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2007 SESSION
072415756Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
1. That §§ 37.2-505, 37.2-802, 37.2-817, 37.2-820 and 37.2-821 of the Code of Virginia are amended and reenacted and that the Code of Virginia is amended by adding in Chapter 8 of Title 37.2 an article numbered 5.1 , consisting of sections numbered 37.2-828.10 through 37.2-828.17 as follows:
§ 37.2-505. Coordination of services for preadmission screening and discharge planning.
A. The community services board shall fulfill the following responsibilities:
1. Be responsible for coordinating the community services necessary to accomplish effective preadmission screening and discharge planning for persons referred to the community services board. When preadmission screening reports are required by the court on an emergency basis pursuant to Article 5 (§ 37.2-814 et seq.) of Chapter 8, the community services board shall ensure the development of the report for the court. To accomplish this coordination, the community services board shall establish a structure and procedures involving staff from the community services board and, as appropriate, representatives from (i) the state hospital or training center serving the board's service area, (ii) the local department of social services, (iii) the health department, (iv) the Department of Rehabilitative Services office in the board's service area, (v) the local school division, and (vi) other public and private human services agencies, including licensed hospitals.
2. Provide preadmission screening services prior to the admission for treatment pursuant to § 37.2-805 or Article 5 (§ 37.2-814 et seq.) of Chapter 8 of any person who requires emergency mental health services while in a city or county served by the community services board.
3. Provide, in consultation with the appropriate state hospital or training center, discharge planning for any person who, prior to admission, resided in a city or county served by the community services board or who chooses to reside after discharge in a city or county served by the board and who is to be released from a state hospital or training center pursuant to § 37.2-837. The discharge plan shall be completed prior to the person's discharge. The plan shall be prepared with the involvement and participation of the consumer or his representative and must reflect the consumer's preferences to the greatest extent possible. The plan shall include the mental health, mental retardation, substance abuse, social, educational, medical, employment, housing, legal, advocacy, transportation, and other services that the consumer will need upon discharge into the community and identify the public or private agencies that have agreed to provide these services.
4. Provide a written plan for assisted outpatient treatment and monitor compliance with that plan for any person who requires such mental health services pursuant to Article 5.1 (§ 37.2-828.10 et seq.) of Chapter 8 of this title.
No person shall be discharged from a state hospital or training center without completion by the community services board of the discharge plan described in this subdivision. If state hospital or training center staff identify a consumer as ready for discharge and the community services board that is responsible for the person's care disagrees, the community services board shall document in the treatment plan within 30 days of the person's identification any reasons for not accepting the person for discharge. If the state hospital or training center disagrees with the community services board and the board refuses to develop a discharge plan to accept the person back into the community, the state hospital or training center or the community services board shall ask the Commissioner to review the state hospital's or training center's determination that the person is ready for discharge in accordance with procedures established by the Department in collaboration with state hospitals, training centers, and community services boards. If the Commissioner determines that the person is ready for discharge, a discharge plan shall be developed by the Department to ensure the availability of adequate services for the consumer and the protection of the community. The Commissioner also shall verify that sufficient state-controlled funds have been allocated to the community services board through the performance contract. If sufficient state-controlled funds have been allocated, the Commissioner may contract with a private provider, another community services board, or a behavioral health authority to deliver the services specified in the discharge plan and withhold allocated funds applicable to that consumer's discharge plan from the community services board in accordance with subsections C and E of § 37.2-508.
B. The community services board may perform the functions set out in subdivision A 1 in the case of children by referring them to the locality's family assessment and planning team and by cooperating with the community policy and management team in the coordination of services for troubled youths and their families. The community services board may involve the family assessment and planning team and the community policy and management team, but it remains responsible for performing the functions set out in subdivisions A 2 and A 3 in the case of children.
§ 37.2-802. Interpreters in admission or certification proceedings.
