LCO No. 3022 1 of 2
General Assembly Proposed Bill No. 621
January Session, 2019
LCO No. 3022
Referred to Committee on PUBLIC HEALTH
Introduced by:
SEN. WITKOS, 8th Dist.
SEN. SOMERS, 18th Dist.
REP. COOK, 65th Dist.
AN ACT CONCERNING THE SUPPORT OF INDIVIDUALS
EXPERIENCING SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER AND OTHER MENTAL
HEALTH ISSUES.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General
Assembly convened:
That the general statutes be amended to require (1) the Department 1
of Mental Health and Addiction Services to adopt regulations 2
permitting the nonvoluntary commitment of an individual who has a 3
substance use disorder when there is a likelihood of serious harm as a 4
result of such individual's substance use, which commitment (A) shall 5
be pursuant to a physician's emergency certificate for the purpose of 6
inpatient, residential care of such individual, but (B) need not originate 7
from such individual's admission to the emergency department, (2) the 8
establishment of a pilot program to create a stabilization center to 9
provide a centralized hub of resources available to individuals with 10
mental health issues, (3) intake procedures at all licensed methadone 11
clinics in the state to be standardized, (4) mental health first aid 12
training to be included as part of the required training of new 13
emergency medical services providers, and (5) a mental health 14 Proposed Bill No. 621
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screening be given to any individual admitted to an emergency 15
department for a nonfatal overdose prior to such individual's 16
discharge. 17
Statement of Purpose:
To implement steps aimed at supporting individuals, their families
and first responders currently experiencing or dealing with instances
of substance use disorder or other mental health issues.