Amended in Senate March 15, 2016

Amended in Assembly January 25, 2016

Amended in Assembly May 20, 2015

Amended in Assembly April 30, 2015

Amended in Assembly April 23, 2015

Amended in Assembly April 13, 2015

California Legislature—2015–16 Regular Session

Assembly Bill No. 1300

Introduced by Assembly Member Ridley-Thomas

February 27, 2015

An act to begin insert amend Sections 5008, 5113, 5150.1, and 5270.50 of, and to end insert add begin insert Sections 5014, 5025, 5113.5, and 5150.3, and to add end insert Article 1.1 (commencing with Section 5150.10) begin delete to end delete begin insert to, end insert the Welfare and Institutions Code, relating to mental health.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL’S DIGEST

AB 1300, as amended, Ridley-Thomas. Mental health: involuntary commitment.

Under existing law, when a person, as a result of begin insert a end insert mental disorder, is a danger to others, or to himself or herself, or gravely disabled, he or she may, upon probable cause, be taken into custody by a peace officer, member of the attending staff of an evaluation facility, designated members of a mobile crisis team, or other designated professional person, and placed in a facility designated by the county and approved by the State Department of Health Care Services as a facility for 72-hour treatment and evaluation.

begin delete

This bill would require a nondesignated hospital, as defined, to notify the county in which the nondesignated hospital is located of a person’s detention pursuant to that provision, and to use the 24-hour toll-free telephone number established by the county’s mental health program for psychiatric emergency services and crisis stabilization if the county’s mental health program has a 24-hour toll-free telephone number in operation on January 1, 2017, for this purpose. The bill would require that the notification include specified information, including the time when the 72-hour detention period for evaluation and treatment expires, and would require the notification to be documented in the patient’s medical record.

end delete begin insert

This bill would specify, among other things, procedures for delivery of individuals to various facilities for mental health evaluation and treatment; procedures for probable cause determinations for detention and evaluation for treatment; terms and length of detention, when appropriate, in various types of facilities; and criteria for release from designated facilities and nondesignated hospitals, as defined. The bill would exempt specified providers of health services and peace officers from criminal or civil liability for the actions of a person after his or her release from detention, subject to specified exceptions. The bill would authorize a provider of ambulance services to transfer a person who is voluntarily transferring to a designated facility for evaluation and treatment. The bill would require a designated facility to accept, within its clinical capability and capacity, all persons for whom it is designated, without regard to insurance or financial status. The bill would also make changes to the methods by which the county is notified of the release of a person detained for evaluation and treatment, including notification through the 24-hour toll-free telephone number established by the county’s mental health program.

end insert

Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes. State-mandated local program: no.

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:

begin insert

begin insert SECTION 1. end insert   

end insert

begin insert Section 5008 of the end insert begin insert Welfare and Institutions Code end insert
begin insert is amended to read: end insert

5008.  

Unless the context otherwise requires, the following
definitions shall govern the construction of this part:

(a) “Evaluation” consists of multidisciplinary professional
analyses of a person’s medical, psychological, educational, social,
financial, and legal conditions as may appear to constitute a
problem. Persons providing evaluation services shall be properly
qualified professionals and may be full-time employees of an
agency providing face-to-face, which includes telehealth,
evaluation services or may be part-time employees or may be
employed on a contractual basis.

(b) “Court-ordered evaluation” means an evaluation ordered by
a superior court pursuant to Article 2 (commencing with Section
5200) or by a superior court pursuant to Article 3 (commencing
with Section 5225) of Chapter 2.

(c) “Intensive treatment” consists of begin delete such end delete hospital and other
services as may be indicated. Intensive treatment shall be provided
by properly qualified professionals and carried out in facilities
qualifying for reimbursement under the California Medical
Assistance Program (Medi-Cal) set forth in Chapter 7 (commencing
with Section 14000) of Part 3 of Division 9, or under Title XVIII
of the federal Social Security Act and regulations thereunder.
Intensive treatment may be provided in hospitals of the United
States government by properly qualified professionals. Nothing
in this part shall be construed to prohibit an intensive treatment
facility from also providing 72-hour evaluation and treatment.

