Relating to preliminary examination periods for mental health protective custody.

HB 1239 increases the maximum preliminary examination period for individuals placed in mental health protective custody from 48 hours to 120 hours. This change directly affects people detained under emergency mental health holds, allowing facilities to hold them longer while awaiting a formal evaluation. The bill specifies that the 120-hour period includes time spent waiting for medical care before the examination and extends detention until 4 p.m. on the next business day if the period ends on a weekend, holiday, or before 4 p.m. It also permits an additional 24-hour extension during extreme weather or disasters, requiring a written emergency declaration. The law applies to detentions beginning on or after September 1, 2025.