MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS                                                                  S.B. 191:

                                                                                                    SUMMARY OF BILL

                                                                                     REPORTED FROM COMMITTEE

Senate Bill 191 (as reported without amendment)

Sponsor:  Senator Curtis S. VanderWall

Committee:  Health Policy and Human Services

CONTENT

The bill would amend the Mental Health Code to do the following:

-- Expand the definition of "mental health professional" to include a physician assistant, a certified nurse practitioner, and a clinical nurse specialist-certified.

-- Allow certain physical examinations to be conducted by a physician assistant, a certified nurse practitioner, or a clinical nurse specialist-certified.

-- Allow clinical certificates executed by a physician assistant, a certified nurse practitioner, or a clinical nurse specialist-certified to be accepted in certain situations.

-- Modify various definitions.

MCL 330.1100a et al.                                              Legislative Analyst:  Stephen Jackson

FISCAL IMPACT

The bill would have no fiscal impact on the Department of Health and Human Services or local units of government. The expansion of the definition of "mental health professional" to include a physician assistant, certified nurse practitioner or clinical nurse specialist-certified, and the ability for those mental health professionals to perform the activities described in the bill would not increase the number of petitions heard by a court and, therefore, would not result in an increase in the number of individuals receiving services through a community mental health services program.

The bill also could have a minor negative fiscal impact on the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs. The bill would add several professions to the list of licensees who may perform certain activities, such as the medical examination of a petitioner pursuing treatment or the issuer of a clinical certificate. The addition of these individuals for these activities could result in an increase in complaints received by the Department. The processing and investigation of complaints, as well as overall compliance monitoring for these activities, could result in minor cost increases. However, it is likely that these activities would be covered sufficiently by existing appropriations and staff.

Date Completed:  4-19-21                                               Fiscal Analyst:  Ellyn Ackerman

                                                                                                 Elizabeth Raczkowski

This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan Senate staff for use by the Senate in its deliberations and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.