2021 Oregon Revised Statutes
Chapter 426 - Persons With Mental Illness; Dangerous Persons; Commitment; Housing
Section 426.237 - Prehearing detention; duties of community mental health program director; certification for treatment; court proceedings.

(a) Recommend, in an investigation report as provided in ORS 426.074, that the circuit court not proceed further in the matter if the community mental health program director does not believe the person is a person with mental illness or that the person is in need of assisted outpatient treatment.
(b) No later than three judicial days after initiation of a prehearing period of detention as provided in ORS 426.070, 426.140, 426.232 or 426.233, certify the detained person for a 14-day period of intensive treatment if:
(A) The community mental health program director and a licensed independent practitioner have probable cause to believe the person is a person with mental illness;
(B) The community mental health program director in the county where the person resides verbally approves the arrangements for payment for the services at the hospital or nonhospital facility; and
(C) The community mental health program director locates a hospital or nonhospital facility that:
(i) Is approved by the authority and the community mental health program director in the county where the person resides; and
(ii) Can, in the opinion of the community mental health program director and the licensed independent practitioner, provide intensive care or treatment for mental illness necessary and sufficient to meet the emergency psychiatric needs of the person.
(c) Recommend, in an investigation report as provided in ORS 426.074, that the circuit court hold a hearing under ORS 426.070 to 426.130 if the community mental health program director has probable cause to believe the person is a person with mental illness or that the person is in need of assisted outpatient treatment.
(2)(a) If the circuit court adopts the recommendation of the community mental health program director under subsection (1)(a) of this section, the circuit court shall enter an order releasing the person and dismissing the case. Unless the person agrees to voluntary treatment, if the person is being detained in a:
(A) Nonhospital facility, the community mental health program director shall make discharge plans and ensure the discharge of the person.
(B) Hospital, the licensed independent practitioner who is treating the person shall make discharge plans and discharge the person.
(b) Upon release of the person, the community mental health program director shall attempt to notify the person’s next of kin if the person consents to the notification.
(3)(a) If the detained person is certified for treatment under subsection (1)(b) of this section, the community mental health program director shall:
(A) Deliver immediately a certificate to the court having jurisdiction under ORS 426.060; and
(B) Orally inform the person of the certification and deliver a copy of the certificate to the person.
(b) The certificate required by paragraph (a) of this subsection shall include:
(A) A written statement under oath by the community mental health program director and the licensed independent practitioner that they have probable cause to believe the person is a person with mental illness in need of care or treatment for mental illness;
(B) A treatment plan that describes, in general terms, the types of treatment and medication to be provided to the person during the 14-day period of intensive treatment;
(C) A notice of the person’s right to an attorney and that an attorney will be appointed by the court or as otherwise obtained under ORS 426.100 (3);
(D) A notice that the person has a right to request and be provided a hearing under ORS 426.070 to 426.130 at any time during the 14-day period; and
(E) The date and time the copy of the certificate was delivered to the person.
(c) Immediately upon receipt of a certificate under paragraph (a) of this subsection, the court shall notify the person’s attorney or appoint an attorney for the person if the person cannot afford one. Within 24 hours of the time the certificate is delivered to the court, the person’s attorney shall review the certificate with the person. If the person and the person’s attorney consent to the certification within one judicial day of the time the certificate is delivered to the circuit court and, except as provided in subsection (4) of this section, the court shall postpone the hearing required by ORS 426.070 to 426.130 for 14 days.
(d) When a person is certified for treatment under subsection (1)(b) of this section and accepts the certification:
(A) Except as otherwise provided in this paragraph, all methods of treatment, including the prescription and administration of drugs, shall be the sole responsibility of the licensed independent practitioner who is treating the person. However, the person shall not be subject to electroshock therapy or unduly hazardous treatment and shall receive usual and customary treatment in accordance with medical standards in the community.
(B) Except when the person expressly refuses treatment, the treating licensed independent practitioner shall treat the person within the scope of the treatment plan provided the person under paragraph (b) of this subsection. The person’s refusal of treatment constitutes sufficient grounds for the community mental health program director to request a hearing as provided in subsection (4)(a) of this section.
(C) If the person is in a hospital and the community mental health program director locates a nonhospital facility, approved by the authority, that, in the opinion of the community mental health program director and the licensed independent practitioner who is treating the person, can provide care or treatment for mental illness necessary and sufficient to meet the emergency psychiatric needs of the person, the treating licensed independent practitioner shall discharge the person from the hospital and the community mental health program director shall remove the person to the nonhospital facility for the remainder of the 14-day intensive treatment period. If, however, in the opinion of the treating licensed independent practitioner, the person’s condition requires the person to receive medical care or treatment, the licensed independent practitioner shall retain the person in the hospital.
(D) If the person is in a nonhospital facility, the community mental health program director shall transfer the person to a hospital approved by the authority under the following conditions:
(i) If, in the opinion of a licensed independent practitioner, the person’s condition requires the person to receive medical care or treatment in a hospital; and
(ii) The licensed independent practitioner agrees to admit the person to a hospital, approved by the authority, where the licensed independent practitioner has admitting privileges.
(E) If the person is transferred as provided in subparagraph (C) or (D) of this paragraph, the community mental health program director shall notify the circuit court, in the county where the certificate was filed, of the location of the person. The person may appeal the transfer as provided by rules of the authority.
(e) If the person is in a hospital, the licensed independent practitioner who is treating the person may discharge the person at any time during the 14-day period. The treating licensed independent practitioner shall confer with the community mental health program director and the person’s next of kin, if the person consents to the consultation, prior to discharging the person. Immediately upon discharge of the person, the treating licensed independent practitioner shall notify the court in the county in which the certificate was filed initially.
(f) If the person is in a nonhospital facility, the community mental health program director may discharge the person at any time during the 14-day period. The community mental health program director shall consult with the licensed independent practitioner who is treating the person and the person’s next of kin, if the person consents to the consultation, prior to discharging the person. Immediately upon discharge of the person, the community mental health program director shall notify the court in the county in which the certificate was filed initially.
(g) The person may agree to voluntary treatment at any time during the 14-day period. When a person agrees to voluntary treatment under this paragraph, the community mental health program director immediately shall notify the court in the county in which the certificate was filed initially.
(h) A person consenting to 14 days of treatment under subsection (3)(c) of this section shall not be held longer than 14 days from the time of consenting without a hearing as provided in ORS 426.070 to 426.130.
(i) When the court receives notification under paragraph (e), (f) or (g) of this subsection, the court shall dismiss the case.
(4) The judge of the circuit court shall immediately commence proceedings under ORS 426.070 to 426.130 when:
(a) The person consenting to 14 days of treatment or the community mental health program director requests a hearing. The hearing shall be held without unreasonable delay. In no case shall the person be held in a hospital or nonhospital facility longer than five judicial days after the request for a hearing is made without a hearing being held under ORS 426.070 to 426.130.
(b) The community mental health program director acts under subsection (1)(c) of this section. In no case shall the person be held longer than five judicial days without a hearing under this subsection. [1993 c.484 §9; 2003 c.14 §237; 2009 c.595 §409; 2013 c.360 §44; 2013 c.737 §5; 2015 c.461 §17]
Note: See note under 426.228.

Structure 2021 Oregon Revised Statutes