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Bill would grant limited immunity to community public‑safety programs; advocates and legal groups disagree on scope
Summary
House Bill 1897 would create a limited civil‑liability immunity for community based public‑safety programs, their staff and volunteers when core services are provided in good faith to people in behavioral‑health crises; the proposal drew support from providers and concern from lawyers and insurers over breadth.
Representative Edwin Obras (D‑33rd) presented House Bill 1897 on Feb. 12, which would provide limited immunity from civil liability to community based public safety programs and associated staff or volunteers when core services are provided in good faith to people experiencing behavioral‑health crises, complex behavioral‑health needs or with histories of legal‑system involvement.
"This bill gives liability protections to community based public safety organizations that work with those who are experiencing behavioral health crisis, have complex behavioral health needs, and or have histories of legal system involvement," Representative Edwin Obras said in his sponsor remarks.
Staff summarized the bill's parameters: immunity would attach only where (1) services are provided to a…
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