(d) “Referral” is referral of persons by each agency or facility
providing assessment, evaluation, crisis intervention, or treatment
services to other agencies or individuals. The purpose of referral
shall be to provide for continuity of care, and may include, but
need not be limited to, informing the person of available services,
making appointments on the person’s behalf, discussing the
person’s problem with the agency or individual to which the person
has been referred, appraising the outcome of referrals, and
arranging for personal escort and transportation when necessary.
Referral shall be considered complete when the agency or
individual to whom the person has been referred accepts
responsibility for providing the necessary services. All persons
shall be advised of available precare services that prevent initial
recourse to hospital treatment or aftercare services that support
adjustment to community living following hospital treatment.
These services may be provided through county or city mental
health departments, state hospitals under the jurisdiction of the
State Department of State Hospitals, regional centers under contract
with the State Department of Developmental Services, or other
public or private entities.

Each agency or facility providing evaluation services shall
maintain a current and comprehensive file of all community
services, both public and private. These files shall contain current
agreements with agencies or individuals accepting referrals, as
well as appraisals of the results of past referrals.

(e) “Crisis intervention” consists of an interview or series of
interviews within a brief period of time, conducted by qualified
professionals, and designed to alleviate personal or family
situations which present a serious and imminent threat to the health
or stability of the person or the family. The interview or interviews
may be conducted in the home of the person or family, or on an
inpatient or outpatient basis with such therapy, or other services,
as may be appropriate. The interview or interviews may include
family members, significant support persons, providers, or other
entities or individuals, as appropriate and as authorized by law.
Crisis intervention may, as appropriate, include suicide prevention,
psychiatric, welfare, psychological, legal, or other social services.

(f) “Prepetition screening” is a screening of all petitions for
court-ordered evaluation as provided in Article 2 (commencing
with Section 5200) of Chapter 2, consisting of a professional
review of all petitions; an interview with the petitioner and,
whenever possible, the person alleged, as a result of a mental health
disorder, to be a danger to others, or to himself or herself, or to be
gravely disabled, to assess the problem and explain the petition;
when indicated, efforts to persuade the person to receive, on a
voluntary basis, comprehensive evaluation, crisis intervention,
referral, and other services specified in this part.

(g) “Conservatorship investigation” means investigation by an
agency appointed or designated by the governing body of cases in
which conservatorship is recommended pursuant to Chapter 3
(commencing with Section 5350).

(h) (1) For purposes of Article 1 (commencing with Section
5150), Article 2 (commencing with Section 5200), and Article 4
(commencing with Section 5250) of Chapter 2, and for the purposes
of Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 5350), “gravely disabled”
means either of the following:

(A) A condition in which a person, as a result of a mental health
disorder, is unable to provide for his or her basic personal needs
for food, clothing, or shelter.

(B) A condition in which a person, has been found mentally
incompetent under Section 1370 of the Penal Code and all of the
following facts exist:

(i) The indictment or information pending against the person at
the time of commitment charges a felony involving death, great
bodily harm, or a serious threat to the physical well-being of
another person.

(ii) The indictment or information has not been dismissed.

(iii) As a result of a mental health disorder, the person is unable
to understand the nature and purpose of the proceedings taken
against him or her and to assist counsel in the conduct of his or
her defense in a rational manner.

(2) For purposes of Article 3 (commencing with Section 5225)
and Article 4 (commencing with Section 5250), of Chapter 2, and
for the purposes of Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 5350),
“gravely disabled” means a condition in which a person, as a result
of impairment by chronic alcoholism, is unable to provide for his
or her basic personal needs for food, clothing, or shelter.

(3) The term “gravely disabled” does not include persons with
intellectual disabilities by reason of that disability alone.

