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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2023

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO BEHAVIORAL HEALTHCARE, DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES AND

HOSPITALS -- MENTAL HEALTH LAW

     Introduced By: Representative David A. Bennett

     Date Introduced: February 23, 2023

     Referred To: House Health & Human Services

     (Dept. of BHDDH)

It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Sections 40.1-5-2, 40.1-5-5, 40.1-5-7, 40.1-5-8, 40.1-5-9, 40.1-5-10 and

40.1-5-11 of the General Laws in Chapter 40.1-5 entitled "Mental Health Law" are hereby amended

to read as follows:

     40.1-5-2. Definitions.

     Whenever used in this chapter, or in any order, rule, or regulation made or promulgated

pursuant to this chapter, or in any printed forms prepared by the department or the director, unless

otherwise expressly stated, or unless the context or subject matter otherwise requires:

     (1) “Advanced practice registered nurse” (APRN). For the purposes of this chapter,

advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) is the title given to an individual licensed to practice

advanced practice registered nursing within one of the following roles: certified nurse practitioner

(CNP) as defined under § 5-34-3 or certified clinical nurse specialist as defined under § 5-34-3 who

functions in the population focus of psychiatric/mental health as defined by § 5-34-3(12)(vi) and

whose scope of practice is defined under §§ 5-34-3(1), 5-34-3(2) and 5-34-3(15).

     (1)(2) “Alternatives to admission or certification” means alternatives to a particular facility

or treatment program, and shall include, but not be limited to, voluntary or court-ordered outpatient

treatment, day treatment in a hospital, night treatment in a hospital, placement in the custody of a

friend or relative, placement in a nursing home, referral to a community mental health clinic and

home health aide services, or any other services that may be deemed appropriate.

     (2)(3) “Care and treatment” means psychiatric care, together with such medical, nursing,

psychological, social, rehabilitative, and maintenance services as may be required by a patient in

association with the psychiatric care provided pursuant to an individualized treatment plan recorded

in the patient’s medical record.

     (3)(4) “Department” means the state department of behavioral healthcare, developmental

disabilities and hospitals.

     (4)(5) “Director” means the director of the state department of behavioral healthcare,

developmental disabilities and hospitals.

     (5)(i)(6) “Facility” means, but is not limited to, any public or private hospital licensed by

the Rhode Island department of health that maintains staff and facilities, including inpatient units,

for the care and treatment of persons with psychiatric illness, psychiatric disorders, and/or

psychiatric disabilities; and in and/or a community mental health center as defined in § 40.1-8.5-2.

In order to operate pursuant to the Mental Health Act Law as codified in this chapter, such facility

and/or inpatient unit must be approved by the director of the department of behavioral healthcare,

developmental disabilities and hospitals upon application of such facility and/or inpatient unit, and

any of the several community mental health services established pursuant to chapter 8.5 of this title.

The process and criteria for approval to operate pursuant to the Mental Health Law as codified in

this chapter shall be determined by the director. Nothing contained herein shall be construed to

amend or repeal any of the provisions of chapter 16 of title 23.

     (ii) The Eleanor Slater hospital shall be required to apply to the department for approval

from the director to operate pursuant to this chapter.

     (iii) The Rhode Island state psychiatric hospital shall be required to apply to the department

for approval from the director to operate pursuant to this chapter.

     (6)(7) “Indigent person” means a person who has not sufficient property or income to

support himself or herself, and to support the members of his or her family dependent upon him or

her for support, and/or is unable to pay the fees and costs incurred pursuant to any legal proceedings

conducted under the provisions of this chapter.

     (7)(8) “Likelihood of serious harm” means:

     (i) A substantial risk of physical harm to the person himself or herself as manifested by

behavior evidencing serious threats of, or attempts at, suicide;

     (ii) A substantial risk of physical harm to other persons as manifested by behavior or threats

evidencing homicidal or other violent behavior; or

     (iii) A substantial risk of physical harm to the mentally disabled person as manifested by

behavior that has created a grave, clear, and present risk to the person’s physical health and safety.

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     (iv) In determining whether there exists a likelihood of serious harm, the physician and the

court may consider previous acts, diagnosis, words, or thoughts of the patient. If a patient has been

incarcerated, or institutionalized, or in a controlled environment of any kind, the court may give

great weight to such prior acts, diagnosis, words, or thoughts.

     (8)(9) “Mental health professional” means a psychiatrist, psychologist, or social worker

and such other persons, including psychiatric nurse clinicians clinician and licensed advanced

practice registered nurse (APRN) as defined in § 40.1-5-2, as may be defined by rules and

regulations promulgated by the director.

     (9)(10) “NICS database” means the National Instant Criminal Background Check System

as created pursuant to section 103(b) of the Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act (Brady Act),

Pub. L. No. 103-159, 107 Stat. 1536 as established by 28 C.F.R. 25.1.

