The proposed bill would amend current statutes regarding court-ordered evaluations by clarifying the responsibilities of counties and the timelines for evaluations. Specifically, it would establish that a county's responsibility for a person undergoing a court-ordered evaluation continues until the evaluation period concludes, which occurs when a petition for court-ordered treatment is filed, the individual agrees to voluntary treatment, or the individual is released from evaluation. Additionally, the bill mandates that a petition for court-ordered treatment must be filed within 72 hours of the completion of the evaluation, excluding weekends and holidays, unless the individual is released or admitted voluntarily.

Furthermore, the bill introduces specific exclusions for weekends and holidays in various procedural timelines, such as the requirement for the screening agency to act on applications for evaluations and the review of reasons for delays. It also clarifies that the petition for court-ordered treatment must be filed on the same or succeeding court day after determining that the patient poses a danger to themselves or others, or has a persistent or acute disability. Overall, these updates aim to streamline the evaluation process while ensuring that individuals receive timely assessments and appropriate care.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 36-520, 36-530, 36-531, 36-521, 8-327, 13-501, 36-512, 36-513
House Engrossed Version: 36-520, 36-530, 36-531, 36-521, 8-327, 13-501, 36-512, 36-513
Senate Engrossed Version: 36-520, 36-530, 36-531, 36-545.06, 36-521, 8-327, 13-501, 36-512, 36-513, 13-4517, 15-765, 15-766
Chaptered Version: 36-520, 36-530, 36-531, 36-545.06, 36-521, 8-327, 13-501, 36-512, 36-513, 13-4517, 15-765, 15-766