(i) “Peace officer” means a duly sworn peace officer as that
term is defined in Chapter 4.5 (commencing with Section 830) of
Title 3 of Part 2 of the Penal Code who has completed the basic
training course established by the Commission on Peace Officer
Standards and Training, or any parole officer or probation officer
specified in Section 830.5 of the Penal Code when acting in relation
to cases for which he or she has a legally mandated responsibility.

(j) “Postcertification treatment” means an additional period of
treatment pursuant to Article 6 (commencing with Section 5300)
of Chapter 2.

(k) “Court,” unless otherwise specified, means a court of record.

(l) “Antipsychotic medication” means any medication
customarily prescribed for the treatment of symptoms of psychoses
and other severe mental and emotional disorders.

(m) “Emergency” means a situation in which action to impose
treatment over the person’s objection is immediately necessary
for the preservation of life or the prevention of serious bodily harm
to the patient or others, and it is impracticable to first gain consent.
It is not necessary for harm to take place or become unavoidable
prior to treatment.

(n) “Designated facility” or “facility designated by the county
for evaluation and treatment” means a facility that is licensed or
certified as a mental health treatment facility or a hospital, as
defined in subdivision (a) or (b) of Section 1250 of the Health and
Safety Code, by the State Department of Public Health, and may
include, but is not limited to, a licensed psychiatric hospital, a
licensed psychiatric health facility, and a certified crisis
stabilization unit.

begin insert

(o) “Authorized professional” means any of the following:

end insert begin insert

(1) A mental health professional or category of mental health
professionals, excluding peace officers, who are authorized in
writing by a county to provide services described in Article 1
(commencing with Section 5150) of Chapter 2. An authorized
professional shall have appropriate training in mental health
disorders and determination of probable cause, and shall have
relevant experience in providing services to persons with mental
health disorders.

end insert begin insert

(2) An authorized professional as described in paragraph (1)
who is a member of the staff of a designated facility and who is
authorized by the facility to provide services described in this part.

end insert begin insert

(3) A member of a mobile crisis team who is authorized in
writing by a county to provide services described in Article 1
(commencing with Section 5150) of Chapter 2.

end insert begin insert

(p) “Emergency transport provider” means a provider of
ambulance services licensed by the Department of the California
Highway Patrol or operated by a public safety agency and includes
the authorized personnel of an emergency transport provider who
are certified or licensed under Section 1797.56, 1797.80, 1797.82,
or 1797.84 of the Health and Safety Code.

end insert begin insert

(q) “Telehealth” means the telehealth services, as defined in
paragraph (6) of subdivision (a) of Section 2290.5 of the Business
and Professions Code, for the purpose of providing services under
this part, including a probable cause determination, the release
of a person from detention for evaluation and treatment, assessment
or evaluation, and treatment. For purposes of this part, telehealth
services may be used by any licensed professional, including a
psychologist, clinical social worker, or other mental health
professional, acting within the scope of his or her profession for
providing evaluation, treatment, consultation, or other mental
health services under this part.

end insert

begin insert

begin insert SEC. 2. end insert   

end insert

begin insert Section 5014 is added to the end insert begin insert Welfare and Institutions
Code end insert begin insert , to read: end insert

begin insert

begin insert 5014. end insert   

Each designated facility shall accept, within its clinical
capability and capacity, all categories of persons for whom it is
designated, without regard to insurance or financial status. If a
person presents to a designated facility with a psychiatric
emergency medical condition, as defined in subdivision (f) of
Section 5150.10, that is beyond its capability, the facility shall
assist the person in obtaining emergency services and care at an
appropriate facility.

