AN ACT REQUIRING THE Department of Health and Human Services TO DEVELOP A CENTRAL listing OF MENTAL HEALTH FACILITIES designated TO ASSIST IN THE PLACEMENT OF INDIVIDUALS to be INVOLUNTARilY COMMITTED and require area authorities to maintain a crisis response service.

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

SECTION 1.  The Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities, and Substance Abuse Services, shall develop a central listing of mental health facilities designated for the placement of individuals to be involuntarily committed to assist law enforcement officers and others. The list shall be developed from existing funds appropriated to the Department.  The listing shall be accessible on the Internet and implemented not later than October 1, 2005.  The Department shall report on the implementation of the listing and the status and compliance of area authorities' crisis response service to the Joint Legislative Commission on Governmental Operations and the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities, and Substance Abuse Services not later than March 1, 2006.
SECTION 2.  G.S. 122C‑117(a) is amended by adding the following new subdivision to read:
"(14)	Maintain a 24‑hour a day, seven day a week crisis response service. Crisis response shall include telephone and face‑to‑face capabilities. Crisis phone response shall include triage and referral to appropriate face‑to‑face crisis providers and shall be initiated within one hour of notification. Crisis services do not require prior authorization but shall be delivered in compliance with appropriate policies and procedures. Crisis services shall be designed for prevention, intervention, and resolution, not merely triage and transfer, and shall be provided in the least restrictive setting possible, consistent with individual and family need and community safety."

SECTION 3.  This act is effective when it becomes law.
In the General Assembly read three times and ratified this the 23rd day of August, 2005.

	s/	 Beverly E. Perdue
	 President of the Senate

	s/	 James B. Black
	 Speaker of the House of Representatives

	s/	 Michael F. Easley
	 Governor

Approved 1:35 p.m. this 8th day of September, 2005