     (10)(11) “Patient” means a person admitted voluntarily, certified or re-certified admitted

to a facility according to the provisions of this chapter.

     (11)(12) “Physician” means a person licensed by the Rhode Island department of health to

practice medicine pursuant to chapter 37 of title 5.

     (12)(13) “Psychiatric disability” means a mental disorder in which the capacity of a person

to exercise self-control or judgment in the conduct of the person’s affairs and social relations, or to

care for the person’s own personal needs, is significantly impaired.

     (13)(14) “Psychiatric nurse clinician” means a professional registered nurse with a master’s

degree in psychiatric nursing or related field who is licensed by the Rhode Island department of

health pursuant to chapter 34 of title 5 and who is currently working in the mental health field as

defined by the American Nurses Association, and/or a licensed advanced practice registered nurse

with a population focus of psychiatric/mental health population focus as defined in paragraphs (2)

and (12)(vi) of § 5-34-3 (APRN) as defined in § 40.1-5-2.

     (14)(15) “Psychiatrist” means a person licensed by the Rhode Island department of health

to practice medicine pursuant to chapter 37 of title 5 who has, in addition, completed three (3) years

of graduate psychiatric training in a program approved by the American Medical Association or

American Osteopathic Association.

     (15)(16) “Psychologist” means a person licensed by the Rhode Island department of health

pursuant to chapter 44 of title 5.

     (17) “Qualified mental health professional” (QMHP) means a mental health professional,

as defined in §40.1-5-2(9) and as approved by the licensing unit within the department, and who

has a minimum of thirty (30) hours of supervised face-to-face emergency services experience as a

psychiatric emergency service worker in Rhode Island. Such experience may be gained through

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employment with: (i) A community mental health center (CMHC) which is conducting emergency

psychiatric assessment for individuals under consideration for admission to an inpatient mental

health facility; or (ii) A licensed hospital which is conducting emergency psychiatric assessment

for individuals under consideration for admission to an inpatient mental health facility.

     (16)(18) “Social worker” means a person who has a masters or further advanced degree

from a school of social work, that is accredited by the council of social work education and who is

licensed by the Rhode Island department of health pursuant to chapter 39.1 of title 5.

     40.1-5-5. Admission of patients generally — Rights of patients — Patients’ records —

Competence of patients.

     (a) Admissions. Any person who is in need of care and treatment in a facility, as herein

defined, may be admitted or certified, received, and retained as a patient in a facility by complying

with any one of the following admission procedures applicable to the case:

     (1) Voluntary admission.

     (2) Emergency certification.

     (3) Civil court certification.

     (b) Forms. The director shall prescribe and furnish forms for use in admissions and patient

notification procedures under this chapter.

     (c) Exclusions. No person with a psychiatric an intellectual and/or developmental

disability, or person under the influence of alcohol or drugs shall be certified to a facility, as herein

defined, solely by reason of that condition, unless the person also qualified for admission, or

certification, or recertification under the provisions of this chapter.

     (d) Examining physician or licensed advanced practice registered nurse (APRN). For

purposes of certification, no examining physician or licensed advanced practice registered nurse

(APRN) as defined in § 40.1-5-2 shall be related by blood or marriage to the person who is applying

for the admission of another, or to the person who is the subject of the application; nor shall he or

she have any interest, contractually, testamentary, or otherwise (other than reasonable and proper

charges for professional services rendered), in or against the estate or assets of the person who is

the subject of the application; nor shall he or she be a manager, trustee, visitor, proprietor, officer,

stockholder, or have any pecuniary interest, directly or indirectly, or, except as otherwise herein

expressly provided, be a director, resident physician, or salaried physician, or licensed advanced

practice registered nurse (APRN) as defined in § 40.1-5-2 or employee in any facility to which it

is proposed to admit the person.

     (e) Certificates. Certificates, as required by this chapter, must provide a factual description

of the person’s behavior that indicates that the person concerned is psychiatrically disabled, creates

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a likelihood of serious harm, and is in need of care and treatment in a facility as defined in this

chapter. They shall further set forth such other findings as may be required by the particular

certification procedure used. Certificates shall also show that an examination of the person

concerned was made within five (5) days prior to the date of admission or certification, unless

otherwise herein provided. The date of the certificate shall be the date of the commencement of the

examination, and in the event examinations are conducted separately or over a period of days, then

the five-day (5) period above referred to (unless otherwise expressly provided) shall be measured

from the date of the commencement of the first examination. All certificates shall contain the

observations upon which judgments are based, and shall contain other information as the director

may by rule or regulation require.

