SB1182 - 492R

Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Arizona:

Section 1. Section 36-501, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended to read:

START_STATUTE36-501. Definitions

In this chapter, unless the context otherwise requires:

1. "Admitting officer" means a psychiatrist or other physician or psychiatric and mental health nurse practitioner with experience in performing psychiatric examinations who has been designated as an admitting officer of the evaluation agency by the person in charge of the evaluation agency.

2. "Chief medical officer" means the chief medical officer under the supervision of the superintendent of the state hospital.

3. "Contraindicated" means that access is reasonably likely to endanger the life or physical safety of the patient or another person.

4. "Court" means the superior court in the county in this state in which the patient resides or was found prior to before screening or emergency admission under provisions of this title.

5. "Danger to others" means that the judgement judgment of a person who has a mental disorder is so impaired that he the person is unable to understand his the person's need for treatment and as a result of his the person's mental disorder his the person's continued behavior can reasonably be expected, on the basis of competent medical opinion, to result in serious physical harm.

6. "Danger to self":

(a) Means behavior that, as a result of a mental disorder: ,

(a) (i) Constitutes a danger of inflicting serious physical harm upon on oneself, including attempted suicide or the serious threat thereof, if the threat is such that, when considered in the light of its context and in light of the individual's previous acts, it is substantially supportive of an expectation that the threat will be carried out.

(b) (ii) Behavior that, as a result of a mental disorder, will, Without hospitalization, will result in serious physical harm or serious illness to the person. , except that this definition shall

(b) Does not include behavior that establishes only the condition of gravely disabled.

7. "Department" means the department of health services.

8. "Deputy director" means the deputy director of the division of behavioral health in the department of health services.

9. "Detention" means the taking into custody of a patient or proposed patient.

10. "Director" means the director of the department.

11. "Division" means the division of behavioral health in the department.

12. "Evaluation" means a professional multidisciplinary analysis based on data describing the person's identity, biography and medical, psychological and social conditions carried out by a group of persons consisting of not less than the following:

(a) Two psychiatric practitioners who are licensed physicians, who shall be and qualified psychiatrists, if possible, or at least experienced in psychiatric matters, or a psychiatric and mental health nurse practitioner. and who The practitioners shall examine and report their findings independently. The person against whom a petition has been filed shall be notified that he the person may select one of the physicians practitioners. A psychiatric resident in a training program approved by the American medical association or by the American osteopathic association may examine the person in place of one of the psychiatrists psychiatric practitioners if he the resident is supervised in the examination and preparation of the affidavit and testimony in court by a qualified psychiatrist appointed to assist in his the resident's training, and if the supervising psychiatrist is available for discussion with the attorneys for all parties and for court appearance and testimony if requested by the court or any of the attorneys.

(b) Two other individuals, one of whom, if available, shall be a psychologist and in any event a social worker familiar with mental health and human services that may be available placement alternatives appropriate for treatment. An evaluation may be conducted on an inpatient basis, an outpatient basis or a combination of both, and every reasonable attempt shall be made to conduct the evaluation in any language preferred by the person.

13. "Evaluation agency" means a health care agency that is licensed by the department and that has been approved pursuant to this title, providing those services required of such agency by this chapter.

14. "Examination" means an exploration of the person's past psychiatric history and of the circumstances leading up to the person's presentation, a psychiatric exploration of the person's present mental condition and a complete physical examination.

15. "Family member" means a spouse, parent, adult child, adult sibling or other blood relative of a person undergoing treatment or evaluation pursuant to this chapter.

16. "Gravely disabled" means a condition evidenced by behavior in which a person, as a result of a mental disorder, is likely to come to serious physical harm or serious illness because he the person is unable to provide for his the person's own basic physical needs.

17. "Health care decision maker" has the same meaning prescribed in section 12‑2801.

18. "Health care entity" means a health care provider, the department, the Arizona health care cost containment system administration or a regional behavioral health authority under contract with the department.

19. "Health care provider" means a health care institution as defined in section 36‑401 that is licensed as a behavioral health provider pursuant to department rules or a mental health provider.

20. "Independent evaluator" means a licensed physician, psychiatric and mental health nurse practitioner or psychologist selected by the person to be evaluated or by such person's attorney.

