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 to be involuntarily committed to the facilities.  The registry may be automated and shall be available for access by law enforcement officers at all times.  In developing the registry, the Department shall ensure that information on beds available in mental health facilities that house involuntarily committed persons is transmitted to the registry and updated daily.  The registry shall be implemented not later than January 1, 2006.  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.  G.S. 122C‑141 is amended by adding the following new subsection to read:
"(a1)	The area authority, county programs, or persons covered under G.S. 122C‑142, to the extent of their involvement with the placement of individuals involuntarily committed to mental health facilities, shall be responsible for utilizing a central registry of available beds in mental health facilities as developed by the Department."
SECTION 3.  Section 2 of this act becomes effective January 1, 2006.  The remainder of this act becomes effective July 1, 2005.