2020-02-28                     Senate Journal                      Page 1888
                  Introduction and Reference of Senate Bills                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
SB 238                                                                                                                        
SENATE BILL NO. 238 BY THE SENATE RULES COMMITTEE                                                                               
BY REQUEST OF THE GOVERNOR, entitled:                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
          "An Act relating to involuntary commitment                                                                            
          procedures; relating to protective custody at a                                                                       
          correctional facility or jail; relating to transportation                                                             
          of individuals held for involuntary admission for                                                                     
          mental health treatment; and providing for an                                                                         
          effective date."                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
was read the first time and referred to the Health and Social Services                                                          
and Judiciary Committees.                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
The following fiscal information was published today:                                                                           
 Fiscal Note No. 1, zero, Department of Corrections                                                                             
 Fiscal Note No. 2, zero, Department of Health and Social Services                                                              
                                                                                                                                
Governor's transmittal letter dated February 27:                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
Dear President Giessel:                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
Under the authority of Article III, Section 18, of the Alaska                                                                   
Constitution, I am transmitting a bill relating to involuntary mental                                                           
health commitment procedures.                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
This bill would take four significant steps towards our common goal                                                             
of improving mental health treatment in the State.                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
First, this bill would clarify what happens when a person is held in                                                            
protective custody at a correctional facility or jail. Protective custody                                                       
is only authorized after a person is involuntarily committed to a                                                               
facility for a mental health evaluation and while the person is waiting                                                         
for transportation, when a designated treatment facility, an evaluation                                                         
facility, a crisis stabilization center, or a health care facility, lack the                                                    
capacity to safely admit the person within a reasonable amount of                                                               
time. This temporary hold would not constitute an arrest, nor would                                                             
the correctional facility make any record to indicate that there was an