Sec. 17a-450. (Formerly Sec. 17-207b). Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services. (a) There shall be a Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services headed by a Commissioner of Mental Health and Addiction Services, appointed
by the Governor with the advice of the Board of Mental Health and Addiction Services
established pursuant to section 17a-456.
(b) For the purposes of chapter 50, the Department of Mental Health and Addiction
Services shall be organized to promote comprehensive, client-based services in the areas
of mental health treatment and substance abuse treatment and to ensure the programmatic integrity and clinical identity of services in each area. The department shall perform the functions of: Centralized administration, planning and program development;
prevention and treatment programs and facilities, both inpatient and outpatient, for persons with psychiatric disabilities or persons with substance use disorders, or both; community mental health centers and community or regional programs and facilities providing services for persons with psychiatric disabilities or persons with substance use
disorders, or both; training and education; and research and evaluation of programs and
facilities providing services for persons with psychiatric disabilities or persons with
substance use disorders, or both. The department shall include, but not be limited to,
the following divisions and facilities or their successor facilities: The office of the Commissioner of Mental Health and Addiction Services; Capitol Region Mental Health
Center; Connecticut Valley Hospital, including the Acute Care Division of Connecticut
Valley Hospital; the Connecticut Mental Health Center; the Whiting Forensic Division;
Ribicoff Research Center; the Southwest Connecticut Mental Health System, including
the Franklin S. DuBois Center and the Greater Bridgeport Community Mental Health
Center; the Southeastern Mental Health Authority; River Valley Services; the Western
Connecticut Mental Health Network; and any other state-operated facility for the treatment of persons with psychiatric disabilities or persons with substance use disorders,
or both, but shall not include those portions of such facilities transferred to the Department of Children and Families for the purpose of consolidation of children's services.
(c) The Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services may:
(1) Solicit and accept for use any gift of money or property made by will or otherwise, and any grant of money, services or property from the federal government, the
state or any political subdivision thereof or any private source, and do all things necessary
to cooperate with the federal government or any of its agencies in making an application
for any grant;
(2) Keep records and engage in research and the gathering of relevant statistics;
(3) Work with public or private agencies, organizations, facilities or individuals to
ensure the operation of the programs set forth in accordance with 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, 17a-580 to 17a-603, inclusive,
and 17a-615 to 17a-618, inclusive;
(4) Hold hearings, issue subpoenas, administer oaths, compel testimony and order
production of books, papers and records in the performance of its duties;
(5) Operate trustee accounts, in accordance with procedures prescribed by the
Comptroller, on behalf of inpatient and outpatient department clients;
(6) Notwithstanding any provisions of sections 4-101 and 17b-239 to the contrary,
establish medical reimbursement rates for behavioral health services including, but not
limited to, inpatient, outpatient and residential services purchased by the department;
and
(7) Perform such other acts and functions as may be necessary or convenient to
execute the authority expressly granted to it.
(1972, P.A. 145, S. 2; P.A. 73-291, S. 1; P.A. 75-603, S. 2, 15; P.A. 76-339, S. 2, 5; P.A. 77-220, S. 2, 5; P.A. 79-610,
S. 29; P.A. 86-371, S. 18, 45; P.A. 87-225, S. 2; P.A. 93-91, S. 1, 2; 93-381, S. 9, 39; 93-427, S. 1, 6; P.A. 95-257, S. 10,
58; June 18 Sp. Sess. P.A. 97-8, S. 1, 88; P.A. 99-234, S. 1; P.A. 05-280, S. 78; P.A. 07-148, S. 3.)
History: P.A. 73-291 abolished alcohol and drug dependence division of department of mental health; P.A. 75-603
deleted programs and facilities for children from purview of mental health department and deleted High Meadows as a
department facility (Revisor's note: A reference to "security treatment center" was changed editorially by the Revisors to
"Whiting Forensic Institute" to conform section with P.A. 73-245); P.A. 76-339 included Ribicoff Research Center as
department facility; P.A. 77-220 included Cedarcrest Regional Hospital as department facility and removed Undercliff
Mental Health Center; P.A. 79-610 removed division for licensing of facilities providing care for mentally disordered
adults from department; P.A. 86-371 amended Subsec. (b) to add the reference to facilities transferred to the Connecticut
alcohol and drug abuse commission, to delete reference to Blue Hills Hospital and to revise name of Bridgeport Mental
Health Center and added Subsec. (c) re discretionary powers of mental health department; P.A. 87-225 amended Subsec.
(b) to change the name of the DuBois Day Treatment Center to the Franklin S. DuBois Center; Sec. 17-207b transferred
to Sec. 17a-450 in 1991; P.A. 93-91 substituted commissioner and department of children and families for commissioner
and department of children and youth services, effective July 1, 1993; P.A. 93-381 substituted department of public health
and addiction services for Connecticut alcohol and drug abuse commission, effective July 1, 1993; P.A. 93-427 amended
Subsec. (b) to add Capitol Region Mental Health Center to the list of facilities under the department, effective July 1, 1993;
P.A. 95-257 replaced Department, Commissioner and Board of Mental Health with Department, Commissioner and Board
of Mental Health and Addiction Services, specified two divisions and their duties, added reference to Blue Hills Hospital,
Berkshire Woods, Eugene Boneski, and Dutcher treatment centers, replaced mental disorder with psychiatric or substance
abuse disability, deleted in Subsec. (b) reference to portions of facilities transferred to the former Department of Public
Health and Addiction Services, effective July 1, 1995 (Revisor's note: In Subsec. (b), "persons adults or adults with
substance abuse disabilities" was replaced editorially by the Revisors with "persons with substance abuse disabilities" for
conformity with references elsewhere in the Subsec.); June 18 Sp. Sess. P.A. 97-8 amended Subsec. (b) to delete reference
to Norwich, Fairfield Hills and Blue Hills hospitals and Berkshire Woods, Eugene Boneski, and Dutcher treatment centers
and added Subsec. (c)(5) allowing trustee accounts and (c)6) allowing reimbursement rates, renumbering the remaining
Subdiv., effective July 1, 1997; P.A. 99-234 amended Subsec. (b) by adding reference to successor facilities, the Southwest
Connecticut Mental Health System, the Southeastern Mental Health Authority, River Valley Services and the Western
Connecticut Mental Health Network; P.A. 05-280 amended Subsec. (b) by removing language describing department as
a single-budgeted agency consisting of two divisions, adding Acute Care Division of Connecticut Valley Hospital to list
of department facilities and removing Cedarcrest Hospital from list of department facilities, effective July 1, 2005; P.A.
