Illinois § 5

§ 5.

Findings. The General Assembly recognizes that the Illinois Department of Human Services Division of Mental Health is preparing to provide mobile mental and behavioral health services to all Illinoisans as part of the federally mandated adoption of the 9-8-8 phone number. The General Assembly also recognizes that many cities and some states have successfully established mobile emergency mental and behavioral health services as part of their emergency response system to support people who need such support and do not present a threat of physical violence to the mobile mental health relief providers. In light of that experience, the General Assembly finds that in order to promote and protect the health, safety, and welfare of the public, it is necessary and in the public interest to provide emergency response, with or without medical transportation, to individuals requiring mental health or behavioral health services in a manner that is substantially equivalent to the response already provided to individuals who require emergency physical health care. The General Assembly also recognizes the history of vulnerable populations being subject to unwarranted involuntary commitment or other human rights violations instead of receiving necessary care during acute crises which may contribute to an understandable apprehension of behavioral health services among individuals who have historically been subject to these practices. The General Assembly intends for the Mobile Mental Health Relief Providers regulated by this Act to assist with crises that do not rise to the level of involuntary commitment. However, the General Assembly also recognizes that Mobile Mental Health Relief Providers may, during the course of assisting with a crisis, encounter individuals who present an imminent threat of injury to themselves or others unless they receive assistance through the involuntary commitment process. This Act intends to balance concerns about misuse of the involuntary commitment process with the need for emergency care for individuals whose crisis presents an imminent threat of injury. (Source: P.A. 103-105, eff. 6-27-23; 104-155, eff. 8-1-25.)