1     
UTAH MOBILE CRISIS OUTREACH TEAM ACT

2     
2018 GENERAL SESSION

3     
STATE OF UTAH

4     
Chief Sponsor: Daniel W. Thatcher

5     
House Sponsor: Steve Eliason

6     

7     LONG TITLE
8     General Description:
9          This bill enacts the Utah Mobile Crisis Outreach Team Act.
10     Highlighted Provisions:
11          This bill:
12          ▸     defines terms;
13          ▸     requires the Mental Health Crisis Line Commission to serve as the mobile crisis
14     outreach team (MCOT) advisory committee;
15          ▸     requires the Division of Substance Abuse and Mental Health (division) to set
16     standards for an MCOT certification;
17          ▸     requires the division to make rules outlining:
18               •     the responsibilities of MCOTs; and
19               •     the interaction of MCOTs with the civil commitment process; and
20          ▸     makes technical and conforming changes.
21     Money Appropriated in this Bill:
22          None
23     Other Special Clauses:
24          None
25     Utah Code Sections Affected:
26     AMENDS:
27          63C-18-203, as enacted by Laws of Utah 2017, Chapter 23
28     ENACTS:
29          62A-15-1301, Utah Code Annotated 1953
30          62A-15-1302, Utah Code Annotated 1953
31     

32     Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
33          Section 1. Section 62A-15-1301 is enacted to read:
34     
Part 13. Utah Mobile Crisis Outreach Team Act

35          62A-15-1301. Definitions.
36          As used in this part:
37          (1) "Commission" means the Mental Health Crisis Line Commission created in Section
38     63C-18-202.
39          (2) "Emergency medical service personnel" means the same as that term is defined in
40     Section 26-8a-102.
41          (3) "Emergency medical services" means the same as that term is defined in Section
42     26-8a-102.
43          (4) "MCOT certification" means the certification created in this part for MCOT
44     personnel and mental health crisis outreach services.
45          (5) "MCOT personnel" means a licensed mental health therapist or other mental health
46     professional, as determined by the division, who is a part of a mobile crisis outreach team.
47          (6) "Mental health crisis" means a mental health condition that manifests itself by
48     symptoms of sufficient severity that a prudent layperson who possesses an average knowledge
49     of mental health issues could reasonably expect the absence of immediate attention or
50     intervention to result in:
51          (a) serious jeopardy to the individual's health or well-being; or
52          (b) a danger to others.
53          (7) (a) "Mental health crisis services" means mental health services and on-site
54     intervention that a person renders to an individual suffering from a mental health crisis.
55          (b) "Mental health crisis services" includes the provision of safety and care plans,
56     stabilization services offered for a minimum of 60 days, and referrals to other community
57     resources.
58          (8) "Mental health therapist" means the same as that term is defined in Section
59     58-60-102.
60          (9) "Mobile crisis outreach team" or "MCOT" means a mobile team of medical and
61     mental health professionals that provides mental health crisis services and, based on the
62     individual circumstances of each case, coordinates with local law enforcement, emergency
63     medical service personnel, and other appropriate state or local resources.
64          Section 2. Section 62A-15-1302 is enacted to read:
65          62A-15-1302. Department and division duties -- MCOT license creation.
66          (1) To promote the availability of comprehensive mental health crisis services
67     throughout the state, the division shall make rules, in accordance with Title 63G, Chapter 3,
68     Utah Administrative Rulemaking Act, that create a certificate for MCOT personnel and
69     MCOTs, including:
70          (a) the standards the division establishes under Subsection (2); and
71          (b) guidelines for:
72          (i) credit for training and experience; and
73          (ii) the coordination of:
74          (A) emergency medical services and mental health crisis services;
75          (B) law enforcement, emergency medical service personnel, and mobile crisis outreach
76     teams; and
77          (C) temporary commitment in accordance with Section 62A-15-629.
78          (2) (a) With recommendations from the commission, the division shall:
79          (i) in accordance with Title 63G, Chapter 3, Utah Administrative Rulemaking Act,
80     make rules that establish standards that an applicant is required to meet to qualify for the
81     MCOT certification described in Subsection (1); and
82          (ii) create a statewide MCOT plan that:
83          (A) identifies statewide mental health crisis services needs, objectives, and priorities;
84     and
85          (B) identifies the equipment, facilities, personnel training, and other resources
86     necessary to provide mental health crisis services.
87          (b) The division may delegate the MCOT plan requirement described in Subsection
88     (2)(a)(ii) to a contractor with which the division contracts to provide mental health crisis
89     services.
90          Section 3. Section 63C-18-203 is amended to read:
91          63C-18-203. Commission duties -- Reporting requirements.
92          (1) [(a)] The commission shall:
93          [(i)] (a) identify a method to integrate existing local mental health crisis lines to ensure
94     each individual who accesses a local mental health crisis line is connected to a qualified mental
95     or behavioral health professional, regardless of the time, date, or number of individuals trying
96     to simultaneously access the local mental health crisis line;
97          [(ii)] (b) study how to establish and implement a statewide mental health crisis line,
98     including identifying:
99          [(A)] (i) a statewide phone number or other means for an individual to easily access the
100     statewide mental health crisis line;
101          [(B)] (ii) a supply of qualified mental or behavioral health professionals to staff the
102     statewide mental health crisis line; and
103          [(C)] (iii) a funding mechanism to operate and maintain the statewide mental health
104     crisis line; [and]
105          [(iii)] (c) coordinate with local mental health authorities in fulfilling the commission's
106     duties described in Subsections (1)(a)[(i) and (ii).] and (b); and
107          (d) recommend standards for mobile crisis outreach team certification as described in
108     Section 62A-15-1303.
109          [(b)] (2) The commission may conduct other business related to the commission's
110     duties described in Subsection (1)[(a)].
111          [(2) Before November 30, 2017, the commission shall report to the Political
112     Subdivisions Interim Committee regarding:]
113          [(a) the extent to which the commission fulfilled the commission's duties described in
114     Subsection (1); and]
115          [(b) recommendations for future legislation related to integrating local mental health
116     crisis lines or establishing a statewide mental health crisis line.]