Researcher: MK Page 1 3/29/21
OLR Bill Analysis
sHB 6510
AN ACT REQUIRING THE PROVISION OF INFORMATION
CONCERNING CHILDREN'S MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES IN
HOSPITAL EMERGENCY ROOMS.
SUMMARY
This bill requires the Behavioral Health Partnership Oversight
Council (BHPOC), by December 1, 2021, to develop a document for
each mental health region describing the resources available to
children with psychiatric disabilities and behavioral health disorders.
BHPOC must do so in consultation with the departments of Children
and Families (DCF), Mental Health and Addiction Services, and Public
Health and DCF’s Youth Suicide Advisory Board.
Under the bill, the council must (1) distribute the documents
electronically to each licensed hospital that has an emergency
department; (2) make them available on the council’s website; and (3)
starting December 1, 2022, annually review them and distribute and
post any updates.
The bill also requires hospital emergency departments, starting on
January 1, 2022, to provide a copy of one or more of the documents to
the parents or guardians of children who (1) exhibit symptoms
consistent with a psychiatric disability or behavioral health disorder or
(2) the department evaluated as a result of exhibiting such symptoms.
The hospital emergency department must do so upon discharging the
child. Under the bill, documents must be specifically developed for the
mental health region or regions where the hospital is located and
where the child lives.
EFFECTIVE DATE: Upon passage
DOCUMENT DESCRIBING AVAILABLE RESOURCES
Under the bill, each document must provide information on mental 2021HB-06510-R000165-BA.DOCX
Researcher: MK Page 2 3/29/21
health evaluation and treatment resources available to children with
psychiatric disabilities and behavioral health disorders in their
respective mental health region.
The documents must contain contact information for the National
Suicide Prevention Lifeline and a list of evaluation and treatment
providers, including mobile crisis intervention services providers. The
list must include the providers’ physical locations, if applicable; types
of services offered; and contact information.
COMMITTEE ACTION
Committee on Children
Joint Favorable Substitute
Yea 13 Nay 0 (03/11/2021)