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Mental Health Committment Changes

JEFFERSON CITY - The system the McBride Commission recommended, approved by Missouri lawmakers, would change several provisions in current laws on involuntary commitment.

Among the changes, the bill before the governor would:

• Remove the requirement for proof of "physical" harm or a "physical" threat to commit.
• Allow the court to look at a person's past history of behavior, rather than the immediate situation.
• Allow commitment to out-patient programs, rather than just hospital-type institutions.
• Increase the crime of patient abuse from a misdemeanor to a class D felony.
• Allow notification of family members of a person with mental illness of their treatment and whereabouts.
• Set up a 24 hour crisis hot line funded by the Department of Mental Health.