     (f) Rights of patients. No patient admitted or certified to any facility under any provision

of this chapter shall be deprived of any constitutional, civil, or legal right, solely by reason of such

admission or certification nor shall the certification or admission modify or vary any constitutional

or civil right, including, but not limited to, the right or rights:

     (1) To privacy and dignity;

     (2) To civil service or merit rating or ranking and appointment;

     (3) Relating to the granting, forfeiture or denial of a license, permit, privilege, or benefit

pursuant to any law;

     (4) To religious freedom;

     (5) To be visited privately at all reasonable times by his or her personal physician, attorney,

and clergyperson, and by other persons at all reasonable times unless the official in charge of the

facility determines either that a visit by any of the other persons or a particular visitation time would

not be in the best interests of the patient and he or she incorporates a statement for any denial of

visiting rights in the individualized treatment record of the patient;

     (6) To be provided with stationery, writing materials, and postage in reasonable amounts

and to have free unrestricted, unopened, and uncensored use of the mails for letters;

     (7) To wear one’s own clothes, keep and use personal possessions, including toilet articles;

to keep and be allowed to spend a reasonable sum of money for canteen expenses and small

purchases; to have access to individual storage space for the person’s private use; and reasonable

access to telephones to make and receive confidential calls; provided, however, that any of these

rights may be denied for good cause by the official in charge of a facility or a physician designated

by him or her. A statement of the reasons for any denial shall be entered in the individualized

treatment record of the patient;

     (8) To seek independent psychiatric examination and opinion from a psychiatrist or mental

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health professional of the patient’s choice;

     (9) To be employed at a gainful occupation insofar as the patient’s condition permits,

provided however, that no patient shall be required to perform labor;

     (10) To vote and participate in political activity;

     (11) To receive and read literature;

     (12) To have the least possible restraint imposed upon the person consistent with affording

him or her the care and treatment necessary and appropriate to the patient’s condition;

     (13) To have access to the mental health advocate upon request;

     (14) To prevent release of his or her name to the advocate or next of kin by signing a form

provided to all patients for that purpose at the time of admission;

     (15) To reasonable access to outdoor space with appropriate supervision as clinically

warranted, for individuals who have been hospitalized for thirty (30) consecutive calendar days. If

such access has been denied, a statement of the reasons for denial shall be entered in the

individualized treatment record of the patient after the first denial, which shall be reviewed and

documented at least weekly by the treatment team.

     (g) Records. A facility shall maintain for each patient admitted pursuant to this chapter, a

comprehensive medical record. The record shall contain a recorded, individualized treatment plan,

which shall at least monthly be reviewed by the physician of the facility who is chiefly responsible

for the patient’s care, notations of the reviews to be entered in the record. The records shall also

contain information indicating at the time of admission or certification what alternatives to

admission or certification are available to the patient; what alternatives have been investigated; and

why the investigated alternatives were not deemed suitable. The medical record shall further

contain other information as the director may by rule or regulation require.

     (h) Competence. A person shall not, solely by reason of the person’s admission or

certification to a facility for examination or care and treatment under the provisions of this chapter,

thereby be deemed incompetent to manage the person’s affairs; to contract; to hold or seek a

professional, occupational, or vehicle operator’s license; to make a will; or for any other purpose.

Neither shall any requirement be made, by rule, regulation, or otherwise, as a condition to

admission and retention, that any person applying for admission shall have the legal capacity to

contract, it being sufficient for the purpose, that the person understand the nature and consequence

of making the application.

     40.1-5-7. Emergency certification.

     (a) Applicants.

     (1) Any physician or licensed advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) as defined in §

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40.1-5-2 who, after examining a person, has reason to believe that the person is in need of

immediate care and treatment, and is one whose continued unsupervised presence in the community

would create an imminent likelihood of serious harm by reason of psychiatric disability, may apply

at to a facility for the emergency certification of the person thereto. The medical director, or any

other physician, or a licensed advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) as defined in § 40.1-5-2

employed by the proposed facility for certification, may apply under this subsection if no other

physician or licensed advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) as defined in § 40.1-5-2 is

available and the medical director or physician certifies this fact. If an examination is not possible

because of the emergency nature of the case and because of the refusal of the person to consent to

the examination, the applicant on the basis of his or her observation may determine, in accordance

with the above, that emergency certification is necessary and may apply therefor. In the event that

no physician or licensed advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) as defined in § 40.1-5-2 is

available, a qualified mental health professional as defined herein who believes the person to be in

need of immediate care and treatment, and one whose continued unsupervised presence in the

community would create an imminent likelihood of serious harm by reason of psychiatric disability,

may make the application for emergency certification to a facility. Application shall in all cases be

made to the facility that, in the judgment of the applicant at the time of application, would impose

the least restraint on the liberty of the person consistent with affording the person the care and

treatment necessary and appropriate to the person’s condition.

