DELAWARE STATE SENATE

150th GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SENATE BILL NO. 161

AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 29 RELATING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND SOCIAL SERVICES AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CARE CONNECTION.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE:

Section 1. Amend Chapter 79, Title 29 of the Delaware Code by making deletions as shown by strike through and insertions as shown by underline as follows:

§ 7908A. Division of Substance Abuse and Mental Health.

When a law-enforcement officer contacts Crisis Intervention Services or suspects an individual is experiencing an overdose or a suicide attempt, the law-enforcement officer may disclose the individual’s identifying information and a brief event synopsis to the Division of Substance Abuse and Mental Health to connect the individual to behavioral health treatment services.

SYNOPSIS

This Act allows law-enforcement officers to share an individual's identifying information with the Division of Substance Abuse and Mental Health ("DSAMH") if the officer suspects the individual is suffering from an overdose or a mental health crisis, allowing DSAMH to connect the individual with behavioral health treatment services.

Author: Senator Hansen