HARM TO SELF & OTHERS DEFINITIONS

SB 9 amends New Mexico's Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Code to provide clearer definitions for "harm to self" and "harm to others." These definitions determine when an individual may be subject to involuntary commitment or treatment by establishing specific criteria, such as a reasonable probability of serious physical debilitation or a likelihood of inflicting serious bodily harm on another person. The bill also clarifies related terms like "aversive stimuli" and "grave passive neglect" to guide how mental health professionals and courts evaluate a person's need for care. By updating these legal definitions, the legislation aims to standardize the language used in commitment procedures and ensure that interventions are based on consistent, written standards.