MAMH Testimony in Opposition to H.1993/S.1241, An Act to Strengthen Emergency Restraint for Persons Suffering Dangerous or Violent Mental Illness, and H.1994/S.1246, An Act to Provide More Timely Treatment of inpatient Mental Health Care

Written testimony sent to Chair John Velis, Chair Adrian Madaro, and members of the Joint Committee on Mental Health, Substance Use and Recovery in in opposition to H.1993/S.1241, An Act to strengthen emergency restraint for persons suffering dangerous or violent mental illness, and H.1994/S.1246, An Act to provide more timely treatment of inpatient mental health care.

H.1993/S.1241 would make changes to Section 12 would raise substantial procedural and substantive due process concerns with the civil commitment statute, which already has sufficient provisions to hold and hospitalize a person exhibiting “dangerous or violent mental illness” under Section 12 with its provision for persons who present an imminent risk of harm to self or others.

H.1994/S.1246 would make several problematic revisions to Chapter 123, most notably shortening time frames for individuals to prepare to defend themselves against involuntary civil commitment and forced medication, likely compromising the ability of many to effectively present their case.