SB 1163
Initials MT Page 1 Caucus & COW
ARIZONA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Fifty-seventh Legislature
First Regular Session
Senate: MABS DP 7-0-0-0 | 3rd Read 28-0-2-0
House: PSLE DP 13-1-0-1
SB 1163: veterans; emergency admission; transport
Sponsor: Senator Gowan, LD 19
Caucus & COW
Overview
An emergency measure that extends certain responsibilities of a peace officer relating to
admitting an individual to an evaluating agency to a police officer employed by the United
States Department of Veteran Affairs (VA).
History
A peace officer, on the advice of the admitting officer of the evaluating agency regarding
emergency examination and admission of a proposed patient, must apprehend and transport
a person to an evaluation agency. In instances in which statutory emergency admission
procedures are not available, a peace officer may take into custody any individual the peace
officer has reasonable cause to believe is, as a result of a mental disorder, a danger to self or
others and that during the time necessary to complete prepetition screening procedures the
person is likely without immediate hospitalization to suffer serious physical harm or serious
illness or inflict serious physical harm on another person. The peace officer must transport
the individual to a screening agency unless the person's conditions or the agency's location
or hours makes such transportation impractical, in which event the person must be
transported to an evaluation agency. A peace officer who makes good faith efforts to follow
statutory requirements is not subject to civil liability (A.R.S. §§ 36-524 and 36-525).
Provisions
1. Permits a police officer employed by the VA to make a telephonic or written application
for emergency admission of individuals to an evaluation agency for mental health
services. (Sec. 1)
2. Authorizes a police officer employed by the VA to take into custody, apprehend and
transport an individual to an evaluation agency on the advice of an admitting officer if
there is reasonable cause to believe an emergency examination is necessary. (Sec. 1)
3. Stipulates that this Act includes taking into custody or apprehending a person who is a
veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces. (Sec. 2)
4. Requires, if apprehension occurs on the premises of the apprehended person, a police
officer employed by the VA to take reasonable precautions to safeguard the premises and
property. (Sec. 2)
5. Exempts a police officer employed by the VA who makes a good faith effort to follow laws
relating to apprehension by peace and police officers from civil liability. (Sec. 2)
☐ Prop 105 (45 votes) ☐ Prop 108 (40 votes) ☒ Emergency (40 votes) ☐ Fiscal Note SB 1163
Initials MT Page 2 Caucus & COW
6. Contains an emergency clause. (Sec. 3)