Requires a court, when construing the requirements of the involuntary treatment act, to focus on the merits of the petition, except where requirements have been totally disregarded.

Authorizes the department of social and health services to use a single bed certification process to provide additional treatment capacity for a person or for a minor suffering from a mental disorder for whom an evaluation and treatment bed is not available.

Requires regional support networks to administer and provide for the availability of an adequate network of evaluation and treatment services to ensure access to treatment pursuant to the involuntary treatment act.

Requires the department of social and health services to collaborate with regional support networks or behavioral health organizations and the state institute for public policy to estimate the capacity needs for evaluation and treatment services within each regional service area.

Requires the state institute for public policy to complete a study regarding the implementation of certain aspects of the involuntary treatment act including: (1) An assessment of the nonemergent detention process; and

(2) An analysis of less restrictive alternative orders.

Provides that section 15 of this act is null and void if appropriations are not approved.