The bill amends various sections of Louisiana's laws regarding involuntary outpatient mental health treatment, specifically focusing on the procedures for filing petitions, conducting hearings, and developing treatment plans. Key changes include allowing petitions to be filed in the judicial district where the respondent resides, as well as where they are present. The timeline for court hearings has been adjusted from eighteen to thirty days after the petition is filed. Additionally, the bill expands the qualifications for examiners to include psychologists and medical psychologists, and it mandates that the examining professional must testify at the hearing regarding the recommended treatment.

Further amendments include the possibility of consulting with the respondent's treating professionals and the requirement for a written treatment plan to be provided by the service provider within thirty days if the court finds the respondent meets the criteria for involuntary treatment. The bill also clarifies that services may include case management and emphasizes that involuntary treatment should be the least restrictive alternative. Overall, these changes aim to enhance the legal framework surrounding involuntary outpatient treatment while ensuring the rights of respondents are protected throughout the process.

Statutes affected:
SB231 Original: 28:68(A), 28:69(A)(1), 28:70(D)(1), 28:71(C)
SB231 Engrossed: 28:68(A), 28:69(A)(1), 28:70(D)(1), 28:71(C)
SB231 Reengrossed: 28:68(A), 28:69(A)(1), 28:70(D)(1), 28:71(C)
SB231 Enrolled: 28:68(A), 28:69(A)(1), 28:70(D)(1), 28:71(C)
SB231 Act : 28:68(A), 28:69(A)(1), 28:70(D)(1), 28:71(C)