Amends TCA Title 8, Chapter 21; Title 8, Chapter 42; Title 9, Chapter 8; Title 13, Chapter 26; Title 29, Chapter 20; Title 33, Chapter 2; Title 33, Chapter 6; Title 33, Chapter 7; Title 37, Chapter 1; Title 56; Title 63; Title 68 and Title 71.
ON APRIL 22, 2019, THE HOUSE ADOPTED AMENDMENT #1 AND PASSED HOUSE BILL 643, AS AMENDED.<br /> <br /> AMENDMENT #1 rewrites this bill to require the department of finance and administration, in consultation with the department of mental health and substance abuse services and the division of TennCare, to develop and administer a grant program to assist sheriffs who are required by present law to transport persons who have been certified by a health care professional for transport to a hospital or treatment resource for a mental health examination to determine whether the person should be involuntarily admitted. The grant program will be subject to annual appropriations.<br /> <br /> Present law allows a friend, neighbor, or other mental health professional familiar with the person, relative of the person, or a member of the clergy to provide an emergency mental health transport when the person being transported has been professionally determined not to require physical restraint or vehicle security and not to pose a reasonable risk of danger to the person's self or others. Assistance from the grant program created by this amendment will not be available for emergency mental health transports when a health care professional determines that the person can be transported by a friend, neighbor, or other mental health professional familiar with the person, relative of the person, or a member of the clergy.<br /> <br /> Present law authorizes sheriffs to designate a secondary transportation agent or agents for the county for persons with mental illness or serious emotional disturbance whom a physician or mandatory prescreening authority has evaluated and determined do not require physical restraint or vehicle security. This amendment adds authorization for sheriffs to contract with third parties or other law enforcement agencies to provide emergency mental health transports. Any sheriff who enters such a contract is required to deem the contractor to be the designated secondary transportation agent. Any sheriff who enters such a contract may receive grant funds under this amendment and pay the grant funds to the designated secondary transportation agent. Any such contract, as well as the receipt and expenditure of grant funds under this amendment, will be subject to audit by the comptroller of the treasury or the comptroller's designee.<br /> <br /> This amendment authorizes hospitals and treatment resources to conduct a mental health examination to determine whether a person should be involuntarily admitted via telehealth services.<br /> <br />
ON APRIL 22, 2019, THE HOUSE ADOPTED AMENDMENT #1 AND PASSED HOUSE BILL 643, AS AMENDED.<br /> <br /> AMENDMENT #1 rewrites this bill to require the department of finance and administration, in consultation with the department of mental health and substance abuse services and the division of TennCare, to develop and administer a grant program to assist sheriffs who are required by present law to transport persons who have been certified by a health care professional for transport to a hospital or treatment resource for a mental health examination to determine whether the person should be involuntarily admitted. The grant program will be subject to annual appropriations.<br /> <br /> Present law allows a friend, neighbor, or other mental health professional familiar with the person, relative of the person, or a member of the clergy to provide an emergency mental health transport when the person being transported has been professionally determined not to require physical restraint or vehicle security and not to pose a reasonable risk of danger to the person's self or others. Assistance from the grant program created by this amendment will not be available for emergency mental health transports when a health care professional determines that the person can be transported by a friend, neighbor, or other mental health professional familiar with the person, relative of the person, or a member of the clergy.<br /> <br /> Present law authorizes sheriffs to designate a secondary transportation agent or agents for the county for persons with mental illness or serious emotional disturbance whom a physician or mandatory prescreening authority has evaluated and determined do not require physical restraint or vehicle security. This amendment adds authorization for sheriffs to contract with third parties or other law enforcement agencies to provide emergency mental health transports. Any sheriff who enters such a contract is required to deem the contractor to be the designated secondary transportation agent. Any sheriff who enters such a contract may receive grant funds under this amendment and pay the grant funds to the designated secondary transportation agent. Any such contract, as well as the receipt and expenditure of grant funds under this amendment, will be subject to audit by the comptroller of the treasury or the comptroller's designee.<br /> <br /> This amendment authorizes hospitals and treatment resources to conduct a mental health examination to determine whether a person should be involuntarily admitted via telehealth services.<br /> <br />
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