5976.5. (a) Notwithstanding any other law, and except as otherwise provided in this section, a hearing held under this part is presumptively closed to the public.
(b) The respondent may demand that the hearing be public and be held in a place suitable for attendance by the public.
(c) The respondent may request the presence of any family member or friend without waiving the right to keep the hearing closed to the rest of the public.
(d) A request by any other party to the proceeding to make the hearing public may be granted if the judge conducting the hearing finds that the public interest in an open hearing clearly outweighs the respondent’s interest in privacy.
(e) All reports, evaluations, diagnoses, or other information related to the respondent’s health shall be confidential.
(f) Before commencing a hearing, the judge shall inform the respondent of their rights under this section.
(Added by Stats. 2022, Ch. 319, Sec. 7. (SB 1338) Effective January 1, 2023. Section conditionally operative as provided in Section 5970.5.)