AN ACT relating to the care and treatment of individuals with mental illness.

Amend KRS 202A.011 to define "benefit from treatment," "individual with a mental illness," and "severe mental illness"; remove "mentally ill person" and redefine "danger"; amend KRS 202A.028 to allow the Commonwealth to file an emergency motion to be heard within 48 hours regarding the hospitalization of an individual with a mental illness who has been found by a qualified mental health professional to not meet the criteria for involuntary hospitalization; amend KRS 202A.051 to allow…

Attorney, Commonwealth's Attorney, County Attorneys Civil Actions Civil Procedure Courts Health and Medical Services Hospitals And Health Facilities Mental Health Local Mandate

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This bill updates Kentucky's mental health laws to change how courts handle involuntary hospitalization and outpatient treatment for people with serious mental illness. It allows the state to challenge decisions to release someone from a hospital, strengthens court oversight of outpatient treatment programs, and adjusts timelines and procedures for mental health commitment hearings. These changes affect how quickly courts must act and what options they have when someone is not following a treatment plan. Who it may affect: people with serious mental illness, their families, mental health providers, hospitals, and courts involved in involuntary treatment proceedings.

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