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make an appropriation to provide grants for the creation of regional crisis diversion centers and to declare an emergency.

HB 1270 provides state funding for grants to create regional crisis diversion centers—facilities designed to help people experiencing mental health or substance use crises as an alternative to emergency rooms or jail. The bill amends existing law governing mental health services and crisis programs to establish how these centers will be funded and operated across South Dakota regions.

revise certain provisions regarding the health professionals assistance program.

This bill revises South Dakota's health professionals assistance program to clarify that it serves health professionals whose mental health or substance abuse issues prevent them from practicing safely, and it updates the definition of "impaired" to specifically reference unmanaged mental health and substance use disorders. The changes also restructure how the program's key terms are numbered and defined in state law, making the language more consistent and precise about what conditions qualify professionals for assistance rather than disciplinary action.

revise the penalty for the ingestion of certain controlled substances.

This bill reduces the penalty for possessing Schedule III or IV controlled substances in your body from a Class 6 felony to a Class 1 misdemeanor for first-time offenders. The penalties for Schedule I or II substances (Class 5 felony) and repeat offenses remain unchanged, but this gives judges more flexibility in sentencing for less serious drugs while still requiring drug evaluation and treatment as conditions of probation.

provide protection for actions assisting an impaired lawyer or judge.

South Dakota law creates immunity from lawsuits for people who help a lawyer or judge get treatment for substance abuse, gambling addiction, or medical conditions that impair their ability to practice law or judge fairly. The law protects those who report concerns about an impaired lawyer or judge to the State Bar or courts, as long as they act in good faith to help the person get help rather than to cause harm. Healthcare providers who are paid for their treatment services are excluded from this immunity protection.

make an appropriation for behavioral and mental health service support in crisis stabilization and to declare an emergency.

SB 186 appropriates state funding to support behavioral and mental health services focused on crisis stabilization programs. The bill repeals an existing statute (§7-8-16) and declares an emergency to allow the funding to take effect immediately rather than following the normal delayed implementation process.