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Committee hears bill to remove notarization requirement from 96‑hour civil‑detention applications
Summary
House Bill 543 would allow authorized personnel at healthcare facilities and law enforcement to file civil‑detention (96‑hour) applications without a notary. Sponsor and hospital association said the change removes a practical barrier during after‑hours situations; language adds perjury penalties for knowingly false information.
Representative Benny Cook presented House Bill 543 to clarify who may complete civil‑detention application paperwork (the 96‑hour hold) without a notary. Cook said the measure grew from past bipartisan work to remove an overnight notarization requirement and to address judges’ concerns about the change.
The bill would permit authorized personnel, including employees acting on behalf of a health care facility and law enforcement officials, to submit civil‑detention applications without a notary. To address concerns about removing notarization, the legislation clarifies that a person who knowingly provides false information on such an application is guilty of perjury, a felony.
Rob Monsess of the Missouri Hospital Association testified in support, saying the requirement for a notary can be impractical in the middle of the night when timely detention is necessary and a notary is not available. He said the proposed language was developed in consultation with the Supreme Court to resolve remaining issues where some judges were still requiring notarization.
Sponsor and supporters said the bill does not expand the statutory duration or scope of the 96‑hour civil‑detention statute; it only clarifies who may sign the paperwork when an emergency requires immediate action. The committee did not take a vote on the bill during the hearing.
