Texas Statutes
Subchapter C. Emergency Detention, Release, and Rights
Section 573.021. Preliminary Examination

Sec. 573.021. PRELIMINARY EXAMINATION. (a) A facility shall temporarily accept a person for whom an application for detention is filed or for whom a peace officer or emergency medical services personnel of an emergency medical services provider transporting the person in accordance with a memorandum of understanding executed under Section 573.005 files a notification of detention completed by the peace officer under Section 573.002(a).
(b) A person accepted for a preliminary examination may be detained in custody for not longer than 48 hours after the time the person is presented to the facility unless a written order for protective custody is obtained. The 48-hour period allowed by this section includes any time the patient spends waiting in the facility for medical care before the person receives the preliminary examination. If the 48-hour period ends on a Saturday, Sunday, legal holiday, or before 4 p.m. on the first succeeding business day, the person may be detained until 4 p.m. on the first succeeding business day. If the 48-hour period ends at a different time, the person may be detained only until 4 p.m. on the day the 48-hour period ends. If extremely hazardous weather conditions exist or a disaster occurs, the presiding judge or magistrate may, by written order made each day, extend by an additional 24 hours the period during which the person may be detained. The written order must declare that an emergency exists because of the weather or the occurrence of a disaster.
(c) A physician shall examine the person as soon as possible within 12 hours after the time the person is apprehended by the peace officer or transported for emergency detention by the person's guardian.
(d) A facility must comply with this section only to the extent that the commissioner determines that a facility has sufficient resources to perform the necessary services under this section.
(e) A person may not be detained in a private mental health facility without the consent of the facility administrator.
Added by Acts 1991, 72nd Leg., ch. 76, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1991. Amended by Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 623, Sec. 1, eff. June 11, 2001; Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 692, Sec. 7, eff. Sept. 1, 2003.
Amended by:
Acts 2007, 80th Leg., R.S., Ch. 202 (H.B. 518), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2007.
Acts 2009, 81st Leg., R.S., Ch. 333 (H.B. 888), Sec. 1, eff. June 19, 2009.
Acts 2013, 83rd Leg., R.S., Ch. 318 (H.B. 1738), Sec. 3, eff. September 1, 2013.
Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 541 (S.B. 344), Sec. 5, eff. June 9, 2017.

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