Last year the legislator passed HB 1713 which directed the department of social and health services to integrate substance use disorder involuntary treatment and mental health involuntary treatment provisions. However, the law does not recognize a designated chemical dependency specialist as one of the qualified examining professionals authorized to sign an initial fourteen-day substance use disorder detention petition during the interim period between June 28, 2016 and April 1, 2018. That law, however, does recognize a designated chemical dependency specialist as a qualified examining professional for signing ninety-day substance use disorder detention petitions. SB 5580 would correct the technical oversight by recognizing a designated chemical dependency specialist as one of the qualified examining professionals authorized to sign an initial fourteen-day substance use disorder detention petition during the interim period between June 28, 2016, and April 1, 2018.
