SENATE BILL REPORT

                           SHB 1003

     AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES,

                        MARCH 19, 1993

Brief Description:  Concerning judicial proceedings for involuntary commitment or detention.

SPONSORS: House Committee on Local Government (originally sponsored by Representatives Riley and Wineberry)

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT

SENATE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES

Majority Report:  Do pass. 

     Signed by Senators Talmadge, Chairman; Wojahn, Vice Chairman; Franklin, Fraser, McAuliffe, McDonald, Moyer, Prentice, Quigley, and Winsley.

Staff:  Richard Rodger (786‑7461)

Hearing Dates:  March 19, 1993

BACKGROUND:

A county designated chemical dependency specialist may petition the superior court for the involuntary commitment of any adult or juvenile.  Adults may be committed for alcohol abuse and juveniles may be committed for drug or alcohol abuse.  The court may order the involuntary commitment of such a person, if the requisite grounds for involuntary commitment have been met by clear, cogent, and convincing proof.

A person may be involuntarily committed to an approved treatment program for a period of up to 60 days.  The "program" may file a petition of recommitment of any individual who is in need of additional treatment.  The present statute does not address the legal representation of the designated chemical dependency specialist or the treatment program.

SUMMARY:

The prosecuting attorney may represent a designated chemical dependency specialist, or a treatment program representative, in a proceeding for the involuntary commitment of a chemically dependent person.

Appropriation:  none

Revenue:  none

Fiscal Note:  available

TESTIMONY FOR:

This bill will give the county prosecutors statutory authority to represent designated chemically dependency specialists.

TESTIMONY AGAINST:  None

TESTIFIED:  Representative Riley, original prime sponsor; Ken Stark, Director, DASA, DSHS