21. "Informed consent" means a voluntary decision following presentation of all facts necessary to form the basis of an intelligent consent by the patient or guardian with no minimizing of known dangers of any procedures.

22. "Least restrictive treatment alternative" means the treatment plan and setting that infringe in the least possible degree with the patient's right to liberty and that are consistent with providing needed treatment in a safe and humane manner.

23. "Licensed physician" means any medical doctor or doctor of osteopathy who is either:

(a) Licensed in this state.

(b) A full‑time hospital physician licensed in another state and serving on the staff of a hospital operated or licensed by the United States government.

24. "Medical director of an evaluation agency" means a psychiatrist, or other licensed physician experienced in psychiatric matters, who is designated in writing by the governing body of the agency as the person in charge of the medical services of the agency for the purposes of this chapter and may include the chief medical officer of the state hospital.

25. "Medical director of a mental health treatment agency" means a psychiatrist, or other licensed physician experienced in psychiatric matters, who is designated in writing by the governing body of the agency as the person in charge of the medical services of the agency for the purposes of this chapter and includes the chief medical officer of the state hospital.

26. "Mental disorder" means a substantial disorder of the person's emotional processes, thought, cognition or memory. Mental disorder is distinguished from:

(a) Conditions that are primarily those of drug abuse, alcoholism or mental retardation, unless, in addition to one or more of these conditions, the person has a mental disorder.

(b) The declining mental abilities that directly accompany impending death.

(c) Character and personality disorders characterized by lifelong and deeply ingrained antisocial behavior patterns, including sexual behaviors that are abnormal and prohibited by statute unless the behavior results from a mental disorder.

27. "Mental health provider" means any physician or provider of mental health or behavioral health services involved in evaluating, caring for, treating or rehabilitating a patient.

28. "Mental health treatment agency" means the state hospital or a health care agency that is licensed by the department and that provides those services that are required of the agency by this chapter.

29. "Outpatient treatment" or "combined inpatient and outpatient treatment" means any treatment program not requiring continuous inpatient hospitalization.

30. "Outpatient treatment plan" means a treatment plan that does not require continuous inpatient hospitalization.

31. "Patient" means any person undergoing examination, evaluation or behavioral or mental health treatment under the provisions of this chapter.

32. "Peace officers" means sheriffs of counties, constables, marshals and policemen of cities and towns.

33. "Persistently or acutely disabled" means a severe mental disorder that meets all the following criteria:

(a) If not treated has a substantial probability of causing the person to suffer or continue to suffer severe and abnormal mental, emotional or physical harm that significantly impairs judgment, reason, behavior or capacity to recognize reality.

(b) Substantially impairs the person's capacity to make an informed decision regarding treatment, and this impairment causes the person to be incapable of understanding and expressing an understanding of the advantages and disadvantages of accepting treatment and understanding and expressing an understanding of the alternatives to the particular treatment offered after the advantages, disadvantages and alternatives are explained to that person.

(c) Has a reasonable prospect of being treatable by outpatient, inpatient or combined inpatient and outpatient treatment.

34. "Prepetition screening" means the review of each application requesting court‑ordered evaluation, including an investigation of facts alleged in such application, an interview with each applicant and an interview, if possible, with the proposed patient. The purpose of the interview with the proposed patient is to assess the problem, explain the application and, when indicated, attempt to persuade the proposed patient to receive, on a voluntary basis, evaluation or other services.

35. "Prescribed form" means a form established by a court or the rules of the division that have been approved by the director or in accordance with the laws of this state.

36. "Professional" means a physician who is licensed pursuant to title 32, chapter 13 or 17, or a psychologist who is licensed pursuant to title 32, chapter 19.1 or a psychiatric and mental health nurse practitioner who is certified pursuant to title 32, chapter 15.

37. "Proposed patient" means a person for whom an application for evaluation has been made or a petition for court‑ordered evaluation has been filed.

38. "Psychiatric and mental health nurse practitioner" means a registered nurse practitioner as defined in section 32-1601 who has completed an adult or family psychiatric and mental health nurse practitioner program and who is certified as an adult or family psychiatric and mental health nurse practitioner by the state board of nursing.

