HB254 Alabama 2025 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Jim HillRepresentative

Republican

Session

2025 Regular Session

Title

St. Clair County; mental health officer, powers and duties further provided

Summary

HB254 creates a five-member St. Clair County Mental Health Advisory Board, expands the role and duties of the county Mental Health Officer, and establishes funding and procedures for crisis intervention, admissions, and potential commitments.

What This Bill Does

The bill creates a five-member St. Clair County Mental Health Advisory Board to oversee a county Mental Health Officer and related staff. It sets up a probate office fee starting at $6.50 per matter, adjustable up to $8.50, with proceeds used for crisis intervention, salaries, equipment, admissions, and contracted services. The Mental Health Officer, appointed by the advisory board and employed by the Sheriff, operates under the Judge of Probate and handles crisis intervention, inpatient admissions, and potential commitments, including filing petitions in probate court when needed. If law enforcement encounters someone who may have mental illness and poses a risk, officers must contact the Mental Health Officer, who may dispatch staff to assess; if commitment is required, the facility must notify the officer to file a petition within two business days, and the act clarifies that only licensed medical professionals may perform medical acts.

Who It Affects

• St. Clair County residents who may be subject to crisis intervention, hospitalization, or commitment under the new procedures
• St. Clair County government and agencies (Sheriff, Judge of Probate, County Commission, and the Mental Health Advisory Board) responsible for funding, staffing, and implementing the program

Key Provisions

• Establishes a five-member St. Clair County Mental Health Advisory Board (Chair of County Commission or designee; Sheriff; Judge of Probate; two at-large members).
• Creates the St. Clair County Mental Health Officer as an employee of the Sheriff, appointed by the advisory board, and supervised day-to-day by the Judge of Probate; board sets duties, qualifications, training, and salary; may hire assistant officers and support staff.
• Allows the advisory board to fund crisis intervention services, admissions to certified inpatient units, salaries, equipment, contracting with other entities, and liability insurance; funds are disbursed monthly to the county commission.
• Imposes an initial probate office fee of $6.50 per matter, adjustable to a maximum of $8.50, with proceeds used for the mental health program.
• Provides authority for admissions to certified psychiatric inpatient units and crisis intervention programs as determined by the advisory board and availability of funds.
• Gives the Mental Health Officer authority to handle crisis intervention and, when needed, file petitions for commitment with the probate court; the officer and staff are under the day-to-day supervision of the Judge of Probate and employed by the Sheriff.
• Requires law enforcement to contact the Mental Health Officer when encountering suspected mental illness and potential danger; allows the officer to deliver the individual to a designated mental health facility, with 24-hour determination of admission by a psychiatrist or physician; if commitment is needed, the facility must notify the MH Officer to file for commitment within two business days.
• If no commitment is required, the facility must release the person and arrange transfer to residence if requested; the act prohibits unlicensed practice of medicine.
• Effective date: October 1, 2025.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 22, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

St. Clair County