A. In any proceeding pursuant to § 37.2-806 or,
§§ 37.2-809 through 37.2-820, or Article 5.1 (§ 37.2-828.10
et seq.) of this chapter
in which a person who is deaf is alleged to have mental retardation or mental
illness, an interpreter for the person shall be appointed by the district court
judge or special justice before whom the proceeding is pending from a list of
qualified interpreters provided by the Department for the Deaf and
Hard-of-Hearing. The interpreter shall be compensated as provided for in §
37.2-804.
B. In any proceeding pursuant to § 37.2-806 or,
§§ 37.2-809 through 37.2-820, or Article 5.1 (§ 37.2-828.10
et seq.) of this chapter
in which a non-English-speaking person is alleged to have mental retardation or
mental illness or is a witness in such proceeding, an interpreter for the
person shall be appointed by the district court judge or special justice, or in
the case of §§ 37.2-809 through 37.2-813 a magistrate, before whom the
proceeding is pending. Failure to appoint an interpreter when an interpreter is
not reasonably available or when the person's level of English fluency cannot
be determined shall not be a basis to dismiss the petition or void the order
entered at the proceeding. The compensation for the interpreter shall be fixed
by the court in accordance with the guidelines set by the Judicial Council of
Virginia and shall be paid out of the state treasury.
§ 37.2-817. Involuntary admission and outpatient treatment orders.
A. The district court judge or special justice shall render a decision on the petition for involuntary admission after the appointed examiner has presented his report, orally or in writing, pursuant to § 37.2-815 and after the community services board or behavioral health authority that serves the county or city where the person resides or, if impractical, where the person is located has presented a preadmission screening report, orally or in writing, with recommendations for that person's placement, care, and treatment pursuant to § 37.2-816. These reports, if not contested, may constitute sufficient evidence upon which the district court judge or special justice may base his decision.
B. After observing the person and obtaining the necessary positive certification and considering any other relevant evidence that may have been offered, if the judge or special justice finds by clear and convincing evidence that (i) the person presents an imminent danger to himself or others as a result of mental illness or has been proven to be so seriously mentally ill as to be substantially unable to care for himself and (ii) alternatives to involuntary inpatient treatment have been investigated and deemed unsuitable and there is no less restrictive alternative to involuntary inpatient treatment, the judge or special justice shall by written order and specific findings so certify and order that the person be admitted involuntarily to a facility for a period of treatment not to exceed 180 days from the date of the court order. Such involuntary admission shall be to a facility designated by the community services board or behavioral health authority that serves the city or county in which the person was examined as provided in § 37.2-816. If the community services board or behavioral health authority does not designate a facility at the commitment hearing, the person shall be involuntarily admitted to a facility designated by the Commissioner. The person shall be released at the expiration of 180 days unless he is involuntarily admitted by further petition and order of a court or such person makes application for treatment on a voluntary basis as provided for in § 37.2-805.
C. After observing the person and obtaining the necessary
positive certification and considering any other relevant evidence that may
have been offered, if the judge or special justice finds by clear and
convincing evidence that (i) the
person the criteria for assisted outpatient treatment set forth in
§ 37.2-828.11 have been met, the
judge or special justice shall order assisted outpatient treatment pursuant to Article 5.1 (§ 37.2-828.10
et seq.) of this chapter.presents
an imminent danger to himself or others as a result of mental illness or has
been proven to be so seriously mentally ill as to be substantially unable to
care for himself, (ii) less restrictive alternatives to involuntary inpatient
treatment have been investigated and are deemed suitable, (iii) the person (a)
has the degree of competency necessary to understand the stipulations of his
treatment, (b) expresses an interest in living in the community and agrees to
abide by his treatment plan, and (c) is deemed to have the capacity to comply
with the treatment plan, and (iv) the ordered treatment can be delivered on an
outpatient basis and be monitored by the community services board, behavioral
health authority or designated provider, the judge or special justice shall
order outpatient treatment, which may include day
treatment in a hospital, night treatment in a hospital, outpatient involuntary
treatment with anti-psychotic medication pursuant to Chapter 11 (§ 37.2-1100 et
seq.), or other appropriate course of treatment as may be necessary to meet the
needs of the person. The community services board or behavioral health
authority that serves the city or county in which the person resides shall
recommend a specific course of treatment and programs for the provision of
involuntary outpatient treatment. The community services board, behavioral
health authority, or designated provider shall monitor the person's compliance
with the treatment ordered by the court under this section, and the person's
failure to comply with involuntary outpatient treatment as ordered by
the court may be admitted into evidence in subsequent hearings held pursuant to
the provisions of this section. Upon failure of the person to adhere to the
terms of the outpatient treatment order, the judge or special justice may
revoke it and, upon notice to the person and after a commitment hearing, order
involuntary admission to a facility.