07-148 amended Subsec. (b) by replacing "substance abuse disabilities" with "substance use disorders".
| (Return to Chapter Table of Contents) | (Return to List of Chapters) | (Return to List of Titles) |
Sec. 17a-450a. Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services. Successor to the Department of Mental Health and to the addiction services component
of the former Department of Public Health and Addiction Services. (a) The Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services shall constitute a successor department
to the Department of Mental Health. Whenever the words "Commissioner of Mental
Health" are used or referred to in the following general statutes, the words "Commissioner of Mental Health and Addiction Services" shall be substituted in lieu thereof
and whenever the words "Department of Mental Health" are used or referred to in the
following general statutes, the words "Department of Mental Health and Addiction
Services" shall be substituted in lieu thereof: 2c-2b, 4-5, 4-38c, 4-60i, 4-77a, 4a-12, 4a-16, 5-142, 8-206d, 10-19, 10-71, 10-76d, 17a-14, 17a-26, 17a-31, 17a-33, 17a-218, 17a-246, 17a-450, 17a-451, 17a-452, 17a-453, 17a-454, 17a-455, 17a-456, 17a-457, 17a-458, 17a-459, 17a-460, 17a-464, 17a-465, 17a-466, 17a-467, 17a-468, 17a-470, 17a-471, 17a-472, 17a-473, 17a-474, 17a-476, 17a-478, 17a-479, 17a-480, 17a-481, 17a-482, 17a-483, 17a-484, 17a-498, 17a-499, 17a-502, 17a-506, 17a-510, 17a-511, 17a-512, 17a-513, 17a-519, 17a-528, 17a-560, 17a-561, 17a-562, 17a-565, 17a-576, 17a-581, 17a-582, 17a-675, 17b-28, 17b-222, 17b-223, 17b-225, 17b-359, 17b-420, 17b-694, 19a-82, 19a-495, 19a-498, 19a-507a, 19a-507c, 19a-576, 19a-583, 20-14i, 20-14j,
21a-240, 21a-301, 27-122a, 31-222, 38a-514, 46a-28, 51-51o, 52-146h and 54-56d.
(b) The Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services shall constitute a
successor department to the addiction services component of the Department of Public
Health and Addiction Services. Whenever the words "Commissioner of Public Health
and Addiction Services" are used or referred to in the following general statutes, the
words "Commissioner of Mental Health and Addiction Services" shall be substituted
in lieu thereof and whenever the words "Department of Public Health and Addiction
Services" are used or referred to in the following general statutes, the words "Department
of Mental Health and Addiction Services" shall be substituted in lieu thereof: 4a-12,
17a-3, 17a-465a, 17a-670 to 17a-676, inclusive, 17a-678 to 17a-682, inclusive, 17a-684 to 17a-687, inclusive, 17a-691, 17a-694, 17a-710, 17a-712, 17a-713 19a-89c, 20-74o, 20-74p, 20-74q, 21a-274a, 54-36i and 54-56g.
(c) Any order or regulation of the Department of Mental Health or the addiction
services component of the Department of Public Health and Addiction Services that is
in force on July 1, 1995, shall continue in force and effect as an order or regulation of
the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services until amended, repealed or
superseded pursuant to law. Where any order or regulation of the departments conflict,
the Commissioner of Mental Health and Addiction Services may implement policies
and procedures consistent with the provisions of public act 95-257* while in the process
of adopting the policy or procedure in regulation form, provided notice of intention to
adopt the regulations is printed in the Connecticut Law Journal within twenty days of
implementation. The policy or procedure shall be valid until the time final regulations
are effective.
(P.A. 95-257, S. 5, 11, 58; P.A. 98-247, S. 12; P.A. 99-284, S. 56, 60; P.A. 02-89, S. 27; 02-123, S. 8; P.A. 07-148, S. 4.)
*Public act 95-257 is entitled "An Act Concerning the Consolidation of State-Operated Programs at Fairfield Hills,
Norwich and Connecticut Valley Hospitals, Transfer of Addiction Services to the Former Department of Mental Health,
Medicaid Waiver and the Office of Health Care Access". (See Reference Table captioned "Public Acts of 1995" in Volume
16 of the General Statutes of Connecticut, revised to January 1, 2007, which lists the sections amended, created or repealed
by the act.)
History: P.A. 95-257, S. 5 and 11 effective July 1, 1995; P.A. 98-247 repealed Sec. 20-74r and specifically authorized
deletion of reference to Sec. 20-74r in this section; P.A. 99-284 deleted obsolete reference to Sec. 38a-539 and made a
technical change in Subsec. (a), effective January 1, 2000; P.A. 02-89 amended Subsec. (a) to delete reference to Sec. 22a-224, reflecting the repeal of said section by the same public act; P.A. 02-123 amended Subsec. (a) to delete reference to
repealed Sec. 13b-38n, effective June 7, 2002; P.A. 07-148 amended Subsec. (a) to delete reference to repealed Sec. 17a-463.
| (Return to Chapter Table of Contents) | (Return to List of Chapters) | (Return to List of Titles) |
Sec. 17a-450b. Affirmative action plan. Notwithstanding any provision of title
46 or regulations adopted under said title, the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services shall develop a single, comprehensive affirmative action plan that covers
each facility, division and the central office of said department.
(P.A. 07-148, S. 19.)
| (Return to Chapter Table of Contents) | (Return to List of Chapters) | (Return to List of Titles) |
Sec. 17a-451. (Formerly Sec. 17-210a). Commissioner of Mental Health and
Addiction Services. Duties. Regulations re fair hearing process. (a) The Commissioner of Mental Health and Addiction Services shall be a qualified person with a masters
degree or higher in a health-related field and at least ten years' experience in hospital,
health, mental health or substance abuse administration.
(b) The commissioner shall be the executive head of the Department of Mental
Health and Addiction Services.
(c) The commissioner shall prepare and issue regulations for the administration and
operation of the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services, and all state-operated facilities and community programs providing care for persons with psychiatric
disabilities or persons with substance use disorders, or both.
(d) The commissioner shall coordinate the community programs receiving state
funds with programs of state-operated facilities for the treatment of persons with psychiatric disabilities or persons with substance use disorders, or both.
(e) The commissioner shall collaborate and cooperate with other state agencies providing services for mentally disordered children and adults with psychiatric disabilities
or persons with substance use disorders, or persons with both disabilities, and shall
coordinate the activities of the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services
with the activities of said agencies.
(f) (1) The commissioner shall establish and enforce standards and policies for the
care and treatment of persons with psychiatric disabilities or persons with substance use
disorders, or both, in public and private facilities that are consistent with other health
care standards and may make any inquiry, investigation or examination of records of
such facilities as may be necessary for the purpose of investigating the occurrence of
any serious injury or unexpected death involving any person who has within one year
of such occurrence received services for the care and treatment of such disabilities from
a state-operated facility or a community program receiving state funds. (2) The findings
of any such inquiry, investigation or examination of records conducted pursuant to this
subsection shall not be subject to disclosure pursuant to section 1-210, nor shall such
findings be subject to discovery or introduction into evidence in any civil action arising
out of such serious injury or unexpected death. (3) Except as to the finding provided
in subdivision (2) of this subsection, nothing in this subsection shall be construed as
restricting disclosure of the confidential communications or records upon which such
findings are based, where such disclosure is otherwise provided for by law.
