New York Laws
Article 15 - Admission of People With Developmental Disabilities to Schools
15.21 - Voluntary Admissions; Conversion To.

(a) Nothing contained in this article shall be construed to prohibit
any director from converting, and it shall be his duty to convert, the
admission of any involuntary resident suitable and willing to apply
therefor to a voluntary status. The mental hygiene legal service shall
be given notice of every conversion from an involuntary status to a
voluntary status.
(b) Any patient converted from an involuntary status to a voluntary
status shall have the right to a judicial hearing before the supreme
court or a county court on the questions of his suitability for such
conversion and on his willingness to be so converted. The procedure for
requesting such a hearing, except as to time limitation and questions to
be determined, shall be pursuant to subdivisions (a) and (b) of section
33.31.