§ 37.2-820. Place of hearing.
The hearing provided for pursuant to §§ 37.2-814 through 37.2-819 or pursuant to Article 5.1 (§ 37.2-828.10 et seq.) of this chapter may be conducted by the district court judge or a special justice at the convenient facility or other place open to the public provided for in § 37.2-809, if he deems it advisable, even though the facility or place is located in a county or city other than his own. In conducting such hearings in a county or city other than his own, the judge or special justice shall have all of the authority and power that he would have in his own county or city. A district court judge or special justice of the county or city in which the facility or place is located may conduct the hearing provided for in §§ 37.2-814 through 37.2-819 or Article 5.1 (§ 37.2-828.10 et seq.) of this chapter.
§ 37.2-821. Appeal of involuntary admission or certification order.
Any person involuntarily admitted pursuant to §§ 37.2-814
through 37.2-819, or
certified as eligible for admission pursuant to § 37.2-806, or ordered to
obtain assisted outpatient treatment
pursuant to Article 5.1 (§ 37.2-828.10
et seq.) of this chapter shall have the right to appeal the order
to the circuit court in the jurisdiction where he was involuntarily admitted, or
certified, or ordered
to obtain assisted outpatient
treatment, or
where the facility to which he was admitted, or
the outpatient facility in which he was treated, is
located. The petitioner in such cases shall also have the
right to appeal the denial of an order to the circuit court in the jurisdiction
in which the petition was filed. Choice of venue shall rest with
the party noting the appeal. The court may transfer the case upon a finding
that the other forum is more convenient. An appeal shall be filed within 30
days from the date of the order and shall be given priority over all other
pending matters before the court and heard as soon as possible, notwithstanding
§ 19.2-241 regarding the time within which the court shall set criminal cases
for trial. The clerk of the court from which an appeal is taken shall
immediately transmit the record to the clerk of the appellate court. The clerk
of the circuit court shall provide written notification of the appeal to the
petitioner in the case in accordance with procedures set forth in § 16.1-112.
No appeal bond or writ tax shall be required, and the appeal shall proceed
without the payment of costs or other fees. Costs may be recovered as provided
for in § 37.2-804.
The appeal shall be heard de novo in accordance with the
provisions set forth in § 37.2-806 or this article. An order continuing the
involuntary admission, or continuing the assisted outpatient treatment order, shall be entered only if the criteria
in § 37.2-817 or § 37.8-828.11, respectively,
are met at the time the appeal is heard. The person so admitted, or
certified, or ordered shall be entitled to
trial by jury. Seven persons from a panel of 13 shall constitute a jury.
If the person is not represented by counsel, the judge shall appoint an attorney to represent him. Counsel so appointed shall be paid a fee of $75 and his necessary expenses. The order of the court from which the appeal is taken shall be defended by the attorney for the Commonwealth.
§ 37.2-828.10. Purpose.
The purpose of this article is to create an assisted outpatient treatment program so that those mentally ill persons who are capable of being maintained safely in the community with the help of such a program can receive those services.
§ 37.2-828.11. Criteria for assisted outpatient treatment.
