2012 Connecticut General Statutes
Title 17a - Social and Human Services and Resources
Chapter 319i - Persons with Psychiatric Disabilities
Section 17a-498 - (Formerly Sec. 17-178). Hearing on commitment application. Notice. Rights of respondent. Examination by physicians. Order of commitment. Election of voluntary status prior to adjudication. Review of confinement.

(a) Upon such application being filed in the Probate Court, such court shall assign a time, not later than ten business days thereafter, and a place for hearing such application, and shall cause reasonable notice thereof to be given to the respondent and to such relative or relatives and friends as it deems advisable. Said notice shall inform such respondent that he or she has a right to be present at the hearing; that he or she has a right to counsel; that he or she, if indigent, has a right to have counsel appointed to represent him or her; and that he or she has a right to cross-examine witnesses testifying at any hearing upon such application.

(b) If the court finds such respondent is indigent or otherwise unable to pay for counsel, the court shall appoint counsel for such respondent, unless such respondent refuses counsel and the court finds that the respondent understands the nature of his or her refusal. The court shall provide such respondent a reasonable opportunity to select his or her own counsel to be appointed by the court. If the respondent does not select counsel or if counsel selected by the respondent refuses to represent such respondent or is not available for such representation, the court shall appoint counsel for the respondent from a panel of attorneys admitted to practice in this state provided by the Probate Court Administrator in accordance with regulations promulgated by the Probate Court Administrator in accordance with section 45a-77. The reasonable compensation of appointed counsel shall be established by, and paid from funds appropriated to, the Judicial Department, however, if funds have not been included in the budget of the Judicial Department for such purposes, such compensation shall be established by the Probate Court Administrator and paid from the Probate Court Administration Fund. Prior to such hearing, such respondent or his or her counsel, in accordance with the provisions of sections 52-146d to 52-146i, inclusive, shall be afforded access to all records including, without limitation, hospital records if such respondent is hospitalized, and shall be entitled to take notes therefrom. If such respondent is hospitalized at the time of the hearing, the hospital shall make available at such hearing for use by the patient or his or her counsel all records in its possession relating to the condition of the respondent. Notwithstanding the provisions of sections 52-146d to 52-146i, inclusive, all such hospital records directly relating to the patient shall be admissible at the request of any party or the Court of Probate in any proceeding relating to confinement to or release from a hospital for psychiatric disabilities. Nothing herein shall prevent timely objection to the admissibility of evidence in accordance with the rules of civil procedure.

(c) The court shall require the certificates, signed under penalty of false statement, of at least two impartial physicians selected by the court, one of whom shall be a practicing psychiatrist, both of whom shall be licensed to practice medicine in the state of Connecticut and shall have been practitioners of medicine at least one year and shall not be connected with the hospital for psychiatric disabilities to which the application is being made, or related by blood or marriage to the applicant, or to the respondent. Such certificates shall indicate that they have personally examined such person within ten days of such hearing. The court shall appoint such physicians from a list of physicians and psychiatrists provided by the Commissioner of Mental Health and Addiction Services and such appointments shall be made in accordance with regulations to be promulgated by the Probate Court Administrator in accordance with section 45a-77. Each such physician shall make a report on a separate form provided for that purpose by the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services and shall answer such questions as may be set forth on such form as fully and completely as reasonably possible. Such form shall include, but not be limited to, questions relating to the specific psychiatric disabilities alleged, whether or not the respondent is dangerous to himself or herself or others, whether or not such illness has resulted or will result in serious disruption of the respondent’s mental and behavioral functioning, whether or not hospital treatment is both necessary and available, whether or not less restrictive placement is recommended and available and whether or not respondent is incapable of understanding the need to accept the recommended treatment on a voluntary basis. Any such physician shall state upon the form the reasons for his or her opinions. Such respondent or his or her counsel shall have the right to present evidence and cross-examine witnesses who testify at any hearing on the application. If such respondent notifies the court not less than three days before the hearing that he or she wishes to cross-examine the examining physicians, the court shall order such physicians to appear. The court shall cause a recording of the testimony of such hearing to be made, to be transcribed only in the event of an appeal from the decree rendered hereunder. A copy of such transcript shall be furnished without charge to any appellant whom the Court of Probate finds unable to pay for the same. The cost of such transcript shall be paid from funds appropriated to the Judicial Department. If, on such hearing, the court finds by clear and convincing evidence that the person complained of has psychiatric disabilities and is dangerous to himself or herself or others or gravely disabled, it shall make an order for his or her commitment, considering whether or not a less restrictive placement is available, to a hospital for psychiatric disabilities to be named in such order, there to be confined for the period of the duration of such psychiatric disabilities or until he or she is discharged or converted to voluntary status pursuant to section 17a-506 in due course of law. Such court order shall further command some suitable person to convey such person to such hospital for psychiatric disabilities and deliver him or her, with a copy of such order and of such certificates, to the keeper thereof. In appointing a person to execute such order, the court shall give preference to a near relative or friend of the person with psychiatric disabilities, so far as it deems it practicable and judicious. Notice of any action taken by the court shall be given to the respondent and his or her attorney, if any, in such manner as the court concludes would be appropriate under the circumstances.