(g) The commissioner shall establish and direct research, training, and evaluation
programs.
(h) The commissioner shall develop a state-wide plan for the development of mental
health services which identifies needs and outlines procedures for meeting these needs.
(i) The commissioner shall be responsible for the coordination of all activities in
the state relating to substance use disorders and treatment, including activities of the
Departments of Children and Families, Correction, Public Health, Social Services and
Veterans' Affairs, the judicial branch and any other department or entity providing
services to persons with substance use disorders.
(j) The commissioner shall be responsible for developing and implementing the
Connecticut comprehensive plan for prevention, treatment and reduction of alcohol and
drug abuse problems to be known as the state substance abuse plan. The plan shall
include state-wide, long-term planning goals and objectives and annual revisions of
objectives. In the development of the substance abuse plan the commissioner shall solicit
and consider the recommendations of the subregional planning and action councils established under section 17a-671.
(k) The commissioner shall prepare a consolidated budget request for the operation
of the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services.
(l) The commissioner shall appoint professional, technical and other personnel necessary for the proper discharge of the commissioner's duties, subject to the provisions
of chapter 67.
(m) The commissioner shall from time to time adjust the geographic territory to be
served by the facilities and programs under the commissioner's jurisdiction.
(n) The commissioner shall specify uniform methods of keeping statistical information by public and private agencies, organizations and individuals, including a client
identifier system, and collect and make available relevant statistical information, including the number of persons treated, demographic and clinical information about such
persons, frequency of admission and readmission, frequency and duration of treatment,
level or levels of care provided and discharge and referral information. The commissioner shall also require all facilities that provide prevention or treatment of alcohol or
drug abuse or dependence that are operated or funded by the state or licensed under
sections 19a-490 to 19a-503, inclusive, to implement such methods. The commissioner
shall report any licensed facility that fails to report to the licensing authority. The client
identifier system shall be subject to the confidentiality requirements set forth in section
17a-688 and regulations adopted thereunder.
(o) The commissioner shall establish uniform policies and procedures for collecting, standardizing, managing and evaluating data related to substance use, abuse and
addiction programs administered by state agencies, state-funded community-based programs and the judicial branch, including, but not limited to: (1) The use of prevention,
education, treatment and criminal justice services related to substance use, abuse and
addiction; (2) client demographic and substance use, abuse and addiction information;
and (3) the quality and cost effectiveness of substance use, abuse and addiction services.
The commissioner shall, in consultation with the Secretary of the Office of Policy and
Management, ensure that the judicial branch, all state agencies and state-funded community-based programs with substance use, abuse and addiction programs or services comply with such policies and procedures. Notwithstanding any other provision of the general statutes concerning confidentiality, the commissioner, within available
appropriations, shall establish and maintain a central repository for such substance use,
abuse and addiction program and service data from the judicial branch, state agencies
and state-funded community-based programs administering substance use, abuse and
addiction programs and services. The central repository shall not disclose any data that
reveals the personal identification of any individual. The Connecticut Alcohol and Drug
Policy Council established pursuant to section 17a-667 shall have access to the central
repository for aggregate analysis. The commissioner shall submit a biennial report to
the General Assembly, in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a, the Office
of Policy and Management and the Connecticut Alcohol and Drug Policy Council. The
report shall include, but need not be limited to, a summary of: (A) Client and patient
demographic information; (B) trends and risks factors associated with alcohol and drug
use, abuse and dependence; (C) effectiveness of services based on outcome measures;
and (D) a state-wide cost analysis.
(p) The commissioner may contract for services to be provided for the department
or by the department for the prevention of mental illness or substance abuse in persons,
as well as other mental health or substance abuse services described in section 17a-478
and shall consult with providers of such services in developing methods of service
delivery.
(q) (1) The commissioner may make available to municipalities, nonprofit community organizations or self help groups any services, premises and property under the
control of the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services but shall be under
no obligation to continue to make such property available in the event the department
permanently vacates a facility. Such services, premises and property may be utilized
by such municipalities, nonprofit community organizations or self help groups in any
manner not inconsistent with the intended purposes for such services, premises and
property. The Commissioner of Mental Health and Addiction Services shall submit to
the Commissioner of Administrative Services any agreement for provision of services
by the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services to municipalities, nonprofit
community organizations or self help groups for approval of such agreement prior to
the provision of services pursuant to this subsection.
(2) The municipality, nonprofit community organization or self help group using
any premises and property of the department shall be liable for any damage or injury
which occurs on the premises and property and shall furnish to the Commissioner of
Mental Health and Addiction Services proof of financial responsibility to satisfy claims
for damages on account of any physical injury or property damage which may be suffered
while the municipality, nonprofit community organization or self help group is using
the premises and property of the department in such amount as the commissioner determines to be necessary. The state of Connecticut shall not be liable for any damage or
injury sustained on the premises and property of the department while the premises and
property are being utilized by any municipality, nonprofit community organization or
self help group.
(3) The Commissioner of Mental Health and Addiction Services shall adopt regulations, in accordance with chapter 54, to carry out the provisions of this subsection. As
used in this subsection, "self help group" means a group of volunteers, approved by the
commissioner, who offer peer support to each other in recovering from an addiction.
(r) The commissioner shall prepare an annual report for the Governor.
(s) The commissioner shall perform all other duties which are necessary and proper
for the operation of the department.
(t) The commissioner may direct clinical staff at Department of Mental Health and
Addiction Services facilities or in crisis intervention programs funded by the department
who are providing treatment to a patient to request disclosure, to the extent allowed
under state and federal law, of the patient's record of previous treatment in order to
accomplish the objectives of diagnosis, treatment or referral of the patient. If the clinical
staff in possession of the requested record determines that disclosure would assist the
accomplishment of the objectives of diagnosis, treatment or referral, the record may be
disclosed, to the extent allowed under state and federal law, to the requesting clinical
staff without patient consent. Records disclosed shall be limited to records maintained
at department facilities or crisis intervention programs funded by the department. The
Commissioner of Mental Health and Addiction Services shall adopt regulations in accordance with chapter 54 to administer the provisions of this subsection and to ensure
maximum safeguards of patient confidentiality.
(u) The commissioner shall adopt regulations to establish a fair hearing process
which provides the right to appeal final determinations of the Department of Mental
Health and Addiction Services or of its grantee agencies as determined by the commissioner regarding: The nature of denial, involuntary reduction or termination of services.