     (2) Whenever an applicant who is not employed by a community mental health center

established pursuant to chapter 8.5 of this title, has reason to believe that either the Rhode Island

state psychiatric hospital or the Eleanor Slater hospital is the appropriate facility for the person, the

application shall be directed to the community mental health center that serves the area in which

the person resides, if the person is a Rhode Island resident, or the area in which the person is

physically present, if a nonresident, and the qualified mental health professional(s) at the center

shall make the final decision on the application to either the Rhode Island state psychiatric hospital

or the Eleanor Slater hospital or may determine whether some other disposition should be made.

     (b) Applications. An application for certification hereunder shall be in writing and filed

with the facility to which admission is sought. The application shall be executed within five (5)

days prior to the date of filing and shall state that it is based upon a personal observation of the

prospective patient by the applicant within the five-day (5) period. It shall include a description of

the applicant’s credentials and the behavior that constitutes the basis for his or her judgment that

the prospective patient is in need of immediate care and treatment and that a likelihood of serious

harm by reason of psychiatric disability exists, and shall include, as well, any other relevant

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information that may assist the admitting physician and/or licensed advanced practice registered

nurse (APRN) as defined in § 40.1-5-2 at the facility to which application is made. The application

shall state whether the facility, in the judgment of the applicant at the time of application, would

impose the least restraint on the liberty of the person consistent with affording him or her the care

and treatment necessary and appropriate to his or her condition. Whenever practicable, prior to

transporting or arranging for the transporting of a prospective patient to a facility, the applicant

shall telephone or otherwise communicate with the facility to describe the circumstances and

known clinical history to determine whether it is the proper facility to receive the person, and to

give notice of any restraint to be used or to determine whether restraint is necessary.

     (c) Confirmation; discharge; transfer. Within one hour after reception at a facility, the

person regarding whom an application has been filed under this section shall be seen by a physician

or licensed advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) as defined in § 40.1-5-2. As soon as

possible, but in no event later than twenty-four (24) hours after reception, a preliminary

examination and evaluation of the person by a psychiatrist, or a physician under the psychiatrist’s

supervision, and/or licensed advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) as defined in § 40.1-5-2

shall begin. The psychiatrist, physician under the supervision of the psychiatrist, and/or licensed

advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) as defined in § 40.1-5-2 conducting the preliminary

examination and evaluation shall not be an applicant hereunder. The preliminary examination and

evaluation shall be completed within seventy-two (72) hours from its inception by the psychiatrist,

physician under the supervision of the psychiatrist, and/or licensed advanced practice registered

nurse (APRN) as defined in § 40.1-5-2. If the psychiatrist, physician under the supervision of the

psychiatrist, and/or licensed advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) as defined in § 40.1-5-2

determines that the patient is not a candidate for emergency certification, the patient shall be

discharged. If the psychiatrist(s) psychiatrist, physician under the supervision of the psychiatrist,

and/or licensed advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) as defined in § 40.1-5-2 determines that

the person who is the subject of the application is in need of immediate care and treatment and is

one whose continued unsupervised presence in the community would create an imminent likelihood

of serious harm by reason of psychiatric disability, the psychiatrist, physician under the supervision

of the psychiatrist, and/or licensed advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) as defined in § 40.1-

5-2 determines shall confirm the admission for care and treatment under this section of the person

to the facility, provided the facility is one that would impose the least restraint on the liberty of the

person consistent with affording the person the care and treatment necessary and appropriate to the

person’s condition and that no suitable alternatives to certification are available. If at any time the

official in charge of a facility, or the official’s designee, determines that the person is not in need

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of immediate care and treatment, or is not one whose continued unsupervised presence in the

community would create an imminent likelihood of serious harm by reason of psychiatric disability,

or suitable alternatives to certification are available, the official shall immediately discharge the

person. In addition, the official may arrange to transfer the person to an appropriate facility if the

facility to which he or she has been certified is not one that imposes the least restraint on the liberty

of the person consistent with affording him or her the care and treatment necessary and appropriate

to his or her condition.

     (d) Custody. Upon the request of an applicant under this section, to be confirmed in

writing, it shall be the duty of any peace officer of this state or of any governmental subdivision

thereof to whom request has been made, to take into custody and immediately transport the person

to the designated facility for admission thereto.

     (e) Ex parte court order. An applicant under this section may present a petition to any

judge of the district court or any justice of the family court, in the case of a person who is the subject

of an application who has not yet attained his or her eighteenth birthday, for a warrant directed to

any peace officer of the state or any governmental subdivision thereof to take into custody the

person who is the subject of the application and immediately transport the person to a designated

facility. The application shall set forth that the person who is to be certified is in need of immediate

care and treatment and the person’s continued unsupervised presence in the community would

create an imminent likelihood of serious harm by reason of psychiatric disability, and the reasons

why an order directing a peace officer to transport the person to a designated facility is necessary.