(d) If the respondent refuses to be examined by the court-appointed physicians as herein provided, the court may issue a warrant for the apprehension of the respondent and a police officer for the town in which such court is located or if there is no such police officer then the state police shall deliver the respondent to a general hospital where the respondent shall be examined by two physicians one of whom shall be a psychiatrist, in accordance with subsection (c) of this section. If as a result of such examination, the respondent is committed under section 17a-502, transportation of the respondent to any such hospital, if such respondent is a female, shall be in accordance with the provisions of section 17a-505. If the respondent is not committed under section 17a-502, he shall be released and the reports of such physicians shall be sent to the Court of Probate to satisfy the requirement of examination of two physicians under subsection (c) of this section.

(e) The respondent shall be given the opportunity to elect voluntary status under section 17a-506 at any time prior to adjudication of the application, subject to the following provisions: (1) In the event that a patient is in the hospital, the patient shall be informed by a member of the hospital staff within twenty-four hours prior to the time an application is filed with the court, that he or she may continue in the hospital on a voluntary basis under the provisions of section 17a-506, and any application for involuntary commitment by the hospital shall include a statement that such voluntary status has been offered to the respondent and refused, and (2) in the event that a respondent is not hospitalized the notice of hearing shall inform the respondent that he or she has the right to enter the hospital on a voluntary basis under the provisions of section 17a-506, and if the respondent enters the hospital under said section, the application for involuntary commitment shall be withdrawn. When any patient who has elected voluntary status following the filing of an application but prior to adjudication in any proceeding for involuntary commitment thereafter notifies the hospital that he or she wants to be released, a new application for involuntary commitment may be filed. If such application is filed within forty-five days after the patient’s election of voluntary status on a prior application, the application for involuntary commitment may, at the discretion of the judge, be heard on the merits, notwithstanding the patient’s subsequent request to remain a voluntary patient under the provisions of section 17a-506. Notwithstanding the provisions of sections 17a-29, 17a-540, 17a-543, 17a-544, subsection (f) of section 17a-547 and section 17a-548, in the event that a patient under section 17a-506 refuses to accept medication or treatment in accordance with the treatment plan prescribed by the attending physician and such patient is imminently dangerous to himself or others, an application for involuntary commitment may be filed for such patient in accordance with the provisions of this section.

(f) The respondent shall be present at any hearing for his or her commitment under this section. If the respondent is medicated at that time, the court shall be notified by the hospital in writing of such fact and of the common effects of such medication.

