Involuntary commitment hearing; upon request, district court judge, etc. may restrict attendance. (HB2156)

Introduced By

Del. David Toscano (D-Charlottesville)

Progress

Introduced
Passed Committee
Passed House
Passed Senate
Signed by Governor
Became Law

Description

Involuntary commitment; place of hearing. Provides that, upon the request of the respondent or his attorney, a district court judge or special justice may restrict attendance at an involuntary commitment hearing to persons whose participation is required for proper conduct of the hearing and those whose presence is requested by the respondent upon a finding that (i) such restriction is necessary to protect the respondent's health, safety, or privacy and (ii) the respondent's interest in the restriction outweighs the public's interest in attendance by any person who would be excluded. Read the Bill »

Outcome

Bill Has Failed

History

DateAction
01/14/2009Committee
01/14/2009Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/14/09 093153528
01/14/2009Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice
01/20/2009Assigned Courts sub: Mental Health
02/02/2009Subcommittee recommends reporting with amendment(s)
02/02/2009Assigned Courts sub: Criminal
02/04/2009Subcommittee recommends reporting with amendment(s)
02/06/2009Reported from Courts of Justice with substitute (10-Y 12-N)
02/06/2009Failed to report (defeated) in Courts of Justice (10-Y 12-N) (see vote tally)

Duplicate Bills

The following bills are identical to this one: SB1080.

Comments

Alison Hymes writes:

Commitment hearings were opened up for good reason by the General Assembly in the '90's. Secret courts can not long be fair courts and abuses will occur if the public including the press and advocates can not keep an eye on the process as it unfolds. The respondent can already request to have the hearing closed, giving special justices this power and attorneys is a very bad idea that will put us back where we were years ago and is anti-American.

Alison Hymes writes:

Thank you House Courts of Justice for preventing abuses of the commitment process and not allowing secret courts in Virginia!