Such hearings shall be conducted in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54, after
a person has exhausted the department's established grievance procedure. Any matter
which falls within the jurisdiction of the Psychiatric Security Review Board under sections 17a-580 to 17a-603, inclusive, shall not be subject to the provisions of this section.
Any person receiving services from a Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services facility or a grantee agency determined by the commissioner to be subject to this
subsection and who is aggrieved by a violation of sections 17a-540 to 17a-549, inclusive,
may elect to either use the procedure specified in this subsection or file for remedies
under section 17a-550.
(v) The commissioner may designate a deputy commissioner to sign any contract,
agreement or settlement on behalf of the Department of Mental Health and Addiction
Services.
(1972, P.A. 145, S. 3; P.A. 74-165, S. 1, 2; P.A. 75-479, S. 17, 25; 75-603, S. 3-6, 15; P.A. 76-73; 76-285, S. 2, 3; 76-339, S. 3, 5; P.A. 77-614, S. 70, 610; P.A. 88-317, S. 72, 107; P.A. 90-76, S. 1, 2; 90-271, S. 13, 24; May Sp. Sess. P.A.
92-16, S. 40, 89; P.A. 94-204, S. 1; P.A. 95-257, S. 14, 58; P.A. 96-4, S. 1, 2; P.A. 99-178, S. 2; 99-234, S. 2; 99-273; P.A.
01-27; P.A. 02-9, S. 2, 3; P.A. 05-171, S. 1; P.A. 07-148, S. 5-9.)
History: P.A. 74-165 included in Subsec. (l) services for prevention of mental illness; P.A. 75-479 added Subsec. (p)
re parent-child resource system; P.A. 75-603 revised Subsecs. (c), (d), (f) and (l) to apply only to adults and added reference
to "mental disorders" in Subsec. (l); P.A. 76-73 made services available to municipalities or nonprofit community organizations as well as "premises and property" and required approval of finance and control commissioner before services are
provided in Subsec. (m); P.A. 76-285 and 76-339 deleted reference to mental disorders in Subsec. (l) and added "other
mental health services described in Sec. 17-226e" and deleted Subsec. (p); P.A. 77-614 replaced commissioner of finance
and control with commissioner of administrative services; P.A. 88-317 amended reference to Secs. 4-166 to 4-174 in
Subsec. (m) to include new section added to Ch. 54, effective July 1, 1989, and applicable to all agency proceedings
commencing on or after that date; P.A. 90-76 added Subsec. (p) re disclosure of patient records; P.A. 90-271 made a
technical change; Sec. 17-210a transferred to Sec. 17a-451 in 1991; May Sp. Sess. P.A. 92-16 amended Subsec. (l) by
adding "and shall consult with providers of such services in developing methods of service delivery"; P.A. 94-204 added
new Subsec. (q) to require commissioner to adopt regulations to establish a fair-hearing process; P.A. 95-257 replaced
Commissioner of Mental Health with Commissioner of Mental Health and Addiction Services, added to the minimum
qualifications a masters degree or higher in a health related field, required the experience be for at least 10 years and
allowed it to be in substance abuse administration, replaced mental disorder with psychiatric and substance abuse disability,
added Subsec. (i) re coordination responsibilities, inserted new Subsec. (j) re state substance abuse plan and new Subsec.
(n) re statistical information, relettering prior Subsecs. as necessary, amended Subsec. (o) to include services "to be provided
for the department or by the department", added to Subsec. (p) the provision re no obligation to continue to make property
available and limited disclosure under Subsec. (s) "to the extent allowed under state and federal law", effective July 1,
1995; P.A. 96-4 amended Subsec. (t) by adding reference to the department's "Mental Health Division", effective April
22, 1996; P.A. 99-178 amended Subsec. (f) by dividing it into subdivisions, adding provisions re inquiry concerning serious
injury or death to Subdiv. (1) and adding Subdivs. (2) re findings and (3) re exception; P.A. 99-234 amended Subsec. (t)
by deleting obsolete reference to department's mental health division and made technical changes; P.A. 99-273 amended
Subsec. (n) by adding reference to "demographic and clinical information", "levels of care provided" and "discharge and
referral information", modifying "facilities" by adding reference to "prevention", "abuse" and "operated or funded by the
state" and by requiring commissioner to report "failure to report to the licensing authority", added new Subsec. (o) re
collection and reporting of data, relettered the remaining Subsecs. and made technical changes; P.A. 01-27 amended Subsec.
(q) by adding provisions re self help groups and making technical changes; P.A. 02-9 amended Subsec. (o) by changing
requirement for commissioner's reporting to the General Assembly from annual to biennial and amended Subsec. (t) to
allow disclosure of referrals of patients; P.A. 05-171 added new Subsec. (v) re designation of deputy commissioner to sign
contract, agreement or settlement on behalf of department; P.A. 07-148 amended Subsecs. (c) to (f) and (i) by replacing
"substance abuse disabilities" with "substance use disorders" and made a technical change in Subsec. (f)(1).
| (Return to Chapter Table of Contents) | (Return to List of Chapters) | (Return to List of Titles) |
Sec. 17a-451a. Closure of state-operated programs at Fairfield Hills Hospital
and at Norwich Hospital and consolidation of programs at Connecticut Valley
Hospital. Private provider services. Section 17a-451a is repealed, effective October
1, 2007.
(P.A. 95-257, S. 1, 58; P.A. 07-148, S. 20.)
| (Return to Chapter Table of Contents) | (Return to List of Chapters) | (Return to List of Titles) |
Sec. 17a-457. (Formerly Sec. 17-208a). Duties of board. (a) The Board of Mental
Health and Addiction Services shall meet monthly with the Commissioner of Mental
Health and Addiction Services to review with the commissioner and advise the commissioner on programs, policies and plans of the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services.
(b) The board shall advise the Governor concerning candidates for the position of
Commissioner of Mental Health and Addiction Services.
(c) The board may issue periodic reports to the Governor and the Commissioner of
Mental Health and Addiction Services.
(d) The board shall select a chairperson and other officers from its membership and
may establish rules governing its internal procedures.
(e) Members of the board may examine the files and records of the central office
of the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services at any time and, upon
reasonable notice, of state-operated facilities for the treatment of persons with psychiatric disabilities or substance use disorders.
(f) The board shall advise and assist the Commissioner of Mental Health and Addiction Services on program development and community mental health or substance abuse
center construction planning.
(g) The board is designated and shall serve as the state advisory council to consult
with the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services in administering the
state's mental health and substance abuse programs.
(h) The board may, from time to time, appoint nonmembers to serve on such ad hoc
advisory committees as it deems necessary to assist with its functions.
(1972, P.A. 145, S. 6; P.A. 81-473, S. 41, 43; P.A. 95-257, S. 55, 58; P.A. 01-195, S. 136, 181; P.A. 07-148, S. 10.)
