Title 22 — Title 22

Detention; Admission; Hearing. (a)(1) When a law enforcement officer is confronted by circumstances that give the law enforcement officer reasonable cause for believing that an individual within the county has a mental illness and that the individual is likely to pose a real and …

(a) This article shall not be applicable to any county unless and until the judge of probate with the approval of the county commission of that particular county makes a finding that there exists in the county provisions for implementation of the community mental health officer p…

No county shall be required to pay costs associated with the temporary confinement or commitment of a person to a designated mental health facility, including, but not limited to, the cost of housing and treatment. All costs associated with a probable cause hearing, including cos…

Repealed by Act 98-322, §1, effective April 16, 1998. History: (Acts 1953, No. 777, p. 1048, §1.)

Repealed by Act 98-322, §1, effective April 16, 1998. History: (Acts 1953, No. 777, p. 1048, §2.)

Repealed by Act 98-322, §1, effective April 16, 1998. History: (Acts 1953, No. 778, p. 1051, §1.)

Repealed by Act 98-322, §1, effective April 16, 1998. History: (Acts 1953, No. 778, p. 1051, §2.)

Repealed by Act 98-322, §1, effective April 16, 1998. History: (Acts 1953, No. 778, p. 1051, §8.)

Repealed by Act 98-322, §1, effective April 16, 1998. History: (Acts 1953, No. 778, p. 1051, §3.)

Repealed by Act 98-322, §1, effective April 16, 1998. History: (Acts 1953, No. 778, p. 1051, §4.)

Repealed by Act 98-322, §1, effective April 16, 1998. History: (Acts 1953, No. 778, p. 1051, §5.)

Repealed by Act 98-322, §1, effective April 16, 1998. History: (Acts 1953, No. 778, p. 1051, §6.)

Repealed by Act 98-322, §1, effective April 16, 1998. History: (Acts 1953, No. 777, p. 1048, §3.)

Repealed by Act 98-322, §1, effective April 16, 1998. History: (Acts 1953, No. 777, p. 1048, §4.)

Repealed by Act 98-322, §1, effective April 16, 1998. History: (Acts 1953, No. 777, p. 1048, §5.)

(a) The Alabama Department of Mental Health is hereby authorized to establish an institution for persons displaying evidence of mental illness or psychosocial disorders and requiring diagnostic services and treatment in a security setting. (b) The institution shall be under the j…

(a) Patients admitted to the facility may originate from the following sources: (1) Residents of any institution under the jurisdiction of the Alabama Department of Mental Health; (2) Commitments by the courts as mentally incompetent to stand trial under applicable state law; (3)…

(a) All admissions to the facility shall be by written application only. Application shall be made by the head of the state institution, agency, governmental body or court requesting same to the superintendent of the facility. (b) An application shall not be accepted by the super…

Constructive Jurisdiction Over Patients; Discharge of Patients; Applicability of Support, Commitment and Release Statutes to Patients at Facility. (a) When a patient transferred to the facility from any other state institution or admitted by request or order of any agency, govern…

The final decision regarding admission and discharge of patients shall rest with the superintendent of the facility. History: (Acts 1975, No. 1220, p. 2545, §4.)

The Interstate Compact on Mental Health is hereby enacted into law and entered into by this state with all other states legally joining therein in the form substantially as follows: INTERSTATE COMPACT ON MENTAL HEALTH The contracting states solemnly agree that: Article I The part…

Pursuant to said compact, the state mental health officer shall be the compact administrator and, acting jointly with like officers of other party states, shall have power to promulgate rules and regulations to carry out more effectively the terms of this compact. The compact adm…

The compact administrator is hereby authorized and empowered to enter into supplementary agreements with appropriate officials of other states pursuant to Articles VII and XI of the compact. In the event that such supplementary agreements shall require or contemplate the use of a…

The compact administrator, subject to the approval of the director of finance, may make or arrange for any payments necessary to discharge any financial obligations imposed upon this state by the compact or by any supplementary agreement entered into thereunder. History: (Acts 19…

This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the “Alabama Mental Health Consumers’ Rights Act.” History: (Acts 1995, No. 95-744, p. 1690, §1.)

