SB1082: Voluntary and involuntary commitment; Executive Secretary of Supreme Court to prepare petitions.

SENATE BILL NO. 1082
Offered January 14, 2009
Prefiled January 13, 2009
A BILL to amend and reenact 37.2-801 of the Code of Virginia, relating to voluntary and involuntary commitment; forms.
Patron-- Howell

Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That 37.2-801 of the Code of Virginia is amended and reenacted as follows:

37.2-801. Admission procedures; forms.

A. Any person alleged to have a mental illness to a degree that warrants treatment in a facility may be admitted to a facility by compliance with one of the following admission procedures:

1. Voluntary admission by the procedure described in 37.2-805, or

2. Involuntary admission by the procedure described in 37.2-809 through 37.2-820.

B. The BoardOffice of the Executive Secretary of the Supreme Court of Virginia shall prescribe and the Department shall prepare the petitions, orders, and such other legal forms as may be required in procedures for custody, detention, and involuntary admission. These forms, which shall be the legal forms used in admissions, shall be approved by the Attorney General and distributed by the Department pursuant to Articles 4 ( 37.2-808 et seq.) and 5 ( 37.2-814 et seq.) of Chapter 8, and shall distribute such forms to the clerks of the general district courts and juvenile and domestic relations district courts of the Commonwealth and to the directors of the state facilities. The Department shall prepare the preadmission screening report, examination, and such other clinical forms as may be required in proceedings for custody, detention, and admission pursuant to 37.2-805, and Articles 4 ( 37.2-808 et seq.) and 5 ( 37.2-814 et seq.) of Chapter 8, and shall distribute such forms to community services boards, mental health care providers, and directors of state facilities.