HB937: Involuntary outpatient treatment; disclosure of medical information.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
1. That § 37.2-817 of the Code of Virginia is amended and reenacted as follows:
§ 37.2-817. Involuntary admission and outpatient treatment orders.
A. The district court judge or special justice shall render a decision on the petition for involuntary admission after the appointed examiner has presented his report, orally or in writing, pursuant to § 37.2-815 and after the community services board or behavioral health authority that serves the county or city where the person resides or, if impractical, where the person is located has presented a preadmission screening report, orally or in writing, with recommendations for that person's placement, care, and treatment pursuant to § 37.2-816. These reports, if not contested, may constitute sufficient evidence upon which the district court judge or special justice may base his decision.
B. After observing the person and obtaining the necessary positive certification and considering any other relevant evidence that may have been offered, if the judge or special justice finds by clear and convincing evidence that (i) the person presents an imminent danger to himself or others as a result of mental illness or has been proven to be so seriously mentally ill as to be substantially unable to care for himself and (ii) alternatives to involuntary inpatient treatment have been investigated and deemed unsuitable and there is no less restrictive alternative to involuntary inpatient treatment, the judge or special justice shall by written order and specific findings so certify and order that the person be admitted involuntarily to a facility for a period of treatment not to exceed 180 days from the date of the court order. Such involuntary admission shall be to a facility designated by the community services board or behavioral health authority that serves the city or county in which the person was examined as provided in § 37.2-816. If the community services board or behavioral health authority does not designate a facility at the commitment hearing, the person shall be involuntarily admitted to a facility designated by the Commissioner. The person shall be released at the expiration of 180 days unless he is involuntarily admitted by further petition and order of a court or such person makes application for treatment on a voluntary basis as provided for in § 37.2-805.
C. After observing the person and obtaining the necessary
positive certification and considering any other relevant evidence that may
have been offered, if the judge or special justice finds by clear and
convincing evidence that (i) the person presents an imminent danger to himself
or others as a result of mental illness or has been proven to be so seriously
mentally ill as to be substantially unable to care for himself, (ii) less
restrictive alternatives to involuntary inpatient treatment have been
investigated and are deemed suitable, (iii) the person (a) has the degree of
competency necessary to understand the stipulations of his treatment, (b)
expresses an interest in living in the community and agrees to abide by his
treatment plan, and (c) is deemed to have the capacity to comply with the treatment
plan, and (iv) the ordered treatment can be delivered on an outpatient basis
and be monitored by the community services board, behavioral health authority
or designated provider, the judge or special justice shall order outpatient
treatment, which may include day treatment in a hospital, night treatment in a
hospital, outpatient involuntary treatment with anti-psychotic medication
pursuant to Chapter 11 (§ 37.2-1100 et seq.), or other appropriate course of
treatment as may be necessary to meet the needs of the person. The community
services board or behavioral health authority that serves the city or county in
which the person resides shall recommend a specific course of treatment and
programs for the provision of involuntary outpatient treatment. The community
services board, behavioral health authority, or designated provider shall
monitor the person's compliance with the treatment ordered by the court under
this section,. Any health care
provider as defined in § 32.1-127.1:03, or any other person providing services
under this section, shall, upon request, disclose to a magistrate, a court, the
person's attorney, an employee or designee of a community services board or
behavioral health authority, or a law-enforcement officer, any and all information,
including medical records, of the individual
necessary and appropriate to determine the person's compliance with an
outpatient treatment order. and theThe
person's failure to comply with involuntary outpatient treatment as ordered by
the court may be admitted into evidence in subsequent hearings held pursuant to
the provisions of this section. Upon failure of the person to adhere to the
terms of the outpatient treatment order, the judge or special justice may
revoke it and, upon notice to the person and after a commitment hearing, order
involuntary admission to a facility.