This bill proposes several updates to the current statutes regarding court-ordered evaluations. Notably, it introduces new language that clarifies the responsibilities of the screening agency and the medical director in relation to the timing of evaluations and court filings. Specifically, it mandates that the screening agency must log the receipt of applications and act within forty-eight hours, with the reasons for any delays reviewed by the agency's director. Additionally, it stipulates that filing with the court must occur within seventy-two hours after a patient’s admission, excluding weekends and holidays.

The bill also modifies the language surrounding the release of patients evaluated on an inpatient basis. It specifies that patients must be released within seventy-two hours after hospitalization unless they voluntarily seek further treatment or a petition for court-ordered treatment is filed. Furthermore, it requires the medical director to provide a written statement justifying the decision not to pursue further evaluation, which must be filed with the court and included in the patient's medical record. Overall, these changes aim to streamline the evaluation process and ensure timely legal and medical documentation.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 36-520, 36-530, 36-531, 36-521, 8-327, 13-501, 36-512, 36-513