Boyle County to pilot $50,000 fund to ease barriers to involuntary substance‑use petitions

The Boyle County Fiscal Court voted May 26 to pursue a pilot program that would use opioid settlement funds to reduce cost barriers for families seeking involuntary treatment under Casey’s Law.

Judge Trilly Elbottom described Casey’s Law as a district‑court procedure that allows concerned family members or others to petition for involuntary treatment when someone poses a danger to themselves or others. She and county officials said attorney fees, court filing costs and evaluation fees often discourage petitioners from initiating the process.

"There may also be an opportunity here to put some procedures into place — to put a cap on some of these attorney fees or some guide rails — and that would hopefully promote more of these petitions coming before the court," Elbottom said, asking the court to consider a one‑time $50,000 pool and to seek a $25,000 match from the city of Danville.

Attorney Heron, who took questions about the process, and counselor Jessica (a local counselor who spoke at the meeting) described the start‑up costs families might face: clerk filing fees, two required evaluations (medical and psychological), and repeated hearings if the respondent leaves treatment. Jessica said the paperwork is "like this thick" and, together with fees, can stop families before they file.

Magistrates supported creating a narrowly defined pilot rather than an open entitlement. The court asked county staff and counsel to draft eligibility rules, caps for attorney compensation and a means‑testing approach so the fund targets people who cannot otherwise afford the start‑up costs. The motion carried by voice vote.

County Treasurer Shannon told the court opioid settlement funds are available in reserve and staff said the pilot would be set up in the 2026–27 budget year to allow time to write detailed program parameters.

The court emphasized that the pilot is intended to remove financial hurdles at the outset — filing fees, limited evaluation costs and partial attorney support — while guardrails will be used to avoid creating perverse incentives for increased legal fees. The judge and staff said they will report back with proposed guidelines and a plan for the requested city match.

Next steps: staff and county counsel will prepare program guidelines (caps and means testing) and present them to the court for approval; if adopted, funding would be added to the 2026–27 budget.