38. 39. "Psychiatrist" means a licensed physician who has completed three years of graduate training in psychiatry in a program approved by the American medical association or the American osteopathic association.

39. 40. "Psychologist" means a person who is licensed under the provisions of title 32, chapter 19.1 and who is experienced in the practice of clinical psychology.

40. 41. "Records" means all communications that are recorded in any form or medium and that relate to patient examination, evaluation or behavioral or mental health treatment. Records include medical records that are prepared by a health care provider or other providers. Records do not include:

(a) Materials that are prepared in connection with utilization review, peer review or quality assurance activities, including records that a health care provider prepares pursuant to section 36‑441, 36‑445, 36‑2402 or 36‑2917.

(b) Recorded telephone and radio calls to and from a publicly operated emergency dispatch office relating to requests for emergency services or reports of suspected criminal activity.

41. 42. "Screening agency" means a health care agency that is licensed by the department and that provides those services required of such agency by this chapter.

42. 43. "Social worker" means a person who has completed two years of graduate training in social work in a program approved by the council of social work education and who has experience in mental health.

43. 44. "State hospital" means the Arizona state hospital.

44. 45. "Superintendent" means the superintendent of the state hospital. END_STATUTE

Sec. 2. Section 36-514, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended to read:

START_STATUTE36-514. Visitation; telephone; correspondence; religious freedom

Every person detained for evaluation or treatment pursuant to this chapter shall have the following additional rights:

1. To be visited by the person's personal physician or other health care professional, guardian, agent appointed pursuant to chapter 32 of this title, attorney and clergyman or any other person, subject to reasonable limitations as the individual in charge of the agency may direct.

2. To have reasonable access to telephones between the hours of nine 9:00 a.m. and nine 9:00 p.m. to make and receive confidential calls. In addition, a person who is confined pursuant to this title is allowed to make two completed local telephone calls within two hours of initial confinement. Long-distance calls are allowed if the patient can pay the agency for them or can properly charge them to another number. The agency may restrict the telephone privileges of a patient if it is notified by the person receiving the calls that the person is being harassed by the calls and wishes them curtailed or halted. Restriction of telephone privileges shall be entered into the patient's clinical record and the information therein in the record shall be made available on request to the person, and that person's attorney, guardian or agent appointed pursuant to chapter 32 of this title.

3. To be furnished with reasonable amounts of stationery and postage and to be permitted to correspond by mail without censorship with any person.

4. To enjoy religious freedom and the right to continue the practice of the person's religion in accordance with its tenets during the detainment, except that this right may not interfere with the operation of the agency. END_STATUTE

Sec. 3. Section 36-537, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended to read:

START_STATUTE36-537. Powers and duties of counsel

A. The medical director of the agency that conducted the evaluation, at least seventy‑two hours before the hearing, shall make available to the patient's attorney copies of the petition for evaluation, the prepetition screening report, the evaluation report, the patient's medical records for the current admission and a list of alternatives to court‑ordered treatment that are used in similar cases with an explanation of why they are not appropriate or available.

B. The patient's attorney, for all hearings, whether for evaluation or treatment, shall fulfill the following minimal duties:

1. Within twenty‑four hours of appointment, conduct an interview of the patient. The attorney shall explain to the patient the patient's rights pending court‑ordered treatment, the procedures leading to court‑ordered treatment, the standards for court‑ordered treatment, the alternative of becoming a voluntary patient and whether stipulations at the hearing are appropriate. If the attorney is appointed, the attorney also shall explain that the patient can obtain the patient's own counsel at the patient's own expense and that, if it is later determined that the person is not indigent, the person will be responsible for the fees of the appointed attorney for services rendered after the initial attorney‑client conference.

2. At least twenty‑four hours before the hearing, review the petition for evaluation, prepetition screening report, evaluation report, petition for treatment, the patient's medical records and the list of alternatives to court‑ordered treatment.

3. At least twenty‑four hours before the hearing, interview the petitioner, if available, and the petitioner's supporting witnesses, if known and available.

4. At least twenty‑four hours before the hearing, interview the physicians or the psychiatric and mental health nurse practitioner who will testify at the hearing, if available, and investigate the possibility of alternatives to court‑ordered treatment.