(g) The hospital shall notify each patient at least annually that such patient has a right to a further hearing pursuant to this section. In the event that the patient requests such hearing it shall be held by the court of probate which ordered the confinement of such patient. Any such request shall be immediately filed with the appropriate court by the hospital. After such request is filed with the Probate Court, it shall proceed in the manner provided in subsections (a), (b), (c) and (f) of this section. In addition, the hospital shall furnish each court of probate on a monthly basis with a list of all patients confined therein involuntarily by such court who have been confined without release for one year since the last annual review under this section of the patient’s commitment or since the original commitment. The hospital shall include in such notification the type of review which the patient last received. If the patient’s last annual review had a hearing, the probate court notified shall, within fifteen business days thereafter, appoint an impartial physician who is a psychiatrist from the list provided by the Commissioner of Mental Health and Addiction Services as set forth in subsection (c) of this section and not connected with the hospital in which the patient is confined nor related by blood or marriage to the original applicant or to the respondent, which physician shall see and examine each such patient within fifteen business days after his appointment and make a report forthwith to such court of the condition of the patient on forms provided by the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services. If the Court of Probate concludes that the confinement of any such patient should be reviewed by such court for possible release of the patient, the court, on its own motion, shall proceed in the manner provided in subsections (a), (b), (c) and (f) of this section, except that the examining physician shall be considered one of the physicians required by subsection (c) of this section. If the patient’s last annual review did not result in a hearing, and in any event at least every two years, the probate court notified shall, within fifteen business days, proceed with a hearing in the manner provided in subsections (a), (b), (c) and (f) of this section. All costs and expenses, including Probate Court entry fees provided by statute, in conjunction with the annual psychiatric review and the judicial review under this subsection, except costs for physicians appointed pursuant to this subsection, shall be established by, and paid from funds appropriated to, the Judicial Department, however, if funds have not been included in the budget of the Judicial Department for such costs and expenses, such payment shall be made from the Probate Court Administration Fund. Compensation of any physician appointed to conduct the annual psychiatric review, to examine a patient for any hearing held as a result of such annual review or for any other biennial hearing required pursuant to sections 17a-75 to 17a-83, inclusive, 17a-450 to 17a-484, inclusive, 17a-495 to 17a-528, inclusive, 17a-540 to 17a-550, inclusive, 17a-560 to 17a-576, inclusive, and 17a-615 to 17a-618, inclusive, shall be paid by the state from funds appropriated to the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services in accordance with rates established by the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services.

(1949 Rev., S. 2645; 1963, P.A. 199; 1971, P.A. 760, S. 1; P.A. 76-227, S. 3, 7; P.A. 77-4, S. 1, 2; 77-595, S. 3, 9; 77-614, S. 486, 587, 610; P.A. 78-303, S. 85, 136; P.A. 79-515, S. 3; P.A. 80-304, S. 1; 80-483, S. 75, 186; P.A. 81-307, S. 1, 2; P.A. 82-347, S. 2; 82-472, S. 54, 183; P.A. 83-295, S. 19; P.A. 85-523, S. 4, 9; P.A. 89-326, S. 2, 3, 7; P.A. 94-27, S. 4, 17; 94-204, S. 4, 5; P.A. 95-257, S. 11, 48, 58; P.A. 96-170, S. 5, 11, 23; P.A. 97-90, S. 5, 6; P.A. 99-84, S. 10; P.A. 00-196, S. 16; P.A. 09-145, S. 7.)

