A bill that would allow licensed professional counselors in Georgia to involuntarily commit to an institution for 72 hours patients who appear to be mentally ill and a danger has cleared another hurdle.
Doctors, clinical social workers, psychologists and other health care professionals can already involuntarily commit patients who they consider to be a risk of hurting themselves or others. A House of Representatives health committee Wednesday approved Senate Bill 65, which would expand that authority to licensed professional counselors.
Supporters of the legislation, which is sponsored by Sen. Renee Unterman, R-Buford, say it would fill a critical need in rural areas of Georgia that don’t have enough mental health professionals. The lack of those professionals, they say, can put patients at risk by delaying or hindering care.
Georgia has roughly 4,800 licensed professional counselors.
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