C. Failure of the attorney to fulfill at least the duties prescribed by subsection B may be punished as contempt of court.

D. At a hearing held pursuant to this article, the patient's attorney may enter stipulations on behalf of the patient. END_STATUTE

Sec. 4. Section 36-538, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended to read:

START_STATUTE36-538. Independent evaluator

At all hearings conducted pursuant to sections 36‑539, 36‑543 and 36‑546, a person has the right to have an analysis of his the person's mental condition by an independent evaluator. If the person is unable to afford such an evaluation, the court shall appoint an independent evaluator acceptable to the patient from a list of physicians, psychiatric and mental health nurse practitioners and psychologists who are willing to accept court‑appointed evaluations. END_STATUTE

Sec. 5. Section 36-539, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended to read:

START_STATUTE36-539. Conduct of hearing; record; transcript

A. The medical director of the agency shall issue instructions to the physicians or the psychiatric and mental health nurse practitioner treating the proposed patient to take all reasonable precautions to insure ensure that at the time of the hearing the proposed patient shall not be so under the influence of or so suffer the effects of drugs, medication or other treatment as to be hampered in preparing for or participating in the hearing. The court at the time of the hearing shall be presented a record of all drugs, medication or other treatment that the person has received during the seventy‑two hours immediately before the hearing.

B. The patient and the patient's attorney shall be present at all hearings, and the patient's attorney may subpoena and cross‑examine witnesses and present evidence. The patient may choose to not attend the hearing or the patient's attorney may waive the patient's presence. The evidence presented by the petitioner or the patient shall include the testimony of two or more witnesses acquainted with the patient at the time of the alleged mental disorder, which may be satisfied by a statement agreed on by the parties, and testimony of the two physicians who performed examinations in the evaluation of the patient, which may be satisfied by stipulating to the admission of the evaluating physicians' affidavits as required pursuant to section 36-533, subsection B. The physicians shall testify as to their personal examination of the patient. They shall also testify as to their opinions concerning whether the patient is, as a result of mental disorder, a danger to self or to others, is persistently or acutely disabled or is gravely disabled and as to whether the patient requires treatment. Such testimony shall state specifically the nature and extent of the danger to self or to others, the persistent or acute disability or the grave disability. If the patient is gravely disabled, the physicians shall testify concerning the need for guardianship or conservatorship, or both, and whether or not the need is for immediate appointment. Other persons who have participated in the evaluation of the patient or, if further treatment was requested by a mental health treatment agency, persons of that agency who are directly involved in the care of the patient shall testify at the request of the court or of the patient's attorney. Witnesses shall testify as to placement alternatives appropriate and available for the care and treatment of the patient. The clinical record of the patient for the current admission shall be available and may be presented in full or in part as evidence at the request of the court, the county attorney or the patient's attorney.

C. If the patient, for medical reasons, is unable to be present at the hearing and the hearing cannot be conducted where the patient is being treated or confined, the court shall require clear and convincing evidence that the patient is unable to be present at the hearing and on such a finding may proceed with the hearing in the patient's absence.

D. The requirements of subsection B of this section are in addition to all rules of evidence and the Arizona rules of civil procedure, not inconsistent with subsection B of this section.

E. A verbatim record of all proceedings under this section shall be made by stenographic means by a court reporter if a written request for a court reporter is made by any party to the proceedings at least twenty‑four hours in advance of such proceedings. If stenographic means are not requested in the manner provided by this subsection, electronic means shall be directed by the presiding judge. The stenographic notes or electronic tape shall be retained as provided by statute.

