COLUMBIA, S.C. - Six bills pending in the General Assembly seek to provide services more quickly to the mentally ill and people addicted to drugs.

Supporters say the bills would streamline procedures and give judges new powers to deal with the mentally ill and drug dependent. They would better coordinate the efforts of police, courts, hospitals and other care facilities that come into contact with the mentally ill or drug dependent.

"It just asks for new and improved thinking," said Richland County Probate Judge Amy McCulloch, co-chairwoman of South Carolina Partners in Crisis, a group that advocates on behalf of the mentally ill.

One proposal would give police the authority to take people they pick up - those who appear to be mentally ill or drug dependent - to a mental health treatment facility instead of jail. That "diversion" rule would apply even if the person in custody was accused of a victimless crime, such as vagrancy or urinating in public.

"These individuals deserve better treatment than they can currently get under our system," said Rep. Jim Harrison, R-Columbia, chief sponsor of the bills.

Advocates say the practice of taking the mentally ill to jail without treatment has created problems because the sick are not helped and law enforcement resources are drained.

The diversion proposal also stipulates that if the offender is not examined within 24 hours, he must be set free.

The bill provides limited immunity for law officers and medical personnel who provide the transportation. Advocates say that immunity is important because the threat of being held liable in a later civil action is what often keeps police from taking someone in their custody to a treatment facility.

Richland County Sheriff Leon Lott, who co-chairs the Partners in Crisis group with McCulloch, has been taking that risk already.

"We just do it," he said. "I assume the responsibility. It's not a crime to be mentally ill. Right now, we're treating them like they're criminals."

Other proposals in the package would:

_ Allow probate judges to free the mentally ill from custody before a commitment hearing if two examiners say the person no longer requires emergency treatment. This would make more beds available to those who need them.

_ Allow mental evaluations to take place at community centers, when possible. This would reduce the number of children and adolescents admitted to the psychiatric hospital on Bull Street in Columbia.

_ Strengthen requirements that patients get continuous outpatient treatment. If the person fails to follow outpatient treatment schedules, a court could return the patient to inpatient status, supporters say.