PAs Included in Quick Action to Prevent Gun Violence
PAs Included in Quick Action to Prevent Gun Violence
Michigan Red Flag Bills Become Law
On May 22nd of this year Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed Senate Bill 83, Michigan’s red flag law, known as Extreme Risk Protection Orders (ERPO). Michigan is the 21st State to pass such legislation and it is expected to go into effect in the Spring of 2024. The new legislative leaders are moving some of their high-priority issues in record speed with limited time for stakeholder input.
Michigan’s ERPO Law will allow family members, police, mental health professionals, roommates and former dating partners to petition a judge to remove firearms from those they believe pose an imminent threat to themselves or others. The judge would have 24 hours to decide on a protection order after a request is filed. If granted, the judge would then have 14 days to set a hearing during which the flagged person would have to prove they do not pose a significant risk. A standard order would last for one year.
“It will allow family members, police, mental health professionals….……to petition a judge”. The key term here is “mental health professionals”.
Michigan PAs following MAPA’s efforts since 2016 understand that even though thousands of us provide access to psychiatric medicine/behavioral health in Michigan; PAs are not considered mental health providers in Michigan’s Mental Health Code (MHC) – which, you will see, creates problems.
MAPA Executive Director and Lobbyist Thadd Gormas noticed that the ERPO bills just referenced Mental Health Professionals thus excluding PAsWith our quick action combined with receptive legislative sponsors, we were able to add a last minute amendment. This Law allows for the profession of ‘Physician’s Assistant’ to be one of the listed professions or persons allowed to utilize an extreme risk protection order.
Of note, the Michigan bills Governor Whitmer just signed into law banning “Conversion Therapy” do not include PAs while referencing “Mental Health Professionals”. MAPA supported the bills and requested that PAs be included. Legislative sponsors were not inclined to include PAs throughout their process. The result is that PAs are now the only qualified mental health professionals permitted to provide this type of therapy.
At the March 2023 meeting of the Michigan Academy of Physician Assistants Board of Directors, the Board supported a comprehensive approach to empower PAs and our patients to prevent gun violence. Gun violence is a high-priority public health issue. We support evidence-based solutions to reduce the risks of anyone experiencing gun violence.
- MAPA Issued a Gun Violence Prevention Statement
- Safe Storage Laws Punish Owners if Kids Use Guns
- Background Checks Now Required for Long Guns Too
- Prohibition on Conversion Therapy Excludes PAs
Review MAPA’s Gun Violence Prevention Statement which highlights specific areas that deserve focus from and support for Michigan PAs which may be implemented in your practice.