The proposed bill amends sections 36-533 and 36-539 of the Arizona Revised Statutes, specifically regarding the procedures for mental health evaluations and hearings. Under the new bill, in counties with populations under 500,000, the requirement for affidavits is modified to allow for one physician's affidavit alongside either a physician assistant experienced in psychiatric matters or a psychiatric and mental health nurse practitioner. Additionally, the bill emphasizes that each physician's observations and studies must be included in the affidavits, along with a summary of facts supporting the petition and relevant physical examination results.

Furthermore, the bill clarifies the hearing process by specifying that the testimony must come from the evaluating physicians rather than other health professionals. It maintains the requirement for the patient's attorney to be present and allows for the cross-examination of witnesses. The bill also stipulates that the evaluating physicians must provide detailed testimony regarding the patient's condition, including the nature of any danger posed and the need for treatment, guardianship, or conservatorship. Overall, the changes streamline the evaluation process and clarify the roles of the involved health professionals.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 36-533, 36-539, 13-4517, 14-5312.01, 36-535