History: P.A. 81-473 added Subsecs. (f), (g) and (h) empowering board to advise and assist commissioner on program
development and community mental health center construction planning, designating board as state advisory council to
consult with department, and permitting board to appoint nonmembers on ad hoc advisory committees; Sec. 17-208a
transferred to Sec. 17a-457 in 1991; P.A. 95-257 replaced Board, Commission and Department of Mental Health with Board,
Commission and Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services, replaced "mentally disordered" with "persons with
psychiatric disabilities or substance abuse disabilities" in Subsec. (e) and added "substance abuse" to Subsecs. (f) and (g),
effective July 1, 1995; P.A. 01-195 made technical changes for the purpose of gender neutrality in Subsecs. (a) and (d)
and deleted "state" re Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services in Subsec. (g), effective July 11, 2001; P.A.
07-148 amended Subsec. (e) by replacing "substance abuse disabilities" with "substance use disorders".
| (Return to Chapter Table of Contents) | (Return to List of Chapters) | (Return to List of Titles) |
Sec. 17a-458. (Formerly Sec. 17-207a). Definitions. When used in this section
and sections 17a-450, 17a-451, 17a-455, 17a-457, 17a-465, 17a-470, 17a-472, 17a-473
and 17a-475 unless otherwise expressly stated or unless the context otherwise requires:
(a) "Persons with psychiatric disabilities" means those persons who are suffering
from one or more mental disorders as defined in the most recent edition of the American
Psychiatric Association's "Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders";
(b) "Persons with substance use disorders" means alcohol dependent persons, as
that term is defined in subdivision (1) of section 17a-680, or drug dependent persons,
as that term is defined in subdivision (7) of section 17a-680;
(c) "State-operated facilities" means those hospitals or other facilities providing
treatment for persons with psychiatric disabilities or for persons with substance use
disorders, or both, which are operated in whole or in part by the Department of Mental
Health and Addiction Services. Such facilities include, but are not limited to, Capitol
Region Mental Health Center, Connecticut Valley Hospital, including the Acute Care
Division of Connecticut Valley Hospital, the Connecticut Mental Health Center, the
Franklin S. DuBois Center, the Greater Bridgeport Community Mental Health Center
and River Valley Services.
(1972, P.A. 145, S. 1; P.A. 75-603, S. 1, 15; P.A. 76-339, S. 1, 5; P.A. 77-220, S. 1, 5; P.A. 78-70, S. 2; P.A. 82-154,
S. 1, 2; P.A. 86-371, S. 17, 45; P.A. 87-225, S. 1; P.A. 93-91, S. 1, 2; 93-381, S. 9, 39; 93-427, S. 2, 6; P.A. 95-257, S. 16,
58; P.A. 05-280, S. 79; P.A. 07-148, S. 11, 12.)
History: P.A. 75-603 redefined "state-operated facilities" to specifically exclude treatment facilities for children transferred to children and youth services department, to delete High Meadows and to replace the Security Treatment Center
with Whiting Forensic Institute; P.A. 76-339 included Ribicoff Research Center as state-operated facility; P.A. 77-220
added reference to Secs. 17-221 and 17-222, deleted Undercliff Mental Health Center as state-operated facility and added
Cedarcrest Regional Hospital; P.A. 78-70 added reference to Sec. 17-215c; P.A. 82-154 deleted the Ribicoff Research
Center from the list of state operated facilities in Subsec. (b); P.A. 86-371 amended definition of "state-operated facilities"
to delete reference to Blue Hills Hospital, to revise name of Bridgeport Mental Health Center and to specifically exclude
facilities transferred to alcohol and drug abuse commission; P.A. 87-225 changed the name of the DuBois Day Treatment
Center to the Franklin S. DuBois Center; Sec. 17-207a transferred to Sec. 17a-458 in 1991; P.A. 93-91 substituted commissioner and department of children and families for commissioner and department of children and youth services, effective
July 1, 1993; P.A. 93-381 replaced Connecticut alcohol and drug abuse commission with department of public health and
addiction services, effective July 1, 1993; P.A. 93-427 redefined "state-operated facilities" to add the Capitol Region
Mental Health Center, effective July 1, 1993; P.A. 95-257 replaced references to mental disorder with psychiatric disability,
added Subsec. (b) re substance abuse disability and relettered the remaining Subsec. accordingly, deleted Whiting Forensic
Institute in Subsec. (c) and added Blue Hills Hospital and Berkshire Woods, Eugene Boneski and Dutcher treatment centers,
deleted reference to portions of facilities transferred to the former Department of Public Health and Addiction Services
and replaced Department of Mental Health with Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services, effective July 1,
1995; P.A. 05-280 amended Subsec. (c) to redefine "state-operated facilities" to include the Acute Care Division of Connecticut Valley Hospital, to remove Cedarcrest Regional Hospital, Blue Hills Hospital, Berkshire Woods Treatment Center
and Eugene Boneski Treatment Center from list of state-operated facilities and to remove provision re portions of facilities
transferred to the Department of Children and Families, effective July 1, 2005; P.A. 07-148 amended Subsecs. (b) and (c)
by replacing "substance abuse disabilities" with "substance use disorders" and further amended Subsec. (c) by redefining
"state-operated facilities", to delete obsolete references to Norwich and Fairfield Hills Hospitals and Dutcher Treatment
Center and to add River Valley Services.
| (Return to Chapter Table of Contents) | (Return to List of Chapters) | (Return to List of Titles) |
Sec. 17a-458d. Term "substance use disorders" substituted for "substance
abuse disabilities". If the term "substance abuse disabilities" is used or referred to in
any public or special act of 2007 or 2008, or in any section of the general statutes that
is amended in 2007 or 2008, it shall be deemed to refer to substance use disorders.
(P.A. 07-148, S. 18.)
| (Return to Chapter Table of Contents) | (Return to List of Chapters) | (Return to List of Titles) |
Sec. 17a-459. (Formerly Sec. 17-209a). Connecticut Mental Health Center.
The Connecticut Mental Health Center shall be a facility of the Department of Mental
Health and Addiction Services and shall include the Connecticut Mental Health Center
in New Haven and such satellite locations as the department may approve. The department shall operate the center in collaboration with Yale University under mutual
agreement of the parties. The department may provide treatment at the center to adults,
children or youths with psychiatric disabilities, substance use disorders or both such
disabilities. Admissions shall be within the control of the Commissioner of Mental
Health and Addiction Services and no court may commit or transfer any person to or
place or confine any person in the center without the approval of the commissioner or
the commissioner's designee.
(1963, P.A. 579, S. 1; P.A. 83-79, S. 1, 2; P.A. 95-257, S. 11, 58; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 99-2, S. 16, 72; P.A. 06-196, S.
