Outpatient examination and commitment length.

Plain English Breakdown

The official bill summary does not provide details about what happens if a qualified reviewer cannot complete their examination within seven days or how additional examiners will be trained and certified.

Expanding Mental Health Examiner List

This law changes who can perform mental health exams for people needing involuntary hospitalization, adding nurse practitioners and physician assistants with specific training.

What This Bill Does

• Changes the list of professionals allowed to conduct outpatient mental health examinations.
• Adds licensed psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioners and certain physician assistants to the list of examiners.
• Limits the time for completing these mental health examinations to seven days from when notice is given.

Who It Names or Affects

• People who may need involuntary hospitalization due to mental illness.
• Healthcare professionals involved in conducting mental health exams.

Terms To Know

Involuntary Hospitalization

When a person is admitted to a psychiatric facility against their will because they are considered a danger to themselves or others due to mental illness.

Licensed Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner

A nurse practitioner with specialized training in diagnosing and treating mental health conditions.

Limits and Unknowns

• The law does not specify how the additional examiners will be trained or certified.
• It is unclear what happens if a qualified reviewer cannot complete their examination within seven days.

Official Summary Text

Bill Summary - 26LSO-0239

Bill No.:

SF0023

Effective:

7/1/2026

LSO No.:

26LSO-0239

Enrolled Act No.:

SEA No. 0060

Chapter No.:

80

Prime Sponsor:

Schuler

Catch Title:

Outpatient examination and commitment length.

Has Report:

No

Subject:

Individuals qualified to conduct outpatient examinations for psychiatric detentions.

Summary/Major Elements:

This act expands the list of authorized individuals who may conduct outpatient examinations as part of involuntary psychiatric detentions. The list of authorized individuals now includes licensed advance practice registered nurses, licensed physician assistants, licensed psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioners and licensed physician assistants with the proper education, training and experience.

The above summary is not an official publication of the Wyoming Legislature and is not an official statement of legislative intent.

While the Legislative Service Office endeavored to provide accurate information in this summary, it should not be relied upon as a comprehensive abstract of the bill.

Current Bill Text

26LSO-0239

ORIGINAL Senate

ENGROSSED
File No
.
SF0023

ENROLLED ACT NO. 60,

SENATE

SIXTY-EIGHTH LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WYOMING
2026 Budget Session

AN ACT relating to public health and safety; amending provisions related to the involuntary hospitalization of mentally ill persons; expanding the list of examiners qualified to perform involuntary hospitalization examinations; and providing for an effective date.

Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Wyoming:

Section 1
.

W.S. 25
‑
10
‑
110(e) is amended to read:

25
‑
10
‑
110.

Involuntary hospitalization proceedings.

(e)

The court shall appoint one (1) or more examiners to examine the proposed patient and to make a written report to the court of the findings as to the history and mental illness of the proposed patient. The court may order the proposed patient to appear for examination and if the proposed patient does not appear the court may compel his appearance. The examination shall be held at a hospital, a medical facility, the home of the proposed patient or any other suitable place which will not have a harmful effect on
his
the patient's
health. The examination shall be conducted no later than seven (7) days from the date of the notice.

If the examination is conducted by an examiner other than a licensed physician,
a
licensed psychiatrist
, a licensed advanced practice registered nurse, a licensed physician assistant
or
a
licensed psychologist, the court shall appoint
one (1) of the following persons,
a licensed physician,
a
licensed psychiatrist
, a licensed psychiatric‑mental health nurse practitioner, a licensed physician assistant with documented education, training and experience in psychiatric or mental health assessment and diagnosis
or
a
licensed psychologist to review the findings of the examiner and conduct a further examination, if indicated, and to report to the court.

Section 2
.

This act is effective July 1, 2026
.

(END)

Speaker of the House

President of the Senate

Governor

TIME APPROVED: _________

DATE APPROVED: _________

I hereby certify that this act originated in the Senate.

Chief Clerk

1