A bill aimed at improving the mental illness commitment system in Alabama is expected to signed into law by Gov. Kay Ivey.

Sponsored by state Sen. Garlan Gudger, R-Cullman, and Rep. Randall Shedd, R-Fairview, SB 246 addresses a gap in the current outpatient commitment law. 

Current law does not allow for a renewal of an outpatient commitment order. After 150 days the outpatient commitment ends, whether or not the person needs that order to continue. SB 246 creates an option for the probate judge to renew the outpatient order for up to a year, said Chris Van Dyke, chief operating officer at WellStone.

The recognition of the need for a change in the law started in Cullman County, Van Dyke said, referring to the death of attorney Steve Griffith, who was killed by a man in his home, and an incident in which a man died in his home after setting it on fire in a stand-off with police.

“I was asked by Randall Shedd to let him know if there was anything that could be done by the legislature to help keep these things from happening again. This gap in our commitment system was something we could actually improve. This bill probably would not have changed those two tragic deaths, but it will definitely help other situations that could end just as badly,” Van Dyke said.

Gudger introduced the bill in the Senate, where it passed and to the House with Shedd as the sponsor.

“WellStone regularly sees people under outpatient commitment who have a history of refusal to continue medication or therapy services when not under a court order. When these people come to the end of a 150 day outpatient commitment, they refuse all services. Then families, neighbors, and the professionals at WellStone have to wait for another incident to happen to restart the commitment process. It is those incidents that put the client and the people around them at risk of harm. The new law will allow mental health centers to ask the judge to continue an outpatient commitment when it is clear that the person needs continuing court ordered treatment.

“This is a simple fix which will make Alabama safer and save money in reduced hospitalizations, and police involvement, not to mention the lost wages of family members living with a relative in crisis. I appreciate the work and support of Rep. Shedd and Sen. Gudger to sponsor this bill and I am excited to see our legislative process work to improve our state,” Chris Van Dyke stated in a prepared statement.

The bill was also supported by the Alabama Council for Behavioral Healthcare and the Alabama Probate Judges Association.