A court may order a person to obtain assisted outpatient treatment if the court finds that (i) the person is suffering from a mental illness; (ii) on two or more previous occasions, the person's failure to comply with prescribed psychiatric treatment has necessitated hospitalization for the person's mental illness; (iii) in view of the person's treatment history and current behavior, the person now needs treatment in order to prevent a relapse or deterioration that would result in the person becoming either an imminent danger to himself or others, or substantially unable to care for himself; (iv) as a result of the person's mental illness, the person is unlikely to seek or comply with needed treatment unless the court enters an order for assisted outpatient treatment; (v) a written treatment plan has been prepared that sets forth the specific type, amount, duration, and frequency of treatment and services the person is to obtain; (vi) the proposed treatment is in the person's best medical interest and constitutes the least restrictive appropriate treatment for the person, taking into consideration all relevant circumstances, including any reasonably possible alternative treatments preferred by the person, as expressed in an advance directive or otherwise; (vii) the treatment and services providers are identified in and have agreed to the treatment plan; and (viii) the community services board that serves the jurisdiction where the person resides has adequate and appropriate resources for the provision of assisted outpatient treatment and has agreed to monitor the person's compliance with the treatment plan.
§ 37.2-828.12. Contents of petition for assisted outpatient treatment.
A sworn petition for assisted outpatient treatment of a person may be filed by any reasonable person. The petition shall allege each of the criteria of § 37.2-828.11, and shall allege the facts on which the allegations as to criteria in clauses (i) through (iii) of § 37.2-828.11 are based. The petition shall be supported by an affirmation or affidavit of a mental health professional licensed in Virginia through the Department of Health Professions and qualified in the diagnosis of mental illness, who shall not be the petitioner, and shall state either that: (i) such mental health professional has personally examined the person who is the subject of the petition no more than 10 days prior to the submission of the petition, he recommends assisted outpatient treatment for the subject of the petition, and he is willing and able to testify at the hearing of the petition; or (ii) no more than 10 days prior to the filing of the petition, such mental health professional or his designee has made appropriate attempts to elicit the cooperation of the subject of the petition but has not been successful in persuading the subject to submit to an examination, that such professional has reason to suspect that the subject meets the criteria for assisted outpatient treatment, and that the professional is willing and able to examine the subject of the petition and testify at the hearing on the petition.
§ 37.2-828.13. Hearing procedures.
A. The hearing shall be held within five days of the filing of the petition; however, if the fifth day is a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday, the hearing may be held on the next day that is not a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday. The petition and notice of the hearing shall be served on the person who is the subject of the petition, and notice of the hearing shall be provided to the petitioner. The community services board shall offer to transport the person who is the subject of the petition to the hearing. If the person fails or refuses to attend, the hearing may proceed in the person's absence.
B. If the subject of the petition has refused to be examined by a physician, the court may request the subject to consent to an examination by a physician appointed by the court. If the subject does not consent and the court finds reasonable cause to believe that the allegations in the petition are true, the court may order peace officers, acting pursuant to their special duties, or police officers who are members of an authorized police department or force, or of a sheriff's department, to take the subject into custody and transport him to a hospital for examination by a physician. Retention of the subject under such order shall not exceed 24 hours. The examination of the subject may be performed by the physician whose affirmation or affidavit accompanied the petition pursuant to § 37.2-828.12, if such physician is privileged by such hospital or otherwise authorized by such hospital to do so. If such examination is performed by another physician of such hospital, the examining physician shall be authorized to consult with the physician whose affirmation or affidavit accompanied the petition regarding the issues of whether the allegations in the petition are true and whether the subject meets the criteria for assisted outpatient treatment.