126; P.A. 07-148, S. 13.)
History: P.A. 83-79 precluded commitment or transfer of patients to the center without the approval of the commissioner
or his designee; Sec. 17-209a transferred to Sec. 17a-459 in 1991; P.A. 95-257 replaced Commissioner and Department
of Mental Health with Commissioner and Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services, effective July 1, 1995;
June Sp. Sess. P.A. 99-2 added reference to the Connecticut Mental Health Center in New Haven and satellite locations
the department approves of, added provision allowing department to provide treatment at the center to adults, children or
youth with psychiatric disabilities, substance abuse or both and made technical changes, effective July 1, 1999; P.A. 06-196 made a technical change, effective June 7, 2006; P.A. 07-148 replaced "substance abuse disabilities" with "substance
use disorders".
| (Return to Chapter Table of Contents) | (Return to List of Chapters) | (Return to List of Titles) |
Sec. 17a-463. (Formerly Sec. 17-212a). Fairfield Hills Hospital. Greenwich
House property transferred. Section 17a-463 is repealed, effective October 1, 2007.
(P.A. 78-209, S. 2, 3; P.A. 80-134; P.A. 93-91, S. 1, 2; P.A. 95-257, S. 11, 58; P.A. 07-148, S. 20.)
| (Return to Chapter Table of Contents) | (Return to List of Chapters) | (Return to List of Titles) |
Sec. 17a-470. (Formerly Sec. 17-213a). Advisory boards for state hospitals and
facilities. Each state hospital, state-operated facility or the Whiting Forensic Division
of the Connecticut Valley Hospital for the treatment of persons with psychiatric disabilities or persons with substance use disorders, or both, except the Connecticut Mental
Health Center, may have an advisory board appointed by the superintendent or director
of the facility for terms to be decided by such superintendent or director. In any case
where the present number of members of an advisory board is less than the number of
members designated by the superintendent or director of the facility, he shall appoint
additional members to such board in accordance with this section in such manner that the
terms of an approximately equal number of members shall expire in each odd-numbered
year. The superintendent or director shall fill any vacancy that may occur for the unexpired portion of any term. No member may serve more than two successive terms plus
the balance of any unexpired term to which he had been appointed. The superintendent
or director of the facility shall be an ex-officio member of the advisory board. Each
member of an advisory board of a state-operated facility within the Department of Mental
Health and Addiction Services assigned a geographical territory shall be a resident of
the assigned geographical territory. Members of said advisory boards shall receive no
compensation for their services but shall be reimbursed for necessary expenses involved
in the performance of their duties. At least one-third of such members shall be from a
substance abuse subregional planning and action council established pursuant to section
17a-671, and at least one-third shall be members of the catchment area councils, as
provided in section 17a-483, for the catchment areas served by such facility, except that
members serving as of October 1, 1977, shall serve out their terms.
(1972, P.A. 145, S. 9; P.A. 76-435, S. 56, 82; P.A. 77-83; P.A. 80-2, S. 1, 2; P.A. 81-473, S. 7, 43; P.A. 84-7, S. 1, 3;
P.A. 95-257, S. 17, 58; P.A. 07-148, S. 14.)
History: P.A. 76-435 replaced "security treatment center" with "Whiting Forensic Institute"; P.A. 77-83 required that
one-third of members of board be members of catchment area councils except that present members to serve out their
terms; P.A. 80-2 excepted Dubois Day Treatment Center from requirement for 15-member institution advisory board and
revised provisions to reflect completion of transition from boards of trustees to advisory boards and added Subsec. (b)
containing special provisions for Dubois Day Treatment Center; P.A. 81-473 eliminated the requirement that each state
hospital or facility for the treatment of the mentally disordered have an advisory board of 15 members appointed by the
commissioner and provided for optional appointment of such boards by the superintendent or director of the hospital or
facility and deleted Subsec. (b) which had established a 7-member advisory board for the Dubois Day Treatment Center;
P.A. 84-7 excepted the Connecticut Mental Health Center and the Whiting Forensic Institute from the requirement that
each state facility for the mentally disordered have an advisory board; Sec. 17-213a transferred to Sec. 17a-470 in 1991; P.A.
95-257 changed name of Whiting Forensic Institute to Whiting Forensic Division, and included it in facilities authorized to
have an advisory board, required at least one-third of board members to be from a substance abuse subregional planning
and action council and replaced Department of Mental Health with Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services,
effective July 1, 1995; P.A. 07-148 replaced "substance abuse disabilities" with "substance use disorders".
| (Return to Chapter Table of Contents) | (Return to List of Chapters) | (Return to List of Titles) |
Secs. 17a-471b and 17a-471c. Fairfield Hills Hospital oversight committee.
Norwich Hospital oversight committee. Sections 17a-471b and 17a-471c are repealed,
effective October 1, 2007.
(P.A. 95-250, S. 1; 95-257, S. 2, 3, 58; P.A. 96-211, S. 1, 5, 6; June 30 Sp. Sess. P.A. 03-6, S. 146(f); P.A. 04-189, S.
1; P.A. 07-148, S. 20.)
| (Return to Chapter Table of Contents) | (Return to List of Chapters) | (Return to List of Titles) |
Sec. 17a-473. (Formerly Sec. 17-215b). Duties of superintendents and directors. (a) Each superintendent or director of a state-operated facility shall cooperate and
coordinate with community programs in establishing the facility's policies and procedures concerning program planning and development, patient admissions, rehabilitation
and follow-up services.
(b) Subject to the standards established by the Commissioner of Mental Health
and Addiction Services for the operation of state-operated facilities constituting the
Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services for the treatment of persons with
psychiatric disabilities or persons with substance use disorders, or both, each superintendent or director of such a facility shall be in charge of its day-to-day operations.
(c) Each superintendent or director of such a facility shall meet periodically with
the advisory board to the facility, if so established pursuant to section 17a-470, with
representatives from community programs receiving state funds and, at least annually,
with the commissioner and the Board of Mental Health and Addiction Services.
(1972, P.A. 145, S. 8; P.A. 77-25; P.A. 81-473, S. 9, 43; P.A. 95-257, S. 11, 13, 58; P.A. 99-234, S. 3; P.A. 07-148, S. 15.)
