Kentucky legislation · 2026 Regular Session
Kentucky HB691: AN ACT relating to the medical treatment of high acuity youth.
Status: In committee, March 13, 2026
Create a new section of KRS Chapter 200 to define terms; establish procedures for a child charged with a public offense or subject to a court order to determine if the child is a high acuity youth; establish procedures for securing a treatment plan, and dispute resolution through a review process and the court if the parties cannot agree to a plan; require a 24-hour protocol for health facilities, the Cabinet for Health and Family Services, the Department of Juvenile Justice, and the courts to direct care; establish reimbursement rates for inpatient and outpatient psychiatric care of a child by psychiatric hospitals and pediatric teaching hospitals; establish procedures for discharge of the child from inpatient admission under specific circumstances.
What the bill says
An act relating to the medical treatment of high acuity youth.
From the introduced text:
AN ACT relating to the medical treatment of high acuity youth. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Kentucky: SECTION 1. A NEW SECTION OF KRS CHAPTER 200 IS CREATED TO READ AS FOLLOWS: (1) As used in this section: (a) "Behavioral assessment" means an evaluation of a child by a clinical professional, which may occur in person, remotely, or through the review of clinical records; (b) "Clinical professional" means a licensed clinician employed by, or associated with, an inpatient psychiatric hospital or pediatric teaching hospital, who is qualified to make a clinical determination whether a child meets criteria for admission to an inpatient psychiatric hospital or pediatric teaching hospital for inpatient psychiatric care; (c) "Department" means the Department for Behavioral Health, Developmental and Intellectual Disabilities; (d) "High acuity youth" means a child who has been determined by a clinical professional, following a behavioral assessment, to need an environment and specialized treatment capable of addressing manifest aggression, violence toward persons, or property destruction; (e) "Inpatient psychiatric hospital" means a hospital, other than a state mental hospital, that is licensed pursuant to KRS Chapter 216B to provide inpatient psychiatric services; and (f) "Pediatric teaching hospital" has the same meaning as in KRS 205.565. (2) A child who is charged with a public offense or subject to a …
Sponsors
- Stephanie Dietz (R, HD-065) · primary sponsor
Latest actions
- : returned to Families & Children (H)
- : 1st reading
- : taken from Families & Children (H)
- : to Families & Children (H)
- : to Committee on Committees (H)
- : introduced in House
Subjects: Criminal Procedure, Children And Minors, Courts, District, Health And Medical Services, Court, Supreme, Corrections Impact, Mental Health
Common questions
- What is HB691?
- HB691 is a bill in the Kentucky Legislature (2026 Regular Session): AN ACT relating to the medical treatment of high acuity youth.
- What does HB691 do?
- In its own words: An act relating to the medical treatment of high acuity youth.
- What is the status of HB691?
- In committee as of March 13, 2026. Latest action: returned to Families & Children (H) (March 13, 2026).
- Who sponsored HB691?
- Stephanie Dietz (R, HD-065).
- Where is the official record for HB691?
- On the Kentucky Legislature website: https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/record/26rs/hb691.html
Source: official Kentucky record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.