C. No person shall be ordered to receive assisted outpatient treatment unless a mental health professional who is licensed in Virginia through the Department of Health Professions and qualified in the diagnosis of mental illness testifies at the hearing to establish the criteria in clauses (i), (iii), (iv), and (vi) of § 37.2-828.11, and to explain the rationale for the recommended assisted outpatient treatment. If the recommended assisted outpatient treatment includes medication, the petition must be supported by the affidavit or testimony of a psychiatrist who is licensed in Virginia by the Board of Medicine, and this affidavit or testimony must describe the types or classes of medication that should be authorized, describe the beneficial and detrimental physical and mental effects of such medication, and establish that there is no appropriate less restrictive alternative treatment reasonably possible for the person. If the person or his attorney objects to proof by affidavit, the judge shall require the psychiatrist to testify and submit to cross-examination, in person or, at his discretion, electronically, pursuant to § 37.2-804.1. The person who is the subject of the petition shall be given an opportunity to state and explain any objections to the recommended assisted outpatient treatment, to suggest alternatives, and to present expert and other testimony in support thereof.
D. The person who is the subject of the petition shall have the right to a hearing, to retain private counsel or be represented by a court-appointed attorney, to present any defenses, including independent evaluation and expert testimony or the testimony of other witnesses, to be present during the hearing and testify, to appeal any order for assisted outpatient treatment to the circuit court, and to have a jury trial on appeal. A written explanation of the assisted outpatient treatment process and the statutory protections associated with the process shall be given to the person and its contents explained by an attorney prior to the hearing. The judge shall ascertain whether the person has been given the written explanation required herein and shall ascertain if the person is represented by counsel, and if he is not represented by counsel, the judge shall appoint an attorney to represent him. However, if the person requests an opportunity to employ counsel, the court shall give him a reasonable opportunity to employ counsel at his own expense.
E. The attorney for the person who is the subject of the petition shall actively represent his client. Judges and appointed counsel shall be compensated in the same manner as proceedings held pursuant to § 37.2-814.
F. A recording of the hearing shall be made, submitted to the appropriate district court clerk, and retained in a confidential file for at least three years from the date of the hearing, to be used solely to document and to answer questions concerning the judge's conduct of the hearing. All relevant medical records, reports, and court documents pertaining to the hearing provided for in this section shall be confidential if so requested by such person or his counsel, with access provided only upon court order for good cause shown. Such records, reports, and documents shall not be subject to the Virginia Freedom of Information Act (§ 2.2-3700 et seq.). However, such records shall be accessible for the purposes of medical treatment or for the purposes of investigating whether an individual is a candidate for assisted outpatient treatment.
§ 37.2-828.14. Disposition.
A. If the court finds that each of the criteria for assisted outpatient treatment set forth in § 37.2-828.11 has been established by clear and convincing evidence, the court shall enter an order setting forth its findings, granting the petition, and directing the person and the treatment and service providers to comply with the treatment plan approved by the court for a period of 180 days or less, and in that event the community services board shall monitor such compliance.
B. If, after hearing all relevant evidence, the court finds by clear and convincing evidence that the subject of the petition meets the criteria for assisted outpatient treatment, and the court has yet to be provided with a written proposed treatment plan and testimony pursuant to § 37.2-828.13, the court shall order the community services board to provide the court with such plan and testimony no later than the third day, excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays, immediately following the date of such order. Upon receiving such plan and testimony, the court may order assisted outpatient treatment as provided in subsection A.
In developing the treatment plan, the community services board shall seek the active participation of the person who is the subject of the petition and shall consider the person's treatment preferences, as expressed in advance directive or otherwise. Additionally, the community services board shall consult and consider the views of any relative, friend, advisor, or advocate who either has been identified in an advance directive as someone the person wishes to be consulted, or who is otherwise so identified by the person.
§ 37.2-828.15. Noncompliance with order for assisted outpatient treatment.
