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 professionals who can examine the respondent to include psychologists and medical psychologists, and it specifies that the examination for the Physician's Report must occur within ten days before or after the petition is filed.

Furthermore, the bill modifies the requirements for the court's order regarding involuntary outpatient treatment. It allows for the possibility of a written treatment plan not being approved, giving the court discretion in ordering a service provider to provide a plan within thirty days. The language also shifts from mandatory to permissive in several instances, such as regarding the inclusion of case management services and the court's authority to order treatment plans. Overall, these amendments aim to streamline the process and ensure that respondents' rights are upheld while addressing their mental health needs.

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)