A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT REQUIRING THE Department of Health and Human Services TO DEVELOP A CENTRAL REGISTRY OF AVAILABLE BEDS IN MENTAL HEALTH FACILITIES TO ASSIST IN THE PLACEMENT OF INDIVIDUALS INVOLUNTARilY COMMITTED TO THE FACILITIES.
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 call registry to assist law enforcement officers and others in identifying available beds in mental health facilities for placement of individuals committed the facilities.  The registry may be automated but shall be available for successful access by law enforcement officers at all times.  In developing the registry, the Department shall ensure that information on bed availability from mental health facilities that serve involuntary committees is transmitted to the registry and updated daily.  The Department shall report on the implementation of the registry to the Senate Appropriations Committee on Health and Human Services, the House of Representatives Appropriations Subcommittee on Health and Human Services, and the Fiscal Research Division not later than October 1, 2005, and again on March 1, 2006.
SECTION 2.  This act becomes effective July 1, 2005.