Arizona SB 1242: election equipment; security; legislative review

Bill Text

Chapter 0160 - 572R - H Ver of SB1242 

 House Engrossed 
 Senate Bill

 mental health; 
 hearings; audiovisual technology

 State of Arizona

 Senate

 Fifty-seventh Legislature

 Second Regular Session

 2026

 CHAPTER 160

 SENATE BILL 1242

AN 
ACT

Amending sections 36-501, 36-505, 
36-539, 36-540, 36-543 and 36-550.09, Arizona Revised 
Statutes; relating to mental health services.

(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)

Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Arizona:

Section 1. Section 36-501, Arizona Revised 
Statutes, is amended to read:

START_STATUTE36-501. Definitions

In this chapter, unless the context otherwise requires:

1. "Administration" means the Arizona 
health care cost containment system administration.

2. "Admitting officer" means a 
psychiatrist or other physician or psychiatric and mental health nurse 
practitioner with experience in performing psychiatric examinations who has 
been designated as an admitting officer of the evaluation agency by the person 
in charge of the evaluation agency.

3. "Authorized transporter" means a 
transportation entity that is contracted with a city, 
town or county to provide services pursuant to this chapter and that is either:

(a) An ambulance service that holds a valid 
certificate of necessity.

(b) A transportation provider authorized by this 
state to provide safe behavioral health transportation for individuals 
requiring transportation pursuant to this chapter.

4. "Chief medical officer" means the chief 
medical officer under the supervision of the superintendent of the state 
hospital.

5. "Contraindicated" means that access is 
reasonably likely to endanger the life or physical safety of the patient or 
another person.

6. "Court" means the superior court in the 
county in this state in which the patient resides or was found before screening 
or emergency admission under this title.

7. "Criminal history" means police 
reports, lists of prior arrests and convictions, criminal case pleadings and 
court orders, including a determination that the person has been found 
incompetent to stand trial pursuant to section 13-4510.

8. "Danger to others" means that the 
judgment of a person who has a mental disorder is so impaired that the person 
is unable to understand the person's need for treatment and as a result of the 
person's mental disorder the person's continued behavior can reasonably be 
expected, on the basis of competent medical opinion, to result in serious 
physical harm.

9. "Danger to self":

(a) Means behavior that, as a result of a mental 
disorder: 

(i) Constitutes a danger of inflicting serious 
physical harm on oneself, including attempted suicide or the serious threat 
thereof, if the threat is such that, when considered in the light of its 
context and in light of the individual's previous acts, it is substantially 
supportive of an expectation that the threat will be carried out.

(ii) Without hospitalization will result in serious 
physical harm or serious illness to the person.

(b) Does not include behavior that establishes only 
the condition of having a grave disability.

10. "Department" means the department of 
health services.

11. "Detention" means the taking into 
custody of a patient or proposed patient.

12. "Director" means the director of the 
administration.

13. "Evaluation" means:

(a) A professional multidisciplinary analysis that 
may include firsthand observations or remote observations by interactive 
audiovisual media and that is based on data describing the person's identity, 
biography and medical, psychological and social conditions carried out by a 
group of persons consisting of at least the following:

(i) Two licensed physicians who are qualified 
psychiatrists, if possible, or at least experienced in psychiatric matters, who 
shall examine and report their findings independently. The person against whom 
a petition has been filed shall be notified that the person may select one of 
the physicians. A psychiatric resident in a training program 
approved by the American medical association or by the American osteopathic 
association may examine the person in place of one of the psychiatrists if the 
resident is supervised in the examination and preparation of the affidavit and 
testimony in court by a qualified psychiatrist appointed to assist in the 
resident's training, and if the supervising psychiatrist is available for 
discussion with the attorneys for all parties and for court appearance and 
testimony if requested by the court or any of the attorneys.

(ii) Two other individuals, one of whom, if 
available, is a psychologist and in any event a social worker familiar with 
mental health and human services that may be available placement alternatives 
appropriate for treatment. An evaluation may be conducted on an 
inpatient basis, an outpatient basis or a combination of both, and every 
reasonable attempt shall be made to conduct the evaluation in any language 
preferred by the p