association, Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Allen County Public Affairs, Coalition of Advance Practice Registered Nurses, Hospital Association, Indiana Fraternal Order of Police, Indiana Prosecuting Attorneys Council, Indiana Public Defender Council, Association of Indiana Counties, Indiana Sheriffs’ Association, and Judge Shively of the Vanderburgh Superior Court.
The amended bill passed 13-0.
Read the bill at https://iga.in.gov/legislative/2023/bills/house/1006