Bill No.: HB0134                  Drafter:  JHR

LSO No.:  07LSO-0235              Effective Date:  7/1/2007

Enrolled Act No.:  HEA0038

Chapter No.:       66

Prime Sponsor:     Select Committee on Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services

Catch Title:       Involuntary hospitalization proceedings.

Subject:  Amends procedures for the involuntary commitment of persons with mental illnesses.

Summary/Major Elements:

· Under current law, proceedings for involuntary hospitalization of persons with mental illnesses are commenced only in the county where the person is initially detained and the Wyoming State Hospital shall serve as the hospital of last resort to receive patients when no designated hospital or other treatment facility is readily available.

· This bill:

· Allows involuntary commitment proceedings to begin in a county where a designated hospital is located if there is a written agreement between the county of residence and the designated hospital specifying that the county of residence shall be responsible for costs of treatment that are not covered by the state;

· Eliminates the provision that the Wyoming State Hospital is the hospital of last resort.