     (f) Notification of rights. No person shall be certified to a facility under the provisions of

this section unless appropriate opportunity is given to apply for voluntary admission under the

provisions of § 40.1-5-6 and unless the person, or a parent, guardian, or next of kin, has been

informed, in writing, on a form provided by the department, by the official in charge of the facility:

(1) That he or she has a right to the voluntary admission; (2) That a person cannot be certified until

all available alternatives to certification have been investigated and determined to be unsuitable;

and (3) That the period of hospitalization or treatment in a facility cannot exceed ten (10) days

under this section, except as provided in subsection (g) of this section.

     (g) Period of treatment. A person shall be discharged no later than ten (10) days measured

from the date of his or her admission under this section, unless an application for a civil court

certification has been filed and set down for a hearing under the provisions of § 40.1-5-8, or the

person remains as a voluntary patient pursuant to § 40.1-5-6.

     40.1-5-8. Civil court certification.

     (a) Petitions. A verified petition may be filed in the district court, or family court in the

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case of a person who has not reached his or her eighteenth (18th) birthday, for the certification to a

facility of any person who is alleged to be in need of care and treatment in a facility, and whose

continued unsupervised presence in the community would create a likelihood of serious harm by

reason of psychiatric disability. The petition may be filed by any person with whom the subject of

the petition may reside; or at whose house the person may be; or the father or mother, husband or

wife, brother or sister, or the adult child of the person; the nearest relative if none of the above are

available; or the person’s guardian; or the attorney general; or a local director of public welfare; or

the director of the department of behavioral healthcare, developmental disabilities and hospitals;

the director of the department of human services; or the director of the department of corrections;

the director of the department of health; the warden of the adult correctional institutions; or the

superintendent of the boys Rhode Island training school for youth, or his or her designated agent;

or the director of any facility, or the facility director’s designated agent of any of the foregoing

departments or facilities, whether or not the person shall have been admitted and is a patient at the

time of the petition. A petition under this section shall be filed only after the petitioner has

investigated what alternatives to certification are available and determined why the alternatives are

not deemed suitable.

     (b) Contents of petition. The petition shall state that it is based upon a personal observation

of the person concerned by the petitioner within a ten-day (10) period prior to filing. It shall include

a description of the behavior that constitutes the basis for the petitioner’s judgment that the person

concerned is in need of care and treatment and that a likelihood of serious harm by reason of

psychiatric disability exists. In addition, the petitioner shall indicate what alternatives to

certification are available; what alternatives have been investigated; and why the investigated

alternatives are not deemed suitable.

     (c) Certificates and contents thereof. A petition hereunder shall be accompanied by the

certificates of two (2) physicians, at least one of whom shall be a psychiatrist, or one physician and

one licensed advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) as defined in § 40.1-5-2, unless the

petitioner is unable to afford, or is otherwise unable to obtain, the services of a physician or

physicians or licensed advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) as defined in § 40.1-5-2 qualified

to make the certifications. The certificates shall be rendered pursuant to the provisions of § 40.1-5-

5, except when the patient is a resident in a facility, the attending physician and one other physician

at least one of whom shall be a psychiatrist, or the attending physician and a licensed advanced

practice registered nurse (APRN) as defined in § 40.1-5-2 from the facility may sign the certificates,

and shall set forth that the prospective patient is in need of care and treatment in a facility and

would likely benefit therefrom, and is one whose continued unsupervised presence in the

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community would create a likelihood of serious harm by reason of psychiatric disability together

with the reasons therefor. The petitions and accompanying certificates shall be executed under

penalty of perjury, but shall not require the signature of a notary public thereon.

     (d) Preliminary hearing.

     (1) Upon a determination that the petition sets forth facts constituting reasonable grounds

to support certification, the court shall summon the person to appear before the court at a

preliminary hearing, scheduled no later than five (5) business days from the date of filing. This

hearing shall be treated as a priority on the court calendar and may be continued only for good

cause shown. In default of an appearance, the court may issue a warrant directing a police officer

to bring the person before the court.

     (2) At the preliminary hearing, the court shall serve a copy of the petition upon the person

and advise the person of the nature of the proceedings and of the person’s right to counsel. If the

person is unable to afford counsel, the court forthwith shall appoint the mental health advocate for

him or her. If the court finds that there is no probable cause to support certification, the petition

shall be dismissed, and the person shall be discharged unless the person applies for voluntary

admission. However, if the court is satisfied by the testimony that there is probable cause to support

certification, a final hearing shall be held not less than seven (7) days, nor more than twenty-one

(21) days, after the preliminary hearing, unless continued at the request of counsel for the person,

and notice of the date set down for the hearing shall be served on the person. Copies of the petition

and notice of the date set down for the hearing shall also be served immediately upon the person’s

nearest relatives or legal guardian, if known, and to any other person designated by the patient, in

writing, to receive copies of notices. The preliminary hearing can be waived by a motion of the

patient to the court if the patient is a resident of a facility.