A. If a person subject to an order for assisted outpatient treatment fails to comply with the order, the community services board or treatment provider shall make reasonable efforts to contact the person and to secure the person's compliance with the order. If the community services board or treatment provider determines that such reasonable efforts have been made, and that the person without good cause has substantially failed to comply with the order, the community services board or treatment provider may request that a law-enforcement officer accompany a treatment provider to the place the person may be found, or transport the person to the provider's office or to a treatment facility, for the purpose of enabling the provider or other responsible mental health professional to assess the person's present condition and to secure the person's compliance with the order. Except as otherwise authorized by law, the person may not be detained for more than 48 hours, including transportation time, and may not be forced to take prescribed medication.
B. If a person subject to an order for assisted outpatient treatment has substantially failed to comply with the order without good cause, and the community services board or treatment provider has been unable after reasonable efforts to secure the person's compliance with the order, the community services board shall report to the judge promptly in writing and shall recommend an appropriate disposition. Copies of the report shall be sent to the person and the person's attorney. The judge shall schedule a supplemental hearing to occur within five days after receiving the report; however, if the fifth day is a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday, the hearing may be held on the next day that is not a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday. The hearing shall be conducted in accordance with the procedures set forth in § 37.2-828.13, and the person and his attorney shall be given at least 48 hours' notice of the hearing. The community services board shall offer to transport the person to the hearing. If the person fails or refuses to attend, the hearing may proceed in the person's absence. After hearing evidence of the person's current condition and compliance with the order for assisted outpatient treatment, the judge shall make whichever of the following dispositions is appropriate:
1. Upon finding that the person meets the criteria for involuntary admission and treatment specified in § 37.2-817, the judge shall order that the person be placed in a hospital or other facility for a period of treatment not to exceed 180 days from the date of the order.
2. Upon finding that the person continues to meet the criteria for assisted outpatient treatment specified in § 37.2-828.11, and that a continued period of assisted outpatient treatment appears warranted, the judge shall renew the order for assisted outpatient treatment, making any necessary modifications that are acceptable to the treatment provider or facility responsible for the person's treatment.
3. Upon finding that neither of these dispositions is appropriate, the judge shall rescind the order for assisted outpatient treatment.
C. The fact that a person is subject to an order for assisted outpatient treatment does not displace or modify the authority conferred by § 37.2-809 to detain the person if he is believed to be mentally ill and in need of hospitalization or to initiate new proceedings for involuntary admission thereunder.
§ 37.2-828.16. Petition to terminate or extend order for assisted outpatient treatment.
At any time at least 45 days after the most recent hearing, a person who is subject to an order for assisted outpatient treatment may petition the court to terminate the order. A petition to terminate the order must allege that at least one of the criteria of § 37.2-828.11 is not met and allege the facts on which this allegation is based. At any time within 30 days before the expiration of an order for assisted outpatient treatment, the community services board or treatment provider that is monitoring the person's compliance with the order may petition the court to extend the order for a period of 180 days or less. A petition to extend the order must comply with the requirements of § 37.2-828.12. If both parties join in the petition, the court shall grant the petition and enter an appropriate order. Otherwise, the court shall schedule a hearing to occur within 10 days of receiving the petition, and shall provide at least five days' notice of the hearing to the person, the person's attorney, and the community services board. The hearing shall be conducted in accordance with the procedures set forth in § 37.2-828.13. Upon finding that the criteria for assisted outpatient treatment specified in § 37.2-828.11 are met, and that a continued period of assisted outpatient treatment in accordance with the treatment plan approved by the court appears warranted, the judge shall renew the order for assisted outpatient treatment for a period of 180 days or less. Otherwise, the judge shall rescind the order for assisted outpatient treatment. An order that expires prior to the hearing to extend shall remain in effect until the disposition of the petition to extend.
§ 37.2-828.17. Appeal of an assisted outpatient treatment order.
Any person who is the subject of an order for assisted outpatient treatment shall have the same right of appeal as an appeal of admission or certification order pursuant to § 37.2-821. The order for assisted outpatient treatment shall be affirmed only if the criteria of § 37.2-828.11 are met at the time the appeal is heard. Any petitioner whose petition is denied shall have the same right of appeal as a petitioner pursuant to § 37.2-821.