end insert

begin insert

begin insert SEC. 3. end insert   

end insert

begin insert Section 5025 is added to the end insert begin insert Welfare and Institutions
Code end insert begin insert , to read: end insert

begin insert

begin insert 5025. end insert   

(a) The professional person in charge of a nondesignated
hospital, as defined in subdivision (c) of Section 5150.10, his or
her designee, the medical director of the nondesignated hospital
or his or her designee, the psychiatric professional who has
consulted with a treating emergency professional in accordance
with subdivision (c) of Section 5150.15, or a treating emergency
professional or other professional staff person who has received
training in managing persons who have been detained for
evaluation and treatment and the determination of probable cause
in accordance with Section 5150, and who is acting within the
scope of his or her official duties, employment or contractual
obligations, or clinical privileges for the nondesignated hospital,
shall not be civilly or criminally liable for any action by a person
detained pursuant to Article 1 (commencing with Section 5150)
of Chapter 2 of this part, and released at the end of 72 hours, or
before the end of 72 hours, if Section 5150.15 is satisfied.

(b) The peace officer responsible for the detainment of the
person shall not be civilly or criminally liable for any action by a
person released at or before the end of the 72-hour detainment
period pursuant to Article 1 (commencing with Section 5150) of
Chapter 2 of this part.

(c) A treating emergency professional or other professional
staff person who has received training in managing persons who
have been detained for evaluation and treatment and the
determination of probable cause in accordance with Section 5150,
and who is acting within the scope of his or her official duties,
employment or contractual obligations, or clinical privileges for
the nondesignated hospital shall not be liable for carrying out a
determination in accordance with Section 5150.15.

(d) Nothing in this section shall exonerate a person described
in this section from liability if that person acted with gross
negligence or willful or wanton misconduct.

end insert

begin insert

begin insert SEC. 4. end insert   

end insert

begin insert Section 5113 of the end insert begin insert Welfare and Institutions Code end insert begin insert is
amended to read: end insert

5113.  

Except as provided in Sections 5154, 5173, 5259.3, 5267,
begin insert 5270.35, end insert and 5306, the facility providing treatment pursuant to
Article 1 (commencing with Section 5150), Article 1.5
(commencing with Section 5170), Article 4 (commencing with
Section 5250), Article 4.5 (commencing with Section begin delete 5260) end delete begin insert 5260),
Article 4.7 (commencing with Section 5270.10), end insert or Article 6
(commencing with Section 5300), begin delete the superintendent of the facility, end delete
begin insert a nondesignated hospital, as defined in subdivision (c) of Section
5150.10, the administrator of the facility or nondesignated hospital, end insert
the professional person in charge of the facility begin insert or nondesignated
hospital, end insert and his or her designee, or the peace officer responsible
for the detainment of the person shall not be civilly or criminally
liable for any action by a person released at or before the end of
the period for which he or she was begin insert detained or end insert admitted pursuant
to the provisions of the appropriate article.

begin insert

begin insert SEC. 5. end insert   

end insert

begin insert Section 5113.5 is added to the end insert begin insert Welfare and Institutions
Code end insert begin insert , to read: end insert

begin insert

begin insert 5113.5. end insert   

(a) A designated facility or nondesignated hospital,
as defined in subdivision (c) of Section 5150.10, or a physician or
other professional staff person who has received training in
managing persons who have been detained for evaluation and
treatment and determination of probable cause in accordance with
Section 5150, and who is acting within the scope of his or her
official duties, employment or contractual obligations, or clinical
privileges for the designated facility or nondesignated hospital
shall not be liable for any of the following:

(1) An injury caused by an eloping or eloped person who has
been detained for a mental health disorder or addiction.

(2) An injury to, or the wrongful death of, an eloping or eloped
person who has been detained for a mental health disorder or
addiction.

