GREEN SHEET REDIGEST
HB 763 2016 Regular Session Carpenter
(KEYWORD, SUMMARY, AND DIGEST as amended by Senate committee
amendments)
HUMAN SERVICES: Authorizes and provides for behavioral health
intervention and stabilization units
DIGEST
Proposed law defines "intervention and stabilization unit" as a type of crisis receiving center
in which a staff of mental health and behavioral health specialists provide a high level of
screening and assessment to people experiencing mental health or behavioral health crises.
Provides that the purposes of a intervention and stabilization unit include, without limitation,
all of the following:
(1)To properly connect patients experiencing mental health or behavioral health crises
to either acute or ongoing community-based treatment.
(2)To diminish the need in a community for recurrent crisis services for persons
suffering from mental illness, substance abuse, or both conditions.
(3)To serve as a crisis continuum component that assists law enforcement officers,
hospital emergency departments, and jails by treating persons with mental health and
behavioral health conditions in an appropriate setting.
Proposed law authorizes human services districts and authorities to establish intervention and
stabilization units in accordance with the provisions of proposed law. Provides that subject
to appropriation therefor, a human services district or authority may establish and operate an
intervention and stabilization unit in any parish
Proposed law stipulates that human services districts and authorities are authorized, but not
required, to establish any intervention and stabilization unit pursuant to proposed law as a
Level III (freestanding) crisis receiving center, but if they do establish such unit, it must be
properly licensed by DHH.
(Adds R.S. 28:931 and 932)
Summary of Amendments Adopted by House
The Committee Amendments Proposed by House Committee on Health and Welfare to
the original bill:
1. Stipulate that human services districts and authorities are authorized, but not
required, to establish any mental health emergency room extension pursuant to
proposed law as a Level III (freestanding) crisis receiving center in accordance
with present administrative law.
The House Floor Amendments to the engrossed bill:
1. Change the designation of the type of facility provided for in proposed law from
"mental health emergency room extension" to "intervention and stabilization
unit".
2. Stipulate that human services districts and authorities are authorized to establish
intervention and stabilization units as Level III (freestanding) crisis receiving
centers in accordance with present law relative to crisis response systems (R.S.
28:22), as well as with present administrative law relative to crisis receiving
centers.
Page 1 of 2
Prepared by Christine Arbo Peck. Summary of Amendments Adopted by Senate
Committee Amendments Proposed by Senate Committee on Health and Welfare to the
reengrossed bill
1. Removed provisions that limited application of bill to only certain parishes.
2. Clarified that any human service district that establishes an intervention and
stabilization unit must be properly licensed by DHH.
Page 2 of 2
Prepared by Christine Arbo Peck.