SENATE BILL REPORT
SB 5853
As of January 10, 2024
Title: An act relating to extending the crisis relief center model to provide behavioral health crisis services for minors.
Brief Description: Extending the crisis relief center model to provide behavioral health crisis services for minors.
Sponsors: Senators Dhingra, Wagoner, Frame, Hasegawa, Kuderer, Lovelett, Lovick, Muzzall, Nguyen, Nobles, Shewmake, Stanford, Torres, Valdez and Wilson, C..
Brief History:
Committee Activity: Health & Long Term Care: 1/11/24.
Brief Summary of Bill
  • Allows 23-hour Crisis Relief Centers to serve minors, but not in the same facility as adults.
SENATE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH & LONG TERM CARE
Staff: Kevin Black (786-7747)
Background:

A 23-hour Crisis Relief Center (CRC) is a community-based behavioral health facility serving adults which offers access to mental health and substance use care for no more than 23 hours and 59 minutes at a time per patient. A CRC must be open 24 hours a day, seven days a week and accept behavioral health crisis walk-ins, drop-offs from first responders, and individuals referred through the 988 system, regardless of behavioral health acuity, and without requiring medical clearance.

 

23-hour CRCs were enacted into law in 2023 through 2SSB 5120. The Department of Health expects to finalize rulemaking for CRCs and start accepting license applications in May 2024.
Summary of Bill:

A CRC may serve minors, but may not serve adults and minors in the same facility.

 

A peace officer may take a minor to a CRC when the officer has reasonable cause to believe the minor is suffering from a mental disorder and presents an imminent likelihood of serious harm or is gravely disabled.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Requested on January 9, 2024.
Creates Committee/Commission/Task Force that includes Legislative members: No.
Effective Date: Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.