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AlabamaHB2542025 Regular SessionHouse

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

Sponsored By: Jim Hill (Republican)

Enacted

St. Clair County

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

2 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 1 costs, 1 mixed.

St. Clair probate filers pay added fees

Beginning October 1, 2025, St. Clair County charges an added $6.50 for each matter filed or recorded in probate. The Mental Health Advisory Board may raise or lower the fee, but it cannot exceed $8.50. The law authorizes these adjustments after August 1, 2021. The probate judge sends collections to the county commission by the 20th of the following month. The board directs this money toward crisis intervention and related mental health services. Its five members are the commission chair or designee, sheriff, probate judge, and two county residents. Sitting board members nominate those residents, and the county commission appoints them. The board appoints mental health officers and support staff, approves pay and training standards, and directs operations. Staff work for the sheriff, receive daily supervision from the probate judge, and serve at the board’s pleasure. Authorized spending includes staff, equipment, a vehicle, training, psychiatric admissions, service contracts, and liability insurance.

New crisis custody rules in St. Clair

Beginning October 1, 2025, St. Clair County has required steps for mental health crisis assessments, custody, and release. Police must contact the mental health officer when reasonable cause points to mental illness and a real, present threat of substantial harm. The threat must be to the person or others. If the mental health officer finds that illness and threat, police must take the person to a designated mental health facility. A mental health officer may take custody directly only with Alabama peace officer certification and must notify the receiving facility. A facility-authorized doctor must decide within 24 hours of arrival whether to admit the person temporarily for observation. Non-physicians cannot practice medicine during these assessments or admissions. If the facility finds commitment necessary, the mental health officer must petition probate court by the second business day after notice. Otherwise, the officer arranges release unless the person is subject to arrest. Upon request after release, an officer must provide a ride to a residence or other abode within the county.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Jim Hill

    Republican • House

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 127 • No: 0

Senate vote • 4/1/2025

Third Reading in Second House

Yes: 31 • No: 0

Senate vote • 4/1/2025

Motion to Read a Third Time and Pass - Adopted Roll Call 441

Yes: 31 • No: 0

House vote • 2/27/2025

Motion to Read a Third Time and Pass - Adopted Roll Call 255

Yes: 11 • No: 0 • Other: 91

House vote • 2/27/2025

Third Reading in House of Origin

Yes: 54 • No: 0 • Other: 46

Actions Timeline

  1. Enacted

    4/11/2025House

  2. Signature Requested

    4/3/2025Senate

  3. Delivered to Governor

    4/3/2025House

  4. Third Reading in Second House

    4/1/2025Senate

  5. Motion to Read a Third Time and Pass - Adopted Roll Call 441

    4/1/2025Senate

  6. Ready to Enroll

    4/1/2025House

  7. Enrolled

    4/1/2025House

  8. Reported Out of Committee Second House

    3/19/2025Senate

  9. Read for the Second Time and placed on the Calendar

    3/19/2025Senate

  10. Read for the first time and referred to the Senate Committee on Local Legislation

    3/4/2025Senate

  11. Pending Committee Action in Second House

    3/4/2025Senate

  12. Third Reading in House of Origin

    2/27/2025House

  13. Motion to Read a Third Time and Pass - Adopted Roll Call 255

    2/27/2025House

  14. Read for the Second Time and placed on the Calendar

    2/25/2025House

  15. Reported Out of Committee House of Origin

    2/20/2025House

  16. Read for the first time and referred to the House Committee on Local Legislation

    2/11/2025House

  17. Pending Committee Action in House of Origin

    2/11/2025House

Bill Text

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