     (e) Petition for examination.

     (1) Upon motion of either the petitioner or the person, or upon its own motion, the court

may order that the person be examined by a psychiatrist appointed by the court. The examination

may be conducted on an outpatient basis and the person shall have the right to the presence of

counsel while it is being conducted. A report of the examination shall be furnished to the court, the

petitioner, and the person and his or her counsel at least forty-eight (48) hours prior to the hearing.

     (2) If the petition is submitted without two (2) physicians’ certificates as required under

subsection (c), the petition shall be accompanied by a motion for a psychiatric examination to be

ordered by the court. The motion shall be heard on the date of the preliminary hearing set by the

court pursuant to subsection (d), or as soon thereafter as counsel for the subject person is engaged,

appointed, and ready to proceed. The motion shall be verified or accompanied by affidavits and

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shall set forth facts demonstrating the efforts made to secure examination and certification by a

physician or physicians pursuant to § 40.1-5-8(c) and shall indicate the reasons why the efforts

failed.

     (3) After considering the motion and testimony as may be offered on the date of hearing

the motion, the court may deny the application and dismiss the petition, or upon finding: (i) That

there is a good cause for the failure to obtain one or more physician’s certificates in accordance

with subsection (c); and (ii) That there is probable cause to substantiate the allegations of the

petition, the court shall order an immediate examination by two (2) qualified psychiatrists, or by

one psychiatrist and one physician, or by one physician and one licensed advanced practice

registered nurse (APRN) as defined in § 40.1-5-2 pursuant to subsection (e)(1).

     (f) Professional assistance. A person with respect to whom a court hearing has been

ordered under this section shall have, and be informed of, a right to employ a mental health

professional of the person’s choice to assist the person in connection with the hearing and to testify

on the person’s behalf. If the person cannot afford to engage such a professional, the court shall,

on application, allow a reasonable fee for the purpose.

     (g) Procedure. Upon receipt of the required certificates and/or psychiatric reports as

applicable hereunder, the court shall schedule the petition for final hearing unless, upon review of

the reports and certificates, the court concludes that the certificates and reports do not indicate, with

supporting reasons, that the person who is the subject of the petition is in need of care and treatment;

that his or her unsupervised presence in the community would create a likelihood of serious harm

by reason of psychiatric disability; and that all alternatives to certification have been investigated

and are unsuitable, in which event the court may dismiss the petition.

     (h) Venue. An application for certification under this section shall be made to, and all

proceedings pursuant thereto shall be conducted in, the district court, or family court in the case of

a person who has not yet reached his or her eighteenth (18th) birthday, of the division or county in

which the subject of an application may reside or may be, or when the person is already a patient

in a facility, in the district court or family court of the division or county in which the facility is

located, subject, however, to application by any interested party for change of venue because of

inconvenience of the parties or witnesses or the condition of the subject of the petition or other

valid judicial reason for the change of venue.

     (i) Hearing. A hearing scheduled under this section shall be conducted pursuant to the

following requirements:

     (1) All evidence shall be presented according to the usual rules of evidence that apply in

civil, non-jury cases. The subject of the proceedings shall have the right to present evidence in his

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or her own behalf and to cross examine all witnesses against him or her, including any physician

or licensed advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) as defined in § 40.1-5-2 who has completed

a certificate or filed a report as provided hereunder. The subject of the proceedings shall have the

further right to subpoena witnesses and documents, the cost of such to be borne by the court where

the court finds upon an application of the subject that the person cannot afford to pay for the cost

of subpoenaing witnesses and documents. The court shall utilize the generally applicable rules of

evidence for civil, non-jury cases to determine the admissibility of evidence at the hearing,

including the qualification and requirements for expert witnesses. The authority given to APRNs

to file petitions under this chapter shall not be determinative of their qualification as an expert

witness.

     (2) A verbatim transcript or electronic recording shall be made of the hearing that shall be

impounded and obtained or examined only with the consent of the subject thereof (or in the case of

a person who has not yet attained his or her eighteenth (18th) birthday, the person’s parent,

guardian, or next of kin) or by order of the court.

     (3) The hearing may be held at a location other than a court, including any facility where

the subject may currently be a patient, where it appears to the court that holding the hearing at

another location would be in the best interests of the subject thereof.

     (4) The burden of proceeding and the burden of proof in a hearing held pursuant to this

section shall be upon the petitioner. The petitioner has the burden of demonstrating that the subject

of the hearing is in need of care and treatment in a facility; is one whose continued unsupervised

presence in the community would create a likelihood of serious harm by reason of psychiatric

disability; and what alternatives to certification are available, what alternatives to certification were

investigated, and why these alternatives were not deemed suitable.