History: P.A. 77-25 deleted reference to "divisions" of mental health department and specified applicability of provisions
to superintendents or directors of state-operated facilities; P.A. 81-473 amended Subsec. (c) to reflect the change to optional
facility advisory boards; Sec. 17-215b transferred to Sec. 17a-473 in 1991; P.A. 95-257 replaced Commissioner, Department
and Board of Mental Health with Commissioner, Department and Board of Mental Health and Addiction Services, effective
July 1, 1995; P.A. 99-234 replaced reference to "mentally disordered" persons with "persons with psychiatric disabilities
or persons with substance abuse disabilities, or both."; P.A. 07-148 amended Subsec. (b) by replacing "substance abuse
disabilities" with "substance use disorders".
| (Return to Chapter Table of Contents) | (Return to List of Chapters) | (Return to List of Titles) |
Sec. 17a-475a. Medical services for women in state-operated facilities. The
Commissioners of Mental Health and Addiction Services and Developmental Services
shall provide mammographic and pelvic examinations, as needed, according to the standards set by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecology, to patients being
cared for in state-operated facilities, as defined in subsection (c) of section 17a-458, or
in any institution or facility operated by the Department of Developmental Services.
(P.A. 03-40, S. 2; P.A. 07-73, S. 2(a), (b).)
History: P.A. 03-40 effective May 23, 2003; pursuant to P.A. 07-73 "Commissioner of Mental Retardation" and "Department of Mental Retardation" were changed editorially by the Revisors to "Commissioner of Developmental Services" and
"Department of Developmental Services", effective October 1, 2007.
| (Return to Chapter Table of Contents) | (Return to List of Chapters) | (Return to List of Titles) |
Sec. 17a-502. (Formerly Sec. 17-183). Commitment under emergency certificate. Examination of patient. Discharge. Explanation of rights. Hearing. Order for
detention to continue. Private hospitals' notification to commissioner. Immediate
discharge of patient. Notification of next of kin. Prohibited commitments to chronic
disease hospitals. (a) Any person who a physician concludes has psychiatric disabilities
and is dangerous to himself or others or gravely disabled, and is in need of immediate
care and treatment in a hospital for psychiatric disabilities, may be confined in such a
hospital, either public or private, under an emergency certificate as hereinafter provided
for not more than fifteen days without order of any court, unless a written application
for commitment of such person has been filed in a probate court prior to the expiration
of the fifteen days, in which event such commitment is continued under the emergency
certificate for an additional fifteen days or until the completion of probate proceedings,
whichever occurs first. In no event shall such person be admitted to or detained at any
hospital, either public or private, for more than fifteen days after the execution of the
original emergency certificate, on the basis of a new emergency certificate executed at
any time during the person's confinement pursuant to the original emergency certificate;
and in no event shall more than one subsequent emergency certificate be issued within
fifteen days of the execution of the original certificate. If at the expiration of the fifteen
days a written application for commitment of such person has not been filed, such person
shall be discharged from the hospital. At the time of delivery of such person to such
hospital, there shall be left, with the person in charge thereof, a certificate, signed by a
physician licensed to practice medicine or surgery in Connecticut and dated not more
than three days prior to its delivery to the person in charge of the hospital. Such certificate
shall state the date of personal examination of the person to be confined, which shall
be not more than three days prior to the date of signature of the certificate, shall state
the findings of the physician relative to the physical and mental condition of the person
and the history of the case, if known, and shall state that it is the opinion of the physician
that the person examined has psychiatric disabilities and is dangerous to himself or
herself or others or gravely disabled and is in need of immediate care and treatment in
a hospital for psychiatric disabilities. Such physician shall state on such certificate the
reasons for his or her opinion.
(b) Any person admitted and detained under this section shall be examined by a
physician specializing in psychiatry not later than forty-eight hours after admission as
provided in section 17a-545, except that any person admitted and detained under this
section at a chronic disease hospital shall be so examined not later than thirty-six hours
after admission. If such physician is of the opinion that the person does not meet the
criteria for emergency detention and treatment, such person shall be immediately discharged. The physician shall enter the physician's findings in the patient's record.
(c) Any person admitted and detained under this section shall be promptly informed
by the admitting facility that such person has the right to consult an attorney, the right
to a hearing under subsection (d) of this section, and that if such a hearing is requested
or a probate application is filed, such person has the right to be represented by counsel,
and that counsel will be provided at the state's expense if the person is unable to pay
for such counsel. The reasonable compensation for counsel provided to persons unable
to pay 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.
(d) If any person detained under this section, or his or her representative, requests
a hearing, in writing, such hearing shall be held within seventy-two hours of receipt of
such request, excluding Saturdays, Sundays and holidays. At such hearing, the person
shall have the right to be present, to cross-examine all witnesses testifying, and to be
represented by counsel as provided in section 17a-498. The hearing may be requested
at any time prior to the initiation of proceedings under section 17a-498. The hearing
shall be held by the court of probate having jurisdiction for commitment as provided in
section 17a-497, and the hospital shall immediately notify such court of any request for
a hearing by a person detained under this section. At the conclusion of the hearing, if
the court finds that there is probable cause to conclude that the person is subject to
involuntary confinement under this section, considering the condition of the respondent
at the time of the admission and at the time of the hearing, and the effects of medication,
if any, and the advisability of continued treatment based on testimony from the hospital
staff, the court shall order that such person's detention continue for the remaining time
provided for emergency certificates or until the completion of probate proceedings under
section 17a-498.
(e) The person in charge of every private hospital for psychiatric disabilities in the
state shall, on a quarterly basis, supply the Commissioner of Mental Health and Addiction Services, in writing with statistics that state for the preceding quarter, the number
of admissions of type and the number of discharges for that facility. Said commissioner
may adopt regulations to carry out the provisions of this subsection.
(f) The superintendent or director of any hospital for psychiatric disabilities shall
immediately discharge any patient admitted and detained under this section who is later
found not to meet the standards for emergency detention and treatment.
(g) Any person admitted and detained at any hospital for psychiatric disabilities
under this section shall, upon admission to such hospital, furnish the name of his or her
next of kin or close friend. The superintendent or director of such hospital shall notify
such next of kin or close friend of the admission of such patient and the discharge of
such patient, provided such patient consents, in writing, to such notification of his or
her discharge.
(h) No person, who a physician concludes has active suicidal or homicidal intent,
may be admitted to or detained at a chronic disease hospital under an emergency certificate issued pursuant to this section.
(i) For purposes of this section, "hospital" includes a licensed chronic disease hospital with a separate psychiatric unit.
(1949 Rev., S. 2649; 1953, 1955, S. 1492d; 1959, P.A. 454; 1967, P.A. 555, S. 68; 1971, P.A. 760, S. 2; June, 1971,
P.A. 7, S. 1; P.A. 76-227, S. 4, 7; P.A. 77-4, S. 1, 2; 77-595, S. 4, 9; P.A. 78-126, S. 2; P.A. 79-515, S. 4, 6; P.A. 80-189,
S. 1; P.A. 83-295, S. 20; P.A. 90-31, S. 1, 9; P.A. 95-257, S. 11, 48, 58; P.A. 96-170, S. 12, 23; P.A. 97-90, S. 5, 6; P.A.
00-196, S. 51; P.A. 07-49, S. 1; 07-252, S. 38.)