(b) Nothing in this section shall exonerate a person described
in this section from liability if that person acted with gross
negligence or willful or wanton misconduct.

end insert

begin insert

begin insert SEC. 6. end insert   

end insert

begin insert Section 5150.1 of the end insert begin insert Welfare and Institutions Code end insert
begin insert is amended to read: end insert

5150.1.  

begin insert (a) end insert begin insert   end insert No peace officer seeking to transport, or having
transported, a person to a designated facility for assessment under
Section 5150, shall be instructed by mental health personnel to
take the person to, or keep the person at, a jail solely because of
the unavailability of an acute bed, nor shall the peace officer be
forbidden to transport the person directly to the designated facility.
No mental health employee from any county, state, city, or any
private agency providing Short-Doyle psychiatric emergency
services shall interfere with a peace officer performing duties under
Section 5150 by preventing the peace officer from entering a
designated facility with the person to be assessed, nor shall any
employee of such an agency require the peace officer to remove
the person without assessment as a condition of allowing the peace
officer to depart.

begin insert

(b) An emergency transport provider or any certified or licensed
personnel of an emergency transport provider who has received
training in managing persons who have been detained for
evaluation and treatment and who is acting at the direction of a
peace officer to transport a person who has been detained by the
peace officer pursuant to subdivision (a) of Section 5150 to a
designated facility for assessment under Section 5151, or to a
nondesignated hospital, as defined in subdivision (c) of Section
5150.10, for emergency services and care, is authorized to continue
the detention for the purpose of transporting the person to the
facility or the nondesignated hospital.

end insert begin delete

“Peace

end delete

begin insert (c) end insert begin insert   end insert begin insert “Peace end insert officer” for the purposes of this section also means
a jailer seeking to transport or transporting a person in custody to
a designated facility for assessment consistent with Section 4011.6
or 4011.8 of the Penal Code and Section 5150.

begin insert

begin insert SEC. 7. end insert   

end insert

begin insert Section 5150.3 is added to the end insert begin insert Welfare and Institutions
Code end insert begin insert , to read: end insert

begin insert

begin insert 5150.3. end insert   

(a) An application for detention for evaluation and
treatment shall be valid in all counties in which there is a
designated facility to which the person may be taken.

(b) (1) If the person detained by a peace officer or authorized
professional is in a location other than a designated facility or
nondesignated hospital, the original or copy of the application for
detention for evaluation and treatment shall be presented to the
designated facility under paragraph (2) or the nondesignated
hospital under paragraph (3).

(2) If after detention under Section 5150, the person is first
taken to a designated facility, the original or a copy of the signed
application for detention for evaluation and treatment shall be
presented to the designated facility.

(3) If after detention under Section 5150, the person is first
taken to a nondesignated hospital, the original or a copy of the
signed application for detention for evaluation and treatment shall
be presented to the nondesignated hospital. If the person is
subsequently transferred to a designated facility, the nondesignated
hospital shall deliver the original or a copy of the signed
application for detention for evaluation and treatment to the
designated facility. If the person is discharged from the
nondesignated hospital under Section 5150.15 without a transfer
to a designated facility, the nondesignated hospital shall maintain
the original or a copy of the original signed application for
detention for evaluation and treatment.

(c) If a person detained for evaluation and treatment is
subsequently released pursuant to Section 5150.15 or 5151, the
application for detention for evaluation and treatment in the
possession of a designated facility or nondesignated hospital shall
be retained for the period of time required by the medical records
retention policy of the designated facility or nondesignated
hospital.

end insert

begin delete SECTION 1. end delete
begin insert SEC. 8. end insert   

Article 1.1 (commencing with Section 5150.10) is
added to Chapter 2 of Part 1 of Division 5 of the Welfare and
Institutions Code, to read:

 

Article 1.1.  Persons Detained in Nondesignated Hospitals

 

5150.10.  

Unless the context otherwise requires, the following
definitions shall govern the construction of this article:

(a) “Emergency department of a nondesignated hospital” means
a basic, comprehensive, or standby emergency medical service
that is approved by the State Department of Public Health as a
special or supplemental service of a nondesignated hospital. For
purposes of this part, an emergency department of a nondesignated
hospital shall include an observation or similar unit of the hospital
that meets both of the following criteria:

(1) The unit is operated under the direction and policies of the
emergency department.