     (5) The court shall render a decision within forty-eight (48) hours after the hearing is

concluded.

     (j) Order. If the court at a final hearing finds by clear and convincing evidence that the

subject of the hearing is in need of care and treatment in a facility, and is one whose continued

unsupervised presence in the community would, by reason of psychiatric disability, create a

likelihood of serious harm, and that all alternatives to certification have been investigated and

deemed unsuitable, it shall issue an order committing the person to the custody of the director for

care and treatment or to an appropriate facility. In either event, and to the extent practicable, the

person shall be cared for in a facility that imposes the least restraint upon the liberty of the person

consistent with affording the person the care and treatment necessary and appropriate to the

person’s condition. No certification shall be made under this section unless and until full

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consideration has been given by the certifying court to the alternatives to in-patient care, including,

but not limited to, a determination of the person’s relationship to the community and to the person’s

family; of his or her employment possibilities; and of all available community resources, alternate

available living arrangements, foster care, community residential facilities, nursing homes, and

other convalescent facilities. A certificate ordered pursuant to this section shall be valid for a period

of six (6) nine (9) months from the date of the order. At the end of that period the patient shall be

discharged, unless the patient is discharged prior to that time, in which case the certification shall

expire on the date of the discharge.

     (k) Appeals.

     (1) A person certified under this section and/or a person with regard to whom a petition for

instructions is granted pursuant to § 40.1-5-8(l) shall have a right to appeal from a final hearing to

the supreme court of the state within thirty (30) days of the entry of an order of certification and/or

instructions. The person shall have the right to be represented on appeal by counsel of his or her

choice or by the mental health advocate if the supreme court finds that the person cannot afford to

retain counsel. Upon a showing of indigency, the supreme court shall permit an appeal to proceed

without payment of costs, and a copy of the transcript of the proceedings below shall be furnished

to the subject of the proceedings, or to the person’s attorney, at the expense of the state. The

certifying court hearing judge shall advise the person of all the person’s rights pursuant to this

section immediately upon the entry of an order of certification.

     (2) Appeals under this section shall be given precedence, insofar as practicable, on the

supreme court dockets. The district and family courts shall promulgate rules with the approval of

the supreme court to insure the expeditious transmission of the record and transcript in all appeals

pursuant to this chapter.

     (l) Submission to NICS database.

     (1) The district court shall submit the name, date of birth, gender, race or ethnicity, and

date of civil commitment to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS)

database of all persons subject to a civil court certification order pursuant to this section within

forty-eight (48) hours of certification.

     (2) Any person affected by the provisions of this section, after the lapse of a period of three

(3) years from the date such civil certification is terminated, shall have the right to appear before

the relief from disqualifiers board.

     (3) Upon notice of a successful appeal pursuant to subsection (k), the district court shall,

as soon as practicable, cause the appellant’s record to be updated, corrected, modified, or removed

from any database maintained and made available to the NICS and reflect that the appellant is no

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longer subject to a firearms prohibition as it relates to 18 U.S.C. § 922(d)(4) and 18 U.S.C. §

922(g)(4).

     (m) Equitable authority. (1) In addition to the powers heretofore exercised enumerated in

this section, the district and family courts are hereby empowered, in furtherance of their jurisdiction

under this chapter title including, but not limited to, chapters 5, 5.3 and/or 22 of title 40.1, to grant

petitions for instructions for the provision or withholding of medical and/or psychiatric treatment

as justice and equity may require.

     (2) In addition to the authority described in subsection (m)(1) of this section, the district

and family courts shall have authority to grant petitions for instructions for the provision or

withholding of medical and/or psychiatric treatment as justice and equity may require with regard

to:

     (i) Persons who are detainees or inmates at the adult correctional institutions who have a

psychiatric disability; or

     (ii) Who are residents of the Rhode Island training school for youth who have a psychiatric

disability.

     (3) In order to grant relief under subsection (m)(1) or (m)(2) of this section, the hearing

judge shall find by clear and convincing evidence that:

     (i) The person who is subject to the petition has a psychiatric or developmental and/or

intellectual disability;

     (ii) The person who is subject to the petition is unable to provide or withhold informed

consent as to the treatment(s) prayed for in the petition;

     (iii) The person who is subject to the petition does not have a known representative who

has the legal authority to provide or withhold informed consent on the person’s behalf; and

     (iv) To a reasonable degree of medical certainty, the benefits of the proposed treatment(s)

outweigh the risks.

     40.1-5-9. Right to treatment — Treatment plan.

