House amendment #1 further amends GS 122C-236.1(a), which authorizes the Secretary of Health and Human Services to waive the requirements of the currently specified statutes when the Secretary has received a request from an LME to substitute a listed or previously proposed professional for a physician or eligible psychologist to conduct the initial examinations for the involuntary commitment of individuals with a mental illness or substance use disorder. Adds a new subdivision to require that the professionals referenced in subsection (a) that are performing the examination are prohibited from being related by blood or marriage to the individuals meeting the criteria for examination.