(2) The unit provides continuing emergency services and care
to patients prior to an inpatient admission, transfer, or discharge.

begin insert

(b) “Emergency professional” means either of the following:

end insert begin insert

(1) A physician and surgeon who is board certified or pursuing
board certification in emergency medicine, or a qualified licensed
person, as defined in subdivision (e), during any scheduled period
that he or she is on duty to provide medical screening and
treatment of patients in an emergency department of a
nondesignated hospital.

end insert begin insert

(2) A physician and surgeon, or a qualified licensed person, as
defined in subdivision (e), during any scheduled period that he or
she is on duty to provide medical screening and treatment of
patients in the emergency department of a nondesignated hospital
that is a critical access hospital within the meaning of Section
1250.7 of the Health and Safety Code. A physician and surgeon
on duty under this paragraph shall include a physician and surgeon
on call for a standby emergency medical service who is responsible
to provide professional coverage for the emergency department.
A physician and surgeon on duty under this paragraph does not
include a physician and surgeon who is providing on-call specialty
coverage services to the emergency department of a nondesignated
hospital, unless the physician and surgeon is an emergency
professional under paragraph (1).

end insert begin delete

(b)

end delete

begin insert (c) end insert  “Nondesignated hospital” means a general acute care
hospital, as defined in subdivision (a) of Section 1250 of the Health
and Safety Code or an acute psychiatric hospital, as defined in
subdivision (b) of Section 1250 of the Health and Safety Code,
that is not a designated facility, as defined in Section 5008.

begin insert

(d) “Psychiatric professional” means a physician and surgeon
who is board certified or pursuing board certification in psychiatry
and who is providing specialty services to the emergency
department of a nondesignated hospital.

end insert begin insert

(e) “Qualified licensed person” means a licensed person
designated by the medical staff and governing body of a
nondesignated hospital to provide emergency services and care,
to the extent permitted by applicable law, in an emergency
department of the nondesignated hospital under the supervision
of a physician and surgeon.

end insert begin insert

(f) “Psychiatric emergency medical condition” has the same
meaning as defined in subdivision (k) of Section 1317.1 of the
Health and Safety Code.

end insert

begin delete

5150.11.  

(a) This section shall apply to a person who has been
detained pursuant to Section 5150 for evaluation and treatment
and first taken to an emergency department of a nondesignated
hospital.

(b) Except as provided in subdivision (e), the nondesignated
hospital shall notify the county in which the nondesignated hospital
is located of the person’s detention.

(c) The notification to the county shall be made using the
24-hour toll-free telephone number established by the county’s
mental health program for psychiatric emergency services and
crisis stabilization if the county’s mental health program has a
24-hour toll-free telephone number in operation on January 1,
2017, for this purpose. The notification shall be documented in
the patient’s medical record.

(d) The nondesignated hospital shall advise the county of all of
the following:

(1) The time when the 72-hour detention period for evaluation
and treatment expires.

(2) An estimate of the time when the person will be medically
stable for transfer to a designated facility.

(3) The county in which the person resides, if known.

(e) The notification to the county under this section shall not
be required if the treating emergency professional determines that
the person will be admitted to an acute care bed of a nondesignated
hospital for the primary purpose of receiving acute inpatient
services for a medical condition that is in addition to the person’s
psychiatric condition.

end delete begin insert

begin insert 5150.12. end insert   

(a) This section shall apply to a person who has been
detained for evaluation and treatment by a peace officer or an
authorized professional and is taken to an emergency department
of a nondesignated hospital for emergency services and care.

(b) While the person is in the emergency department of the
nondesignated hospital, the detention of the person for evaluation
and treatment shall continue, unless the person is released from
detention pursuant to Section 5150.15.

end insert begin insert

begin insert 5150.13. end insert   

(a) This section shall apply if, during a person’s
examination or treatment in an emergency department, there is a
need for a determination of probable cause for the detention of
the person for evaluation and treatment.