     (a) Any person who is a patient in a facility pursuant to this chapter shall have a right to

receive the care and treatment that is necessary for and appropriate to the condition for which he or

she was admitted or certified and from which he or she can reasonably be expected to benefit. Each

patient shall have an individualized treatment plan. This plan shall be developed by appropriate

mental health professionals, including a psychiatrist and/or licensed advanced practice registered

nurse (APRN) as defined in § 40.1-5-2, and implemented as soon as possible — in any event no

later than five (5) days after a patient’s voluntary admission or involuntary court certification. Each

individual treatment plan shall be made in accordance with the professional regulations of each

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facility, and by way of illustration and, not limited to the following, shall contain:

     (1) A statement of the nature of the specific problems and specific needs of the patient;

     (2) A statement of the least restrictive treatment conditions necessary to achieve the

purposes of certification or admission;

     (3) A description of intermediate and long-range treatment goals; and

     (4) A statement and rationale for the plan of treatment for achieving these intermediate and

long-range goals.

     (b) The individualized treatment plan shall become part of the patient’s record in

accordance with § 40.1-5-5(g), and the subject of periodic review in accordance with § 40.1-5-10.

In implementing a treatment plan on behalf of any patient, the official in charge of any facility, or

his or her designee(s), may, when it is warranted, authorize the release of the patient for such

periods of time and under such terms and conditions that he or she deems appropriate.

     40.1-5-10. Periodic institutional review proceedings.

     (a) In general. Each patient admitted or certified to a facility pursuant to the provisions of

this chapter shall be the subject of a periodic review of his or her condition and status to be

conducted by a review committee composed of at least one psychiatrist, or licensed advanced

practice registered nurse (APRN) as defined in § 40.1-5-2, and other mental health professionals

involved in treating the patient. The committee shall be composed of no fewer than three (3) persons

and shall be appointed by the director of the facility or his or her designated agent. The reviews

shall minimally involve an evaluation of the quality of care the patient is receiving, including an

evaluation of the patient’s treatment plan, and the making of any recommendations for the

improvement of the care or for the revision of the treatment plan, including alternative available

living arrangements, foster care, community residential facilities, nursing homes, and other

convalescent facilities. At every fourth review, one member of the committee shall be a member of

the hospital’s facility's utilization review committee appointed by that committee’s chairperson.

     (b) Frequency. The review proceedings shall take place at least once within each ninety-

day (90) period during which a person is a patient in the facility.

     (c) Results of review. The results of each review shall be entered in the patient’s medical

record, presented orally to the patient within twenty-four (24) hours, and confirmed by written

notice to the patient and his or her guardian, or with the patient’s consent, to his or her next of kin,

within seventy-two (72) hours. In the event the director of the facility is not a member of the

committee, the notice shall be transmitted to him or her as well. Where the committee determines

that further care in the facility is required, the notice to the patient shall include an explanation of

the patient’s rights to pursue discharge as elsewhere provided in this chapter.

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     40.1-5-11. Discharge — Recertification.

     (a) The official in charge of any facility, or his or her designated agent, on having his or

her reasons noted on the patient’s records, shall discharge any patient certified or admitted pursuant

to the provisions of this chapter, when:

     (1) Suitable alternatives to certification or admission are available;

     (2) The patient is, in the judgment of the official, recovered;

     (3) The patient is not recovered, but discharge, in the judgment of the official, will not

create a likelihood of serious harm by reason of psychiatric disability.

     (b) When a patient discharge is requested and if the discharge is denied, the reasons therefor

shall be stated, in writing, and noted in the patient’s record and a copy thereof shall be given to the

person applying for the release.

     (c) At the expiration of the six-month (6) nine (9) month period set forth in § 40.1-5-8(j),

or any subsequent six-month (6) nine (9) month period following recertification pursuant to this

section, the patient shall be unconditionally released unless a recertification petition is filed by the

official in charge of a facility, or his or her designated agent, within no less than fifteen (15) days

seven (7) and no more than thirty (30) days prior to the scheduled expiration date of a six-month

(6) nine (9) month period. A hearing must be held pursuant to the petition and a decision rendered

before the expiration of the six-month (6) nine (9) month period. A recertification hearing shall

follow all of the procedures set forth in § 40.1-5-8 and recertification may be ordered only if the

petitioner proves by clear and convincing evidence that the conduct and responses of the patient

during the course of the previous six-month (6) nine (9) month period indicate that the patient is

presently in need of care and treatment in a facility; is one whose continued unsupervised presence

in the community would create a likelihood of serious harm by reason of psychiatric disability; and

that all alternatives to recertification have been investigated and deemed unsuitable.

     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect on January 1, 2024.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO BEHAVIORAL HEALTHCARE, DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES AND

HOSPITALS -- MENTAL HEALTH LAW

***

     This act would create a twenty-seven (27) month pilot program that would provide that a

licensed advanced practice registered nurse (APRN), certified in psychiatric/mental health, would

be qualified to certify the need for mental health treatment and involuntary civil commitment for

certain patients.

     This act would take effect on January 1, 2024.

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