History: 1963 act required that one of physicians selected by court be a practicing psychiatrist and clarified that physicians not be connected with hospital to which commitment is being made rather than with any hospital for mental illness; 1971 act added provisions re appointment of counsel, access to records cross-examination of committing physicians and transcripts; P.A. 76-227 added provisions re contents of hearing notice, required that person have reasonable opportunity to select counsel to be appointed by court, clarified and expanded provisions re access to records, required physicians making out certificates to have been practitioners for one year rather than three years, required certificate to state that person is dangerous to self or others or gravely disabled rather than “a fit subject for confinement in a hospital for mental illness”, added provisions re persons under medication at time of hearing, replaced “committing” with “examining” physicians, restated provisions re court’s findings and order and added Subsec. (b) re notification of right to further hearing; P.A. 77-4 changed effective date of P.A. 76-227 from March 1 to October 1, 1977; P.A. 77-595 divided former Subsec. (a) into Subsecs. (a) to (c), replaced “complaint” with “application” and “person” with “respondent”, removed provisions in Subsec. (a) re warrants and procedure against person at large and alleged to be dangerous, expanded provisions re appointment of counsel, clarified and expanded provisions re physician’s testimony, deleted specific provisions re medicated respondents, required notice to respondent and his attorney of any court action, inserted new Subsecs. (d) to (f) re refusal to be examined by court-appointed physicians, volunteering to enter hospital and respondent’s presence at court, made former Subsec. (b) Subsec. (g) and expanded provisions re review of cases; P.A. 77-614 and P.A. 78-303 made state police department a division within the department of public safety, effective January 1, 1979; P.A. 79-515 amended Subsec. (b) to release court from duty of appointing counsel if respondent refuses counsel and understands the nature of his refusal and to clarify what evidence is admissible, rewrote Subsec. (e) re election of admission voluntarily and clarified Subsecs. (f) and (g); P.A. 80-304 deleted provision in Subsec. (c) re revocation of commitment order by court; P.A. 80-483 made technical changes; P.A. 81-307 amended Subsec. (g) to include probate court entry fee in costs and expenses paid by the state; P.A. 82-347 added “business” before “days” and “impartial” before “physicians”; P.A. 82-472 made technical correction in Subsec. (g); P.A. 83-295 amended Subsec. (b) to provide that the compensation of appointed counsel shall be established by the judicial department rather than “the court”; P.A. 85-523 revised Subsec. (g) by providing that compensation of physicians appointed pursuant to section shall be paid by judicial department and compensation for physician for annual psychiatric review or any biennial hearing shall be paid by department of mental health; P.A. 89-326 amended Subsec. (b) to provide that the compensation of appointed counsel shall be established by the probate court administrator, rather than the judicial department, and be paid from the probate court administration fund, rather than from funds appropriated to the judicial department, and amended Subsec. (g) to provide that costs for appointed physicians shall be paid from the probate court administration fund, rather than from funds appropriated to the judicial department, and shall be in accordance with rates established by the probate court administrator, rather than by the judicial department; Sec. 17-178 transferred to Sec. 17a-498 in 1991; P.A. 94-27 amended Subsec. (g) to delete reference to Secs. 17a-580 to 17a-603, inclusive, effective July 1, 1994; P.A. 94-204 added provision re conversion to voluntary status, effective June 7, 1994; P.A. 95-257 replaced Commissioner and Department of Mental Health with Commissioner and Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services and specified variants of “mental illness” and “mentally ill” with variants of “psychiatric disabilities”, effective July 1, 1995; P.A. 96-170 amended Subsecs. (b) and (g) by changing funding of compensation of counsel and of expenses of annual psychiatric and judicial review from Probate Court Administration Fund to funds appropriated to Judicial Department, unless funds not included in budget of Judicial Department for such purpose, effective July 1, 1998; P.A. 97-90 revised effective date of P.A. 96-170 but without affecting this section; P.A. 99-84 amended Subsec. (c) by deleting “sworn” and inserting “signed under penalty of false statement”; P.A. 00-196 made technical changes in Subsec. (c); P.A. 09-145 amended Subsec. (c) by replacing “panel” with “list” and making a technical change.

See Sec. 17a-507 re admission to general hospital having psychiatric facilities.

Father of insane person liable for expense incurred by town. 23 C. 356. Residence of pauper; what town chargeable with support. 69 C. 1. Pauper defined; history of law. 84 C. 549. Legal presumption of insanity created by commitment removed upon discharge; under insanity commitment, contracts of party committed are voidable only. 113 C. 604. No duty on trustee of beneficiary who was inmate in state institution to use discretionary trust fund for support of inmate. 133 C. 31. Town where pauper has settlement is liable at statutory rate for his care as a patient in a state hospital from time of the initial existence of his pauper status. 139 C. 469.

Former statute construed. 4 CS 286.

Annotations to former section 17-178:

Confinement rightly continued where dementia praecox patient threatened further self-mutilation because of religious delusions. 157 C. 56. Cited. 169 C. 13; 173 C. 473; 174 C. 464; 192 C. 520; Id., 532; 199 C. 609; 211 C. 591; 224 C. 168.

Cited. 43 CA 592.

Cited. 30 CS 320; 33 CS 193; Id., 268. Probate Court lacks jurisdiction over mental health commitment of children or youths; Superior Court has jurisdiction pursuant to Sec. 46b-121. 35 CS 241. Commitment order for minor was null and void since Probate Court lacks jurisdiction to entertain and determine matters involving the mental health commitment of children or youths. Id.

Annotations to present section:

Cited. 224 C. 168; 230 C. 400; 233 C. 44; 236 C. 625.

Cited. 43 CA 592.