SB312 revises Kentucky law governing court-ordered transports, with a focus on transporting people ordered for involuntary mental health hospitalization and related court security duties. The bill expands and clarifies the authority of certified court security officers to transport prisoners and other detained individuals when ordered by the court, while also specifying limits on their general law-enforcement role outside the court facility.
The measure also updates the involuntary hospitalization statutes to require that a person ordered hospitalized be transported from the home county by the sheriff, a certified court security officer, or another peace officer, with the cabinet allowed to authorize an ambulance service or contracted private agency to perform the transport. It similarly addresses transport back to the county of discharge, requires prompt notice to the receiving facility, and clarifies the documents that must accompany an involuntarily hospitalized person. The bill states that people awaiting evaluation and transport may not be held in jail.
Impact
SB312 amends KRS 70.280, KRS 202A.028, and KRS 202A.101. It broadens and clarifies the duties of certified court security officers, especially regarding court-ordered prisoner and patient transports, while preserving limits on their general policing authority. The bill also shifts and formalizes transport procedures for involuntary hospitalization cases, including who may transport, how costs are paid by the cabinet, and the requirement that transport be handled without jail detention pending evaluation. Hospitals are given clearer authority to refuse admission if required paperwork or notice is missing.
Sentiment
The available voting history suggests the bill was generally supported, with unanimous Senate passage on third reading and a strong House vote on veto override. That pattern indicates broad legislative approval of the bill’s approach to court-ordered and mental health transports. No committee transcript is available, so there is no recorded floor or committee debate in the provided materials to suggest organized opposition in the legislative record here.
Contention
The main points of potential contention are operational and jurisdictional: whether certified court security officers should have expanded transport authority, whether sheriffs, peace officers, ambulance services, or contracted private agencies should perform transports, and how those costs should be allocated and reimbursed. Another likely issue is the handling of involuntary mental health patients, particularly the prohibition on holding them in jail pending transport and the requirement that hospitals receive proper notice and documentation before accepting the patient. The bill text suggests a balancing of public safety, court efficiency, and treatment access, but the provided record does not show specific named opponents or arguments.
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