Chief Patron

Sen. Henry Marsh (D-Richmond)

Henry Marsh (D-Richmond)
Served: 1992–

Status

02/13/2008: Failed to Pass in Committee
View Entire History

Summary

Mental health; assisted outpatient treatment.  Establishes a program of assisted outpatient treatment for the severely mentally ill. The bill authorizes assisted outpatient treatment for persons previously hospitalized due to noncompliance with prescribed psychiatric treatment, who would be likely to meet the criteria for inpatient commitment without treatment. The bill requires that a specific written treatment plan be prepared by the community services board that gives consideration to the treatment preferences of the individual and explicitly bars the forcible administration of medication. The bill also authorizes a magistrate to issue a temporary detention order for an individual who fails to comply with an outpatient treatment order without good cause. The bill limits the duration of the court order to 180 days or less, and provides the person with procedural protections, including the right to an adversary hearing, the right to counsel, the right to an appeal, and the right to a jury trial on appeal.