CHAPTER 742
An Act to direct the Commissioner of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services to develop a comprehensive plan to authorize psychiatrists and emergency physicians to evaluate individuals for involuntary civil admission.
Approved April 15, 2015
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
1. § 1. The Commissioner of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services (the Commissioner) shall, in conjunction with relevant stakeholders including the Virginia Association of Community Services Boards, the National Alliance on Mental Illness - Virginia, the Psychiatric Society of Virginia, the Virginia College of Emergency Physicians, the Virginia Hospital and Healthcare Association, the Virginia Academy of Clinical Psychologists, the Medical Society of Virginia, and the University of Virginia Institute for Law, Psychiatry, and Public Policy, review the current practice of conducting emergency evaluations for individuals subject to involuntary civil admission. Such review shall identify community services boards and catchment areas where significant delays in responding to emergency evaluations are occurring or have occurred in recent years. Further, the Commissioner shall develop a comprehensive plan to authorize psychiatrists and emergency physicians to evaluate individuals for involuntary civil admission where appropriate to expedite emergency evaluations. The review and comprehensive plan including recommendations shall be completed by November 15, 2015, and reported to the Governor and the Joint Subcommittee Studying Mental Health Services in the Commonwealth in the 21st Century, the House Committee on Health, Welfare and Institutions, and the Senate Committee on Education and Health.