(b) If a person who has not been detained for evaluation and
treatment has signs or symptoms, in the judgment of the treating
emergency professional, that indicate probable cause for detention
for evaluation and treatment, the person shall have the right to a
prompt probable cause determination in accordance with any of
the following:

(1) The hospital may contact the county to arrange for a
probable cause determination by an authorized professional,
including, but not limited to, a member of a mobile crisis team.

(2) The probable cause determination may be conducted by an
authorized professional utilizing telehealth.

(3) The treating emergency professional may conduct a probable
cause determination and, upon a finding of probable cause, detain
the person for evaluation and treatment in accordance with Section
5150.

(c) If the person is detained for evaluation and treatment
pursuant to this section, the detention shall continue during his or
her stay in the emergency department of a nondesignated hospital,
unless the person is released from detention pursuant to Section
5150.15 or the detention ends by reason of the expiration of 72
hours pursuant to subdivision (a) of Section 5150.

end insert begin insert

begin insert 5150.14. end insert   

(a) This section shall apply to a person who is first
detained pursuant to Section 5150 for evaluation and treatment
in a nondesignated hospital emergency department or has been
detained pursuant to Section 5150 for evaluation and treatment
and first taken to an emergency department of a nondesignated
hospital.

(b) (1) Except as provided in subdivision (e), the nondesignated
hospital shall notify the county in which the nondesignated hospital
is located of the person’s detention.

(2) If the person was detained for evaluation and treatment and
taken to the emergency department of the nondesignated hospital
pursuant to Section 5150.12, the notification shall occur after the
hospital has performed an initial medical screening of the person
in accordance with paragraphs (1) and (2) of subdivision (a) of
Section 1317.1 of the Health and Safety Code.

(3) If the person is first detained for evaluation and treatment
in the emergency department of the nondesignated hospital
pursuant to Section 5150.13, the notification shall occur when the
probable cause determination has been completed.

(c) The notification to the county shall be made using the
24-hour toll-free telephone number established by the county’s
mental health program for psychiatric emergency services and
crisis stabilization if the county’s mental health program has a
24-hour toll-free telephone number in operation on January 1,
2017, for this purpose. The notification shall be documented in
the patient’s medical record.

(d) The nondesignated hospital shall advise the county of all of
the following:

(1) The time when the 72-hour detention period for evaluation
and treatment expires.

(2) An estimate of the time when the person will be medically
stable for transfer to a designated facility.

(3) The county in which the person resides, if known.

(e) The notification to the county under this section shall not
be required if the treating emergency professional determines that
the person will be admitted, pursuant to Section 5150.16, to an
acute care bed of a nondesignated hospital for the primary purpose
of receiving acute inpatient services for a medical condition that
is in addition to the person’s psychiatric condition.

end insert begin insert

begin insert 5150.15. end insert   

(a) This section shall establish a process for releasing
from detention a person who has been detained for evaluation and
treatment during the time that the person is detained in the
emergency department of a nondesignated hospital.

(b) If the treating emergency professional, after an examination
of the person, determines that a person does not have a mental
disorder, the treating professional may release the person from
detention for evaluation and treatment.

(c) If the treating emergency professional, after an examination
of the person, determines that a person has a mental disorder, but
there is no longer probable cause to continue the detention for
evaluation and treatment, the treating emergency professional
may release that person only when the treating emergency
professional has conducted a face-to-face examination and
determined that the person does not pose a danger to himself or
herself or others, and is not gravely disabled.

end insert begin insert

begin insert 5150.16. end insert   

(a) A nondesignated hospital and the professional
staff of the nondesignated hospital shall not be civilly or criminally
liable for the transfer of a person detained for evaluation and
treatment to a designated facility in accordance with this article.

(b) The peace officer or authorized professional responsible for
the detention of the person for evaluation and treatment who
transfers the custody of the person to an emergency professional
of a nondesignated hospital shall not be civilly or criminally liable
for any of the following:

(1) The continuation and enforcement of the detention for
evaluation and treatment during the person’s stay in the emergency
department of the nondesignated hospital prior to the discharge
of the person from the hospital in accordance with this article.