F. A patient who has been ordered to undergo treatment may request a certified transcript of the hearing. To obtain a copy, the patient shall pay for a transcript or shall file an affidavit that the patient is without means to pay for a transcript. If the affidavit is found true by the court, the expense of the transcript is to be a charge on the county in which the proceedings were held, or, if an intergovernmental agreement by the counties has required evaluation in a county other than that of the patient's residence, such expense may be charged to the county of the patient's residence or in which the patient was found before evaluation. END_STATUTE

Sec. 6. Section 36-540, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended to read:

START_STATUTE36-540. Court options

A. If the court finds by clear and convincing evidence that the proposed patient, as a result of mental disorder, is a danger to self, is a danger to others, is persistently or acutely disabled or is gravely disabled and in need of treatment, and is either unwilling or unable to accept voluntary treatment, the court shall order the patient to undergo one of the following:

1. Treatment in a program of outpatient treatment.

2. Treatment in a program consisting of combined inpatient and outpatient treatment.

3. Inpatient treatment in a mental health treatment agency, in a veterans administration hospital pursuant to article 9 of this chapter, in the state hospital or in a private hospital, if the private hospital agrees, subject to the limitations of section 36‑541.

B. The court shall consider all available and appropriate alternatives for the treatment and care of the patient. The court shall order the least restrictive treatment alternative available.

C. The court may order the proposed patient to undergo outpatient or combined inpatient and outpatient treatment pursuant to subsection A, paragraph 1 or 2 of this section if the court:

1. Determines that all of the following apply:

(a) The patient does not require continuous inpatient hospitalization.

(b) The patient will be more appropriately treated in an outpatient treatment program or in a combined inpatient and outpatient treatment program.

(d) The patient will not likely become dangerous or suffer more serious physical harm or serious illness or further deterioration if the patient follows a prescribed outpatient treatment plan.

2. Is presented with and approves a written treatment plan that conforms with the requirements of section 36‑540.01, subsection B. If the treatment plan presented to the court pursuant to this subsection provides for supervision of the patient under court order by a mental health agency that is other than the mental health agency that petitioned or requested the county attorney to petition the court for treatment pursuant to section 36‑531, the treatment plan must be approved by the medical director of the mental health agency that will supervise the treatment pursuant to subsection E of this section.

D. An order to receive treatment pursuant to subsection A, paragraph 1 or 2 of this section shall not exceed three hundred sixty‑five days. The period of inpatient treatment under a combined treatment order pursuant to subsection A, paragraph 2 of this section shall not exceed the maximum period allowed for an order for inpatient treatment pursuant to subsection F of this section.

E. If the court enters an order for treatment pursuant to subsection A, paragraph 1 or 2 of this section, all of the following apply:

1. The court shall designate the medical director of the mental health treatment agency that will supervise and administer the patient's treatment program.

2. The medical director shall not use the services of any person, agency or organization to supervise a patient's outpatient treatment program unless the person, agency or organization has agreed to provide these services in the individual patient's case and unless the department has determined that the person, agency or organization is capable and competent to do so.

3. The person, agency or organization assigned to supervise an outpatient treatment program or the outpatient portion of a combined treatment program shall be notified at least three days before a referral. The medical director making the referral and the person, agency or organization assigned to supervise the treatment program shall share relevant information about the patient to provide continuity of treatment.

4. During any period of outpatient treatment under subsection A, paragraph 2 of this section, if the court, on motion by the medical director of the patient's outpatient mental health treatment facility, determines that the patient is not complying with the terms of the order or that the outpatient treatment plan is no longer appropriate and the patient needs inpatient treatment, the court, without a hearing and based on the court record, the patient's medical record, the affidavits and recommendations of the medical director, and the advice of staff and physicians or the psychiatric and mental health nurse practitioner familiar with the treatment of the patient, may enter an order amending its original order. The amended order may alter the outpatient treatment plan or order the patient to inpatient treatment pursuant to subsection A, paragraph 3 of this section. The amended order shall not increase the total period of commitment originally ordered by the court or, when added to the period of inpatient treatment provided by the original order and any other amended orders, exceed the maximum period allowed for an order for inpatient treatment pursuant to subsection F of this section. If the patient refuses to comply with an amended order for inpatient treatment, the court may authorize and direct a peace officer, on the request of the medical director, to take the patient into protective custody and transport the patient to the agency for inpatient treatment. When reporting to or being returned to a treatment agency for inpatient treatment pursuant to an amended order, the patient shall be informed of the patient's right to judicial review and the patient's right to consult with counsel pursuant to section 36‑546.