Provided that nothing in this chapter shall reduce or expand the rights of mental health consumers in Alabama beyond the rights guaranteed to any other person under the statutes or Constitution of the United States and Alabama statutes or Constitution of Alabama of 1901. History:…

As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the following meanings: (1) CONSUMER. A person who receives or uses mental health services. (2) DEPARTMENT. The Alabama Department of Mental Health. (3) FAMILY MEMBER. A person within the immediate family or a legal guardian…

The Legislature declares that mental health services shall be individualized, empowering, culturally relevant and diverse, flexible, and include natural supports. Mental health services shall also be provided in a way which is normalizing as well as respectful of the rights, resp…

(a) Consumers of mental health services have the same general rights as other citizens of Alabama. These rights include but are not limited to the following: (1) The right to exercise rights as a citizen of the United States and the State of Alabama. (2) The right to be served th…

In order to ensure that consumers of mental health services through state facilities, community mental health centers, and other providers under contract to the department receive individual treatment and that rights delineated in Section 22-56-4 and elsewhere in state and federa…

Any provider who abuses, exploits, or neglects a consumer in his or her care shall be subject to the civil and criminal remedies and penalties prescribed in Alabama law. All instances of abuse, exploitation, or neglect, as defined by Alabama law, shall be reported to appropriate …

All providers of mental health services in Alabama shall develop and implement written policies and procedures that prohibit abuse, exploitation, or neglect of consumers in programs operated by the providers. At a minimum, these policies and procedures shall accomplish the follow…

This chapter shall not be interpreted or construed to alter, expand, or diminish established standards of medical care applicable to physicians licensed to practice medicine. Notwithstanding any provision of this chapter to the contrary, the requirement to develop and implement w…

This chapter shall not override any provisions of the Adult Protective Services Act, pursuant to Chapter 9 (commencing with Section 38-9-1) of Title 38, or the Child Abuse Reporting Act, Chapter 14 (commencing with Section 26-14-1) of Title 26, and shall be read in para materia w…

This article shall be known and may be cited as the Riley Ward Alabama Autism Support Act. History: (Act 2009-295, p. 502, §1.)

The Legislature finds and declares the following: (1) The Centers for Disease Control estimates that nationally 1 in 150 children have Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). (2) Current studies indicate that ASD can often be detected by the age of three years and in some cases as early …

(a)(1) There is established in determined geographic regions of the state one or more autism centers whose purpose is to provide nonresidential resource and training services for persons of all ages and of all levels of intellectual functioning who have any of the following: a. A…

For purposes of this article, the following terms shall have the following meanings: (1) AUTISM SERVICES. Any developmental services that include all of the following: a. Are designed to meet developmental needs of an individual with ASD across the lifespan, including transitions…

2026.] AMENDED BY ACT 2026-327, EFFECTIVE OCTOBER 1, 2026. SEE ACT FOR REVISED LANGUAGE. (a) The composition of the council shall reflect the racial, gender, geographic, urban and rural, and economic diversity of the state and shall include all of the following: (1) Three adult i…

The council shall have the following duties and authority: (1) To make recommendations to the Governor regarding the designation of the lead agency. (2) To define the roles and responsibilities of all participating agencies. (3) To adopt rules for the internal operation of the co…

The lead agency shall be responsible for the general administration, supervision, and monitoring of all council activities. History: (Act 2009-295, p. 502, §6.)

The implementation of this article shall be subject to the availability of appropriations to expand, intensify, and coordinate the activities of the council and members of the council. History: (Act 2009-295, p. 502, §7.)

Nothing in this article shall be construed as authorizing or allowing the establishment of any medical rule, regulation, policy, protocol, regimen, practice, or medical standard of care. History: (Act 2009-295, p. 502, §8.)

As used in this chapter, the following terms have the following meanings: (1) ADMH. The Alabama Department of Mental Health. (2) ADMH COMMISSIONER. The Commissioner of the Alabama Department of Mental Health. (3) ADVA. The Alabama Department of Veterans Affairs. (4) ADVA COMMISSI…

The Legislature finds the following: (1) ADMH is the state’s lead agency to implement this chapter, as well as the expert in the following areas: a. Knowledge and expertise in behavioral health care services. b. Certifications and implementation of the Certified Community Behavio…

(a) The Veterans Mental Health Steering Committee is established. The purpose of the committee is to develop a comprehensive plan to address the behavioral health needs of Alabama veterans. (b) The committee shall include the following individuals: (1) The ADMH Commissioner, or h…

(a) ADMH shall work collaboratively with ADVA, leveraging each other’s roles, relationships, and expertise. The committee shall develop a comprehensive plan in response to a review of the following: (1) The current state of Alabama veterans’ mental health and rates of substance u…

(a) ADMH may establish pilot projects utilizing existing evidence-based services certified by ADMH or organizations that agree to become certified by ADMH. Pilot projects shall be awarded funding by ADMH through a fair and transparent request-for-proposal process. Pilot projects …

ADMH and ADVA shall present the proposed comprehensive plan to the House of Representatives and the Senate standing committees that address veterans and military affairs for their review and input no later than April 1, 2025. ADMH shall then submit the proposed comprehensive plan…

(a) Upon approval of the Governor and subject to sufficient appropriations, ADMH shall implement the comprehensive plan with continued input from ADVA. (b) ADMH shall contract with multiple entities to implement pilot projects as described in Section 22-58-4 and provide services …