(2) The release of the person from detention for evaluation and
treatment in accordance with this article.

(3) The transfer of the person detained for evaluation and
treatment to a designated facility in accordance with this article.

(c) Nothing in this section shall exonerate a person described
in this section from liability if that person acted with gross
negligence or willful or wanton misconduct.

end insert begin insert

begin insert 5150.17. end insert   

(a) A provider of ambulance services licensed by the
Department of the California Highway Patrol or operated by a
public safety agency, and the employees of those providers who
are certified or licensed under Section 1797.56 of the Health and
Safety Code, shall be authorized to transport a person who is in
a hospital or facility on a voluntary basis to a designated facility
for psychiatric treatment. This section shall apply to transfers from
any type of facility, including nondesignated hospitals and other
facilities.

(b) A person shall not be detained for evaluation and treatment
solely for the purpose of transporting the person, or transferring
the person by a provider of ambulance services, to a designated
facility or an emergency department of a nondesignated hospital.

end insert begin insert

begin insert 5150.18. end insert   

(a) Notwithstanding Section 5328, peace officers,
authorized professionals, emergency professionals and other
qualified professionals who participate in the examination,
consultation, treatment, placement, referral, or transport of a
person who is, or for whom there may be probable cause to be,
detained for evaluation and treatment under Section 5150 may
engage in communication of patient information among each other
and with county behavioral health professionals and staff, in the
provision of emergency services, referral, and placement for the
person with a designated facility or other agency. This includes
communication about the historical course of the person’s mental
disorder, as defined in Section 5150.05.

(b) Communication of patient information under this section
also includes both of the following:

(1) Communications between emergency medical personnel and
emergency professionals at a licensed hospital, as defined in
subdivision (a) or (b) of Section 1250 of the Health and Safety
Code, in examination and treatment of a person at the scene of an
emergency or in transport of the person to a hospital for emergency
services and care.

(2) Communications among emergency medical personnel,
emergency professionals, and authorized professionals at a
designated facility or a nondesignated hospital at which the person
may be evaluated, treated, placed, referred, or transported,
including during the course of transport.

(c) For purposes of this section, communications among
emergency medical personnel, emergency professionals, and
authorized professionals include communications with licensed
persons working under the supervision of emergency professionals
and authorized professionals.

end insert

begin insert

begin insert SEC. 9. end insert   

end insert

begin insert Section 5270.50 of the end insert begin insert Welfare and Institutions Code end insert
begin insert is amended to read: end insert

5270.50.  

begin insert (a) end insert begin insert   end insert Notwithstanding Section 5113, if the provisions
of Section 5270.35 have been met, the professional person in
charge of the facility providing intensive treatment, his or her
designee, begin delete and the professional person end delete begin insert the medical director of the
facility or his or her designee described in Section 5270.35, the
psychiatrist end insert directly responsible for the person’s begin delete treatment end delete
begin insert treatment, or the psychologist end insert shall not be held civilly or criminally
liable for any action by a person released before or at the end of
begin insert the end insert 30 days begin insert of intensive treatment end insert pursuant to this article.

begin insert

(b) The professional person in charge of the facility providing
intensive treatment or his or her designee, the medical director of
the facility or his or her designee described in Section 5270.35,
the psychiatrist directly responsible for the person’s treatment, or
the psychologist shall not be held civilly or criminally liable for
any action by a person released at the end of the 30 days of
intensive treatment pursuant to this article.

end insert begin insert

(c) The attorney or advocate representing the person, the
court-appointed commissioner or referee, the certification review
hearing officer conducting the certification review hearing, or the
peace officer responsible for detaining the person shall not be
civilly or criminally liable for any action by a person released at
or before the end of the 30 days of intensive treatment pursuant
to this article.

end insert