The bill amends and reenacts 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 is to be conducted 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 procedures following the acceptance of a petition, including the setting of a preliminary hearing by a magistrate within four days of detention, barring certain exceptions. The magistrate is also mandated to appoint counsel for the respondent if they have not retained one. This legislation is declared an emergency measure, indicating its immediate necessity 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