History: 1959 act added provision for emergency certificate, clarified language re prior complaint, added 60-day limitation for emergency confinement, and deleted requirements for notifying welfare commissioner of hospital admission and
his instituting proceedings for commitment; 1967 act distinguished drug-dependent from mentally ill persons; 1971 acts
allowed confinement of persons found by physician, rather than court, to be a danger to self or others for fifteen rather
than 30 days under emergency certificate; P.A. 76-227 allowed commitment of "gravely disabled" person under emergency
certificate, required that person be informed of right to examination by physician of his own choosing and generally clarified
provisions; P.A. 77-4 changed effective date of 1976 act from March 1, 1977, to October 1, 1977; P.A. 77-595 essentially
replaced previous provisions; P.A. 78-126 added Subsec. (g) re notification of next-of-kin; P.A. 79-515 replaced specific
conditions which court may find person suffering from with finding that person is "subject to involuntary confinement" and
finding as to advisability of continued treatment; P.A. 80-189 clarified limits on confinement under emergency certificate in
Subsec. (a); P.A. 83-295 amended Subsec. (c) to provide that the reasonable compensation for counsel provided to persons
unable to pay shall be established and paid by the judicial department; P.A. 90-31 amended Subsec. (c) by changing
compensation of counsel from funds appropriated to the judicial department to the probate administration fund in an amount
established by the probate court administrator; Sec. 17-183 transferred to Sec. 17a-502 in 1991; P.A. 95-257 replaced
Commissioner and Department of Mental Health with Commissioner and Department of Mental Health and Addiction
Services and replaced variants of "mental illness" and "mentally ill" with variants of "psychiatric disabilities", effective
July 1, 1995; P.A. 96-170 amended Subsec. (c) by changing funding of compensation of counsel 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. 00-196 made a technical change in Subsec. (b); P.A. 07-49 made technical changes in Subsecs. (b) to (e) and
(g), amended Subsec. (b) to require that person admitted to chronic disease hospital under emergency certificate be examined
not later than 24 hours after admission, added Subsec. (h) prohibiting admission of suicidal or homicidal person to chronic
disease hospital under emergency certificate and added Subsec. (i) defining "hospital"; P.A. 07-252 amended Subsec. (b)
to extend deadline for conducting examination of person committed to chronic disease hospital under emergency certificate
from 24 to 36 hours after admission.
| (Return to Chapter Table of Contents) | (Return to List of Chapters) | (Return to List of Titles) |
Sec. 17a-503. (Formerly Sec. 17-183a). Detention by police officer prior to
commitment. Issuance of emergency certificates by psychologist and certain clinical social workers and advanced practice registered nurses.
Subsec. (a):
Police officer's actions pursuant to section are sufficiently connected to a commitment proceeding to warrant absolute
immunity. Because a statement in police officer's incident report fell within scope of a judicial proceeding, defendant may
be protected by absolute or qualified immunity for that statement, but not for officer's statement to persons at Department
of Correction. It is appropriate to afford only a qualified immunity to persons acting pursuant to section if their conduct
falls within the proscriptions against malicious conduct under Sec. 17a-504. 282 C. 821.
| (Return to Chapter Table of Contents) | (Return to List of Chapters) | (Return to List of Titles) |
Sec. 17a-504. (Formerly Sec. 17-184). Penalty for wrongful acts re the commitment or psychiatric disabilities of another person.
Section is limited to matters clearly brought within its scope and bears no relation to civil liability. 282 C. 821.
| (Return to Chapter Table of Contents) | (Return to List of Chapters) | (Return to List of Titles) |
Sec. 17a-507. (Formerly Sec. 17-187a). Admission to general hospital having
psychiatric facilities. (a) Any general hospital having psychiatric facilities for care of
inpatients may admit any person for observation and treatment without formal or written
application if such hospital deems such person clinically suitable for such admission,
observation and treatment, and any such person shall be free to leave such hospital at
any time.
(b) Any such hospital may admit and detain persons under the provisions of sections
17a-498, 17a-502 and 17a-506 in the same manner as hospitals for psychiatric disabilities, including persons admitted under subsection (a) of this section for whom a certificate of emergency detention or a commitment order of a probate court has been made.
(1963, P.A. 277; P.A. 95-257, S. 48, 58; P.A. 07-217, S. 71.)
History: Sec. 17-187a transferred to Sec. 17a-507 in 1991; P.A. 95-257 replaced "mental illness" with "psychiatric
disabilities", effective July 1, 1995; P.A. 07-217 made a technical change in Subsec. (b), effective July 12, 2007.
| (Return to Chapter Table of Contents) | (Return to List of Chapters) | (Return to List of Titles) |
Sec. 17a-543. (Formerly Sec. 17-206d). Procedures governing medication,
treatment, psychosurgery and shock therapy. (a) No patient shall receive medication
for the treatment of the psychiatric disabilities of such patient without the informed
consent of such patient, except in accordance with procedures set forth in subsections
(b), (d), (e) and (f) of this section or in accordance with section 17a-543a, 17a-566 or
54-56d.
(b) No medical or surgical procedures may be performed without the patient's written informed consent or, if the patient has been declared incapable of caring for himself
or herself pursuant to sections 45a-644 to 45a-662, inclusive, and a conservator of the
person has been appointed pursuant to section 45a-650, the written consent of such
conservator. If the head of the hospital, in consultation with a physician, determines
that the condition of an involuntary patient not declared incapable of caring for himself
or herself pursuant to said sections is of an extremely critical nature and the patient is
incapable of informed consent, medical or surgical procedures may be performed with
the written informed consent of: (1) The patient's health care representative; (2) the
patient's conservator or guardian, if he or she has one; (3) the patient's next of kin; (4)
a person designated by the patient pursuant to section 1-56r; or (5) a qualified physician
appointed by a judge of the Probate Court. Notwithstanding the provisions of this section,
if obtaining the consent provided for in this section would cause a medically harmful
delay to a voluntary or involuntary patient whose condition is of an extremely critical
nature, as determined by personal observation by a physician or the senior clinician on
duty, emergency treatment may be provided without consent.
(c) No psychosurgery or shock therapy shall be administered to any patient without
the patient's written informed consent, except as provided in this subsection. Such consent shall be for a maximum period of thirty days and may be revoked at any time. If it
is determined by the head of the hospital and two qualified physicians that the patient
has become incapable of giving informed consent, shock therapy may be administered
upon order of the Probate Court if, after hearing, such court finds that the patient is
incapable of informed consent and there is no other, less intrusive beneficial treatment.
An order of the Probate Court authorizing the administration of shock therapy pursuant
to this subsection shall be effective for not more than forty-five days.
(d) A facility may establish an internal procedure governing decisions concerning
involuntary medication treatment for inpatients. Such procedure shