ARIZONA STATE SENATE

MICHAEL MADDEN

LEGISLATIVE RESEARCH ANALYST

HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE

Telephone: (602) 926-3171

RESEARCH STAFF

TO:                  MEMBERS OF THE SENATE

HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE

DATE:            February 16, 2026

SUBJECT:      Strike everything amendment to S.B. 1813, relating to state hospital; bed availability

Purpose

Requires the Arizona State Hospital (ASH) to admit patients based on clinical need, prohibits ASH from limiting admission based on a patient’s county of residence and requires patients admitted to ASH to be United States citizens.

Background

ASH is a 260-bed facility, operated and regulated by the Department of Health Services (DHS), that provides long-term inpatient psychiatric care to individuals with mental illnesses, personality disorders or emotional conditions who are admitted civil commitment proceedings or other court orders. Treatment at ASH is considered the highest and most restrictive level of mental health care in Arizona. Patients are admitted as a result of an inability to be treated in a community facility or due to the patients' legal status (DHS).

ASH applies a 55-bed limitation to Maricopa County civil hospital admissions under the Arnold v. Sarn Exit Stipulation. The remaining civil hospital beds are allocated to patients from other counties and tribal communities (DHS)

If there is a cost associated with removing a limit on patient admission to ASH, there may be a fiscal impact to the state General Fund.

Provisions

1. Requires ASH to admit patients based on clinical need for treatment.

2. Prohibits ASH from limiting admission based on a patient's county of residence.

3. Requires individuals admitted to ASH to be U.S. citizens.

4. Makes conforming changes.

5. Becomes effective on the general effective date.