SB 124-MENTAL HEALTH FACILITIES & MEDS    1:51:58 PM CHAIR WILSON reconvened the meeting and announced the consideration of SENATE BILL NO. 124 "An Act relating to admission to and detention at a subacute mental health facility; establishing a definition for 'subacute mental health facility'; establishing a definition for 'crisis residential center'; relating to the definitions for 'crisis stabilization center'; relating to the administration of psychotropic medication in a crisis situation; relating to licensed facilities; and providing for an effective date." He noted that this was the ninth hearing and the committee had worked through all the amendments. 1:52:17 PM CHAIR WILSON solicited a motion. 1:52:25 PM SENATOR HUGHES moved to adopt [the committee substitute for] SB 124, work order 32-GS1730\I, as the working document. 1:52:36 PM CHAIR WILSON objected for discussion purposes. He explained that version I incorporates all the amendments that passed during the previous hearings and it also amends the language in what is now Section 29 to conform to Emergency Order 121 and the bifurcation of the Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS). Items in Section 29 refer to the Department of Health. 1:53:03 PM CHAIR WILSON found no questions and removed his objection; he found no further objection, and version I was adopted as the working document. 1:53:31 PM CHAIR WILSON discerned there were no questions from the administration. 1:53:37 PM SENATOR HUGHES said she was committed to giving the bill additional scrutiny in the next committee of referral. A question that came up among her constituents was whether a person could be taken to a crisis stabilization center for their beliefs. On three separate occasions the committee was assured on the record that is not the case. That is the intent in this bill, which is one reason for it to pass. SENATOR HUGHES also noted the concerns about the potency of the medications that may be used, but it has been emphasized repeatedly that they are used as a last resort to prevent injury or death. She added that she was aware of a faith-based organization in her area that was interested in opening a crisis stabilization center and if she had a family member in crisis she would prefer to have this bill in place so her family member could go to this center instead of jail or a hospital. Those are the options today and being detained in either a hospital or jail is more restrictive and less humane than these crisis centers. These centers are essentially outpatient clinics and the person in crisis would be able to have a friend, family member, or paster be there too. SENATOR HUGHES highlighted that the bill was also improved from the initial version in terms of notification and consent. The committee also heard from Mr. Gottstein about the patient rights that the bill addresses. She said the bill still needs work, but it is far better than the status quo and therefore she is supporting passage. 1:57:37 PM SENATOR HUGHES moved to report CSSB 124(HSS), work order 32- GS1730\I, from committee with individual recommendations and attached fiscal note(s). 1:57:51 PM CHAIR WILSON found no objection and CSSB 124(HSS) was reported from the Senate Health and Social Services Standing Committee.