2017 Arizona Revised Statutes
Title 36 - Public Health and Safety
§ 36-540.01 Conditional outpatient treatment

36-540.01. Conditional outpatient treatment

A. The medical director may issue an order for conditional outpatient treatment for a patient ordered to undergo treatment pursuant to section 36-540 if, after consultation with staff familiar with the patient's case history, the medical director determines with a reasonable degree of medical probability that all of the following apply:

1. The patient no longer requires continuous inpatient hospitalization.

2. The patient will be more appropriately treated in an outpatient treatment program.

3. The patient will follow a prescribed outpatient treatment plan.

4. The patient will not likely become dangerous, suffer more serious physical harm or serious illness or further deteriorate if the patient follows a prescribed outpatient treatment plan.

B. The order for conditional outpatient treatment issued by the medical director shall include a written outpatient treatment plan prepared by staff familiar with the patient's case history and approved by the medical director. If a petition has been filed pursuant to section 13-4517. The prosecuting agency may provide the court with information that is contained in the patient's criminal history and that may be relevant to protecting the well-being of the patient and the public. The plan shall include all of the following:

1. A statement of the patient's requirements, if any, for supervision, medication and assistance in obtaining basic needs such as employment, food, clothing or shelter.

2. The address of the residence where the patient is to live and the name of the person in charge of the residence, if any.

3. The name and address of any person, agency or organization assigned to supervise an outpatient treatment plan or care for the patient, and the extent of authority of the person, agency or organization in carrying out the terms of the plan.

4. The conditions for continued outpatient treatment, which may require periodic reporting, continuation of medication and submission to testing, and may restrict travel, consumption of spirituous liquor and drugs, associations with others and incurrence of debts and obligations or such other reasonable conditions as the medical director may specify.

5. Any other provisions that the medical director or the court believes are necessary to protect the well-being of the patient and the public.

C. The court may order that the medical director provide notice to the court of specific instances of noncompliance as specified by the court.

D. Before release for conditional outpatient treatment, the patient shall be provided with copies and full explanations of the medical director's order and the treatment plan. If, after full explanation, the patient objects to the plan or any part of it, the objection and reasons for the objection shall be noted in the patient's record. The medical director's order and treatment plan shall be filed in the patient's medical file and shall also be filed with the court.

E. The period for which conditional outpatient treatment may be ordered may not exceed the remainder of the period of court-ordered treatment.

F. Before the release of a patient for outpatient treatment, the medical director shall give notice pursuant to section 36-541.01, subsection C and a motion for a determination by the court as to whether the standard for conditional release of the patient has been met may be made by the persons and in the manner provided for in section 36-541.01, subsection I. Before the release of a person found to be a danger to self or others or found to have a persistent or acute disability or a grave disability for outpatient treatment, the medical director shall give notice to the court that ordered the patient to undergo treatment. If criminal charges against a patient involving death or serious physical injury or a violation of title 13, chapter 14 are dismissed pursuant to section 13-4517, the medical director shall notify the prosecuting agency if a civil commitment order issued pursuant to this chapter expires or is terminated, or if the patient is discharged to outpatient treatment. The medical director shall provide this notice by mail at least five days before the anticipated date of the expiration, termination or discharge.

G. The medical director shall require periodic reports concerning the condition of patients on conditional outpatient treatment from any person, agency or organization assigned to supervise an outpatient treatment plan. The medical director shall require these reports at intervals not to exceed thirty days.

H. The medical director shall review the condition of a patient on conditional outpatient treatment at least once every thirty days and enter the findings in writing in the patient's file. In conducting the review, the medical director shall consider all reports and information received and may require the patient to report for further evaluation.

I. The medical director may amend any part of the outpatient treatment plan during the course of conditional outpatient treatment. If the plan is amended, the medical director shall issue a new order including the amended outpatient treatment plan. The new order and amended outpatient treatment plan shall be filed in the patient's medical file. Copies of the new order and outpatient treatment plan shall be immediately provided to the patient and to any person, agency or organization assigned to supervise an outpatient treatment plan. Copies of the new order and outpatient treatment plan shall be immediately filed with the court and, if a prosecutor filed a petition pursuant to section 13-4517, with the prosecuting agency.

J. The medical director may rescind an order for conditional outpatient treatment and order the patient to return to a mental health treatment agency at any time during the period of court ordered treatment if, in the medical director's judgment, the patient has failed to comply with a term of the outpatient treatment plan or if, for any reason, the medical director determines that the patient needs inpatient treatment or that conditional outpatient treatment is no longer appropriate. The medical director shall give notice to the court that issued the treatment order and the prosecuting agency if a prosecutor filed a petition pursuant to section 13-4517.

K. If the medical director rescinds an order for conditional outpatient treatment and the patient is returned to a mental health treatment agency for inpatient treatment, the patient shall be informed of the patient's right to judicial review and right to consult with counsel pursuant to section 36-546.

L. If the medical director rescinds an order for conditional outpatient treatment and orders the patient to return to a mental health treatment agency, the medical director may request, or a court may order, a peace officer or a designated officer or employee of the treatment agency to take the patient into custody for immediate delivery to the agency pursuant to section 36-544.

M. The medical director is not civilly liable for any act committed by a patient while on conditional outpatient treatment if the medical director has in good faith followed the requirements of this section.

N. This section does not prevent the medical director from authorizing a patient ordered to undergo treatment pursuant to section 36-540 as a danger to self or a danger to others or a patient with a persistent or acute disability or a grave disability to leave the treatment agency for periods of no more than five days under the care, custody and control of a spouse, relative or other responsible person if the medical director determines that the patient will not become dangerous or suffer serious physical harm or illness during that time.

O. The medical director may authorize a patient who is civilly committed pursuant to section 36-540 to leave the state hospital grounds unaccompanied if the leave is part of an inpatient individualized treatment and discharge plan and the medical director determines that the patient will not become dangerous or suffer serious physical harm or illness during that time.