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SF0040

Wyoming Senate Bill 0040: Involuntary Hospitalization and Treatment

Last scannedOct 19, 2026, 2:19 AM

In one sentence

This bill proposed changes to Wyoming laws regarding the involuntary hospitalization and outpatient treatment of people with mental illness, including updates to definitions and the role of county attorneys.

What it does

  • Defines who can certify that a person needs emergency detention, including law enforcement officers and specific licensed mental health professionals.
  • Provides for involuntary outpatient treatment in addition to hospitalization.
  • Assigns the duty to initiate and pursue proceedings for involuntary hospitalization and involuntary outpatient treatment to the county attorney.
  • Updates the definition of 'evaluator' to include specific licensed professionals who are trained in risk assessment and employed by or contracted with a treatment facility or the department.
  • Modifies time limits for patient evaluations and detention, such as changing specific hour requirements for continued detention.
  • Requires evaluators to notify the district court and county attorney if a patient remains detained after a second evaluation.

Who it affects

  • County attorneys who would be responsible for initiating and pursuing involuntary treatment cases.
  • Licensed mental health professionals, such as psychiatrists, psychologists, and nurse practitioners, who serve as certifiers or evaluators.
  • Hospitals and treatment facilities designated by the state to provide care.
  • Individuals with mental illness who are subject to involuntary detention or treatment.

Limits and unknowns

  • The bill did not pass the Wyoming Senate and did not become law.
  • The provided text is a working draft and excerpt, so the full final version of the proposed changes is not included.
  • The bill amends provisions relating to payment by the county and by the state, but the specific financial details are not detailed in the provided excerpt.

Plain language

Terms to know

Involuntary outpatient treatment
Mental health treatment that a person must receive while living in the community, rather than in a hospital, as provided for in the bill.
Gravely disabled
A condition where a substantial disorder grossly impairs a person's judgment or ability to meet ordinary life demands, contributing to behavior indicating they are unlikely to satisfy needs for nourishment, care, shelter, or safety.
Certifier
A law enforcement officer or licensed professional authorized to sign a form certifying the need for emergency detention.
County attorney
The legal representative for a county who is responsible for initiating and pursuing involuntary hospitalization or outpatient treatment proceedings.

Official record

Sources

Source checked
Official bill pageIntroduced textOfficial digestCurrent bill text

Public statements

Why lawmakers voted

Last checked Aug 7, 6:36 AM

Larry Hicks

R · S11

Voted No

Why they voted this way

The lawmaker opposes the bill because he believes it violates due process rights guaranteed by the U.S. and Wyoming Constitutions, preventing him from reconciling his vote with his oath of office.

Public statementFloor statement at 1:08:15 Watch the statement
Voted Yes

Why they voted this way

The lawmaker is unable to vote for the bill because he feels there has not been enough time to properly discuss its complexity and verify whether it adequately protects individuals from unnecessary detention.

Public statementFloor statement at 1:10:47 Watch the statement
Voted Yes

Why they voted this way

The lawmaker supports the bill because it shifts from a legal model to a therapeutic one that prioritizes rapid treatment in the community, which statistics show has higher success rates than institutionalization.

Public statementFloor statement at 1:13:22 Watch the statement
Voted Yes

Why they voted this way

The speaker supports the bill because it creates a therapeutic model focused on quicker, closer-to-home treatment which improves outcomes and saves money. The legislation also streamlines hearings to one session while allowing for diversion from state hospitals.

Public statementFloor statement at 46:41 Watch the statement

If a lawmaker is not listed, we couldn't find a published reason.

Wyoming roll calls

Recorded votes

3 roll calls

S Failed 3rd Reading 6-24-0-0-02014-02-24 · Senate6 yes 24 no
Yes
6
No
24
Absent
0
Excused
0
Conflict
0

Yes 6

Anderson JD S02Bruce Burns Jr.S21Charles ScottR · S30Curtis MeierS03Floyd EsquibelS08John C SchifferS22

No 24

Anderson JL S28Bernadine CraftS12Bill LandenR · S27Cale CaseR · S25Chris RothfussD · S09Dan DockstaderR · S16Drew A PerkinsS29Eli D BeboutS26Fred M EmerichS05Gerald E GeisS20Henry R CoeS18John HastertS13John J HinesS23Larry HicksR · S11Leland G ChristensenS17Leslie J NuttingS07Michael J Mr. Von FlaternS24Nicholas POgden DriskillR · S01Paul R BarnardS15Ray R PetersonS19Stan CooperS14Tony RossS04Wayne H JohnsonS06
S01 Recommended Amend and Do Pass 5-0-0-0-02014-02-17 · Senate5 yes 0 no
Yes
5
No
0
Absent
0
Excused
0
Conflict
0

Yes 5

Bruce Burns Jr.S21Floyd EsquibelS08John C SchifferS22Larry HicksR · S11Leland G ChristensenS17
S Introduced and Referred to S01 27-3-0-0-02014-02-11 · Senate27 yes 3 no
Yes
27
No
3
Absent
0
Excused
0
Conflict
0

Yes 27

Anderson JD S02Anderson JL S28Bernadine CraftS12Bill LandenR · S27Bruce Burns Jr.S21Cale CaseR · S25Charles ScottR · S30Chris RothfussD · S09Dan DockstaderR · S16Drew A PerkinsS29Eli D BeboutS26Floyd EsquibelS08Fred M EmerichS05Gerald E GeisS20Henry R CoeS18John C SchifferS22John HastertS13John J HinesS23Leland G ChristensenS17Leslie J NuttingS07Michael J Mr. Von FlaternS24Nicholas POgden DriskillR · S01Paul R BarnardS15Stan CooperS14Tony RossS04Wayne H JohnsonS06

No 3

Curtis MeierS03Larry HicksR · S11Ray R PetersonS19

Official activity

Bill history

  1. S Failed 3rd ReadingSenate
  2. S Passed 2nd ReadingSenate
  3. Amendment AdoptedSenate
  4. S Passed CoWSenate
  5. S Amendments AdoptedSenate
  6. Amendment AdoptedSenate
  7. S Placed on General FileSenate
  8. S01 Recommended Amend and Do PassSenate
  9. S Introduced and Referred to S01Senate
  10. S Received for IntroductionSenate
  11. Bill Number AssignedLSO

Changes

Amendments

2 stored

SF0040S2001

Adopted 2nd reading by HICKS

SF0040SS001

Adopted Standing Committee by S01