5. During any period of outpatient treatment under subsection A, paragraph 2 of this section, if the medical director of the outpatient treatment facility in charge of the patient's care determines, in concert with the medical director of an inpatient mental health treatment facility who has agreed to accept the patient, that the patient is in need of immediate acute inpatient psychiatric care because of behavior that is dangerous to self or to others, the medical director of the outpatient treatment facility may order a peace officer to apprehend and transport the patient to the inpatient treatment facility pending a court determination on an amended order under paragraph 4 of this subsection. The patient may be detained and treated at the inpatient treatment facility for a period of no more than forty‑eight hours, exclusive of weekends and holidays, from the time that the patient is taken to the inpatient treatment facility. The medical director of the outpatient treatment facility shall file the motion for an amended court order requesting inpatient treatment no later than the next working day following the patient being taken to the inpatient treatment facility. Any period of detention within the inpatient treatment facility pending issuance of an amended order shall not increase the total period of commitment originally ordered by the court or, when added to the period of inpatient treatment provided by the original order and any other amended orders, exceed the maximum period allowed for an order for inpatient treatment pursuant to subsection F of this section. If a patient is ordered to undergo inpatient treatment pursuant to an amended order, the medical director of the outpatient treatment facility shall inform the patient of the patient's right to judicial review and to consult with an attorney pursuant to section 36‑546.

F. The maximum periods of inpatient treatment that the court may order, subject to the limitations of section 36‑541, are as follows:

1. Ninety days for a person found to be a danger to self.

2. One hundred eighty days for a person found to be a danger to others.

3. One hundred eighty days for a person found to be persistently or acutely disabled.

4. Three hundred sixty‑five days for a person found to be gravely disabled.

G. If, on finding that the patient is gravely disabled, the court also finds that the evidence indicates that the patient is or may be in need of guardianship or conservatorship, or both, the court shall order an investigation concerning the need for a guardian or conservator, or both, and shall appoint a suitable person or agency to conduct the investigation. The appointee may include the mental health treatment agency that is providing inpatient or outpatient treatment, a court‑appointed visitor or the public fiduciary if there is no person willing and qualified to act in that capacity. The court shall give notice of the appointment to the appointee within three days of the appointment. The appointee shall submit the report of the investigation to the court within twenty‑one days. The report shall include recommendations as to who should be guardian or who should be conservator, or both, and a report of the findings and reasons for the recommendation. If the investigation and report so indicate, the court shall order the appropriate person to submit a petition to become the guardian or conservator, or both, of the patient.

H. If, on finding that a patient is gravely disabled, the court also finds that the patient is in need of immediate guardianship for the purpose of protection of the patient or for the purpose of carrying out alternatives to court‑ordered treatment, the court may appoint as a temporary guardian a suitable person or the public fiduciary, if there is no person qualified and willing to act in that capacity.

I. If, on finding that a patient is gravely disabled, the court also learns that the patient has a guardian appointed under title 14, the court may with notice may impose on the existing guardian additional duties pursuant to section 14‑5312.01.

J. The court shall file a report as part of the court record on its findings of alternatives for treatment.

K. Treatment shall not include psychosurgery, lobotomy or any other brain surgery without specific informed consent of the patient or the patient's legal guardian and an order of the superior court in the county in which the treatment is proposed, approving with specificity the use of the treatment.

L. The medical director or any person, agency or organization used by the medical director to supervise the terms of an outpatient treatment plan shall not be held civilly liable for any acts committed by a patient while on outpatient treatment if the medical director, person, agency or organization has in good faith followed the requirements of this section.

M. A peace officer who in good faith apprehends and transports a patient to an inpatient treatment facility on the order of the medical director of the outpatient treatment facility pursuant to subsection E, paragraph 5 of this section shall not be subject to civil liability.

N. If a person has been found, as a result of a mental disorder, to constitute a danger to self or others or to be persistently or acutely disabled or gravely disabled and the court enters an order for treatment pursuant to subsection A of this section, the court shall grant access to the person's name, date of birth, social security number and date of commitment to the department of public safety to comply with the requirements of title 13, chapter 31 and title 32, chapter 26. END_STATUTE

Sec. 7. Section 36-545.04, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended to read:

START_STATUTE36-545.04. Costs of court proceedings; compensation for evaluation and testimony

A. Except as provided in this chapter, costs of court proceedings and cost of services provided by a county pursuant to article 4 are a charge against the county in which the patient resided or was found prior to before hospitalization. The clerk of the superior court in the county where the proceedings are held shall certify to the board of supervisors of the county where the patient resided or was found prior to before hospitalization that such proceedings were held and the amount of the balance of the incurred costs.

