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H 1985

An Act relative to civil commitments and the appeal of those commitments

194th Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Patrick Kearney and 1 co-sponsor

Summary of H 1985: An Act relative to civil commitments and the appeal of those commitments Bill OverviewThis bill, H 1985, seeks to modify the laws governing civil commitments and

Hearing rescheduled to 11/18/2025 from 01:00 PM-08:00 PM in A-1 and Virtual Hearing updated to New End Time
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Bill Summary · H 1985

Summary of H 1985: An Act relative to civil commitments and the appeal of those commitments

Bill Overview

This bill, H 1985, seeks to modify the laws governing civil commitments and the appeals process for those commitments. It aims to reform the procedures around involuntary civil commitment, which is the legal process of hospitalizing someone against their will due to mental health or substance abuse issues.

Key Provisions

The main changes proposed in this bill include:

  1. Appeal Process: The bill would establish a new appeals process for individuals who have been civilly committed. This would allow them to challenge the commitment decision in court, rather than the current process which limits appeals.

  2. Hearing Timeline: The bill would require that civil commitment hearings be scheduled within 10 business days of the initial detention, down from the current 14-day timeline.

  3. Counsel Representation: The bill would guarantee the right to legal counsel for any individual facing civil commitment, with the state providing a public defender if they cannot afford an attorney.

  4. Periodic Review: The bill mandates that the status of all civilly committed individuals be reviewed by the court at least once every 6 months, to determine if the commitment is still justified.

Affected Parties

This bill would primarily impact:

  • Individuals facing potential civil commitment due to mental health or substance abuse issues
  • Mental health and medical professionals involved in the civil commitment process
  • The state court system, which would need to handle the new appeals process and more frequent review hearings

Procedural Timeline

If passed, the key dates and deadlines in this bill would be:

  • Effective Date: 90 days after enactment
  • Initial Hearing Timeline: Within 10 business days of initial detention
  • Commitment Review: At least once every 6 months by the court

Overall, this bill represents a significant reform to the civil commitment laws in the state, aimed at providing more rights and protections for those facing involuntary hospitalization.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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