A bill pending in the Alabama Legislature would allow probate judges to consider someone’s substance abuse disorder along with mental illness when deciding involuntary commitments to state facilities.

Senate Bill 240 is the request and work of the Association of County Commissions of Alabama. It does not allow for people to be committed solely because of addiction, but when it’s co-occurring with mental health issues.

“What it does is allow the probate judge to say, this person is exhibiting these other issues,” said ACCA Executive Director Sonny Brasfield. “Let’s focus on those too.”