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Granite County places resolution urging MACo to press for reforms in civil involuntary mental-health commitment process
Summary
County Attorney Blaine Bradshaw briefed the Board on Resolution No. 2026-7 seeking MACo advocacy for changes to Montana's civil involuntary mental-health commitment process, including allowing qualified mental-health professionals to authorize temporary 72-hour holds; commissioners placed the resolution for first reading by unanimous vote.
The Granite County Board on June 9 voted to place Resolution No. 2026-7 on first reading; the draft resolution asks the Montana Association of Counties (MACo) to advocate for improvements to Montana's civil involuntary mental-health commitment procedures.
County Attorney Blaine Bradshaw told commissioners the state system faces staffing shortages and limited bed capacity at the Montana State Hospital in Warm Springs, creating delays in placing individuals subject to civil mental-health commitments. Bradshaw said MACo supports a legislative change that would allow qualified mental-health professionals to authorize temporary 72-hour holds prior to filing a formal petition, enabling immediate evaluation and short-term stabilization while legal processes proceed.
Bradshaw cautioned that it is too early to quantify fiscal impacts on counties; under current practice counties generally bear costs prior to a final civil-commitment order, and the State assumes costs after a final order is issued. Commissioners expressed support for further review and moved to place the resolution for first reading at a subsequent meeting; the motion carried unanimously.
The resolution also encourages MACo to continue exploring other reforms to reduce delays and improve placement capacity across the state.
