By Committee on Human Services, Mental Health & Housing

Strike everything after the enacting clause and insert the following:

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1.  "A new section is added to chapter 71.05 RCW to read as follows:

(1) A peace officer or other first responder who responds to a report of threatened or attempted suicide may notify a local designated mental health professional of the incident.

(2) A peace officer or other first responder and their respective agencies are immune from liability for notifying, or the failure to notify, a designated mental health professional pursuant to this section.

(3) As soon as possible, but no later than twenty-four hours after receiving a notification from a peace officer or other first responder, a mental health professional assigned by the designated mental health professional must attempt to contact the person who is the subject of the notification to assess whether or not the person meets initial detention criteria under RCW 71.05.150 or 71.05.153. Documentation of the designated mental health professional's contact and assessment of the person must be maintained by the designated mental health professional agency.

By Committee on Human Services, Mental Health & Housing

On page 1, line 2 of the title, after "suicide;" strike the remainder of the title and insert "adding a new section to chapter 71.05 RCW; and creating a new section."

EFFECT: Removes provisions relating to noting the incident of threatened or attempted suicide in a police incident report and removes time limit after entry of the incident report for the event to be reported to a designated mental health professional. Removes requirement for law enforcement agencies to develop a system for making referrals to designated mental health professional agencies based on notations made in incident reports. Removes intent section.