B. If a physician, psychologist, psychiatric and mental health nurse practitioner or social worker is not otherwise compensated for evaluating a person or for testifying at a hearing, or both, the physician, psychologist, nurse practitioner or social worker shall be paid by the county, an amount determined reasonable by the court, subject to the same limitations as imposed upon on compensation for attorneys in hearings, as provided by section 13‑4013. These payments shall be made as a part of the costs of court proceedings as in subsection A of this section. END_STATUTE

Sec. 8. Section 36-546, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended to read:

START_STATUTE36-546. Judicial review; right to be informed; request; jurisdiction

A. In addition to the procedure for applying for a writ of habeas corpus, as provided in title 13, chapter 38, article 26, a patient receiving court‑ordered treatment or any person acting on his the patient's behalf may request the patient's release pursuant to the following:

1. A request in writing may be presented to any member of the treatment staff of the agency providing the patient's treatment. The request may be made on a prescribed form which that shall be prepared by the facility and made available for use by any person. The completed form shall identify:

(a) The patient being treated and the agency at which he the patient is being treated.

(b) The person to whom the request for release was made.

(c) The person making the request for release, indicating whether the person is the patient being treated or someone acting on his the person's behalf.

2. The request, when signed and dated by the person making the request for release, shall be delivered to the medical director of the agency. Within three days of receipt of the request, the medical director shall deliver the form, along with a current psychiatric report of the patient's condition, to the clerk of the court. If the person presenting the request refuses to sign the form, the medical director of the agency shall proceed as if the form had been signed and shall note on the form the circumstances as to why the form was not signed.

B. The patient shall be informed of his the patient's right to judicial review by the medical director of the agency and his the patient's right to consult with counsel at least once each sixty days while he the patient is undergoing court‑ordered treatment. The notification required by this subsection shall be recorded in the clinical record of the patient by the individual who gave the notice.

C. With the exception of requests made pursuant to section 36‑540, subsection E, paragraphs 4 and 5 and section 36‑540.01, subsection J for judicial review, a request for judicial review may not be made sooner than sixty days after the issuance of the order for treatment or a hearing on a previous petition for habeas corpus or the issuance of the court order or other final resolution determining a previous request for judicial review by the patient.

D. Judicial review shall be in the superior court in the county in which the patient is being treated. That court may review the additional material presented and enter its order without necessity of further hearing.

E. The reviewing court may order a further hearing upon on the affidavit of the attorney for the patient setting forth the need for further evidentiary hearing and the reasons why the hearing is necessary prior to before the time set for the release of the patient.

F. The patient shall be informed of his the patient's right to consult an attorney by the person or court to whom he the patient makes his the request for release at the time he the patient makes such the request and, in the case of confinement in an agency, by the reviewing court within one day of its receipt of notice from the medical director of the agency wherein where the patient is being treated. The patient shall be permitted to consult an attorney to assist him in preparation of a petition for the writ of habeas corpus and to represent him the patient in the hearing. If he the patient is not represented by an attorney, the reviewing court shall, within two days of its notice to the patient of his the patient's right to counsel, shall appoint an attorney to assist him the patient in the preparation of a petition and to represent him the patient in the hearing.

G. The medical director of the mental health treatment agency, at least twenty‑four hours prior to before the hearing, shall provide the patient's attorney with a copy of the patient's medical records.

H. The patient's attorney shall fulfill all of the following minimal duties:

1. Within twenty‑four hours of appointment, conduct an interview with the patient.

2. At least twenty‑four hours prior to such before the hearing, interview the patient's treatment physician or psychiatric and mental health nurse practitioner if available.

3. Prior to Before the hearing, examine the clinical record of the patient.

4. Prior to Before the hearing, examine the patient's court records as to his the patient's involuntary treatment.

I. An attorney who does not fulfill the duties prescribed by subsection H of this section is subject to contempt of court. END_STATUTE