Testimony in support of H. 2198, An Act reducing emergency department boarding and H. 2199, An Act ending unnecessary hospitalizations

Basic, legal safeguards should be established by people involuntarily detained under Section 12(a). For example, people held for more than 48 hours in an Emergency Department (ED) under Section 12(a) would be referred to the Committee for Public Counsel Services for appointment of legal counsel. These bills also require mental health professionals to consider less restrictive, community-based alternatives before authorizing an involuntary detention in a hospital.