Mental health; creating certain exception related to fulfillment of transport duties. Effective date.
Summary
SB812 amends Oklahoma’s mental health transport statute to create a new exception allowing the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services to conduct an initial assessment at the point of contact, rather than requiring immediate transport in every case. The bill authorizes either telemedicine or an in-person assessment by a licensed mental health professional through a mobile crisis response team or a contracted facility. It also clarifies when peace officers, sheriffs, the Department, or a contracted transporter are responsible for moving a person to an appropriate facility for initial assessment, emergency detention, protective custody, or subsequent treatment.
The bill further defines “initial contact,” addresses self-presenting individuals at facilities or medical facilities, and specifies that once custody is transferred to facility staff and the patient is not an immediate threat, officers generally do not have to remain on site. It also establishes reimbursement rules for law enforcement transportation, allows interagency agreements and third-party contracting to carry out transport duties, and limits the use of mechanical restraints during Department-conducted transports to specified safety-related circumstances. The act would take effect November 1, 2025.
Impact
SB812 would amend 43A O.S. Section 1-110, the statute governing transport of individuals for mental health assessment and related custody, by adding a point-of-contact assessment option and reallocating transport responsibilities among law enforcement, the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services, and contracted providers. It would affect sheriffs, municipal police, county agencies, the Department, mobile crisis teams, and facilities receiving persons requiring treatment. The bill also preserves and clarifies reimbursement provisions and adds a specific restraint standard for Department or contractor transports.
Sentiment
The available record shows no committee transcript or recorded votes, so there is no documented debate or formal vote history to gauge support or opposition. Based on the bill text, the measure appears designed to streamline crisis response, reduce unnecessary law-enforcement transport burdens, and expand use of clinical assessment and alternative transportation. Its structure suggests a policy emphasis on mental health access and operational flexibility rather than controversy in the available materials.
Contention
No explicit points of contention appear in the provided transcripts or votes because none are available. Potential areas of concern inherent in the bill include the shift of transport and assessment duties away from law enforcement, the use of telemedicine in crisis situations, reimbursement obligations for state and local agencies, and the limits on mechanical restraints during transport. The special treatment of unaccompanied minors and the allocation of responsibility when individuals self-present at facilities could also be areas of operational concern.
Mental health and substance abuse services; expanding types of services that qualify for certain funds; establishing certain minimum allocation. Effective date. Emergency.
Health: licensing; behavioral health transportation licensing requirements; provide for. Amends 1974 PA 258 (MCL 330.1001 - 330.2106) by adding ch. 9B. TIE BAR WITH: SB 0927'26
Requires consideration of student transportation needs in individualized education program and inclusion of certain transportation personnel on individualized education program team.