The bill amends section 25-03.1-26 of the North Dakota Century Code, which pertains to the emergency mental health petition process. Key changes include the requirement for public treatment facilities to immediately accept applications for individuals under emergency commitment, while private facilities may accept them provisionally. The timeframe for the required examination has been extended from twenty-four hours to seventy-two hours after admission, with the stipulation that the examination must occur as medically necessary. Additionally, the language has been updated to replace terms like "person" with "individual" for clarity and consistency.

Furthermore, the bill outlines the responsibilities of the superintendent or director following the examination, including the options to release the individual if they do not meet emergency commitment standards or to file a petition with the court. The bill also specifies that upon receiving the petition, a magistrate must set a preliminary hearing date within four days, excluding weekends and holidays, unless certain conditions apply. This legislation is declared an emergency measure, indicating its urgency for implementation.

Statutes affected:
INTRODUCED: 25-03.1-26
Adopted by the Senate Human Services Committee: 25-03.1-26
FIRST ENGROSSMENT: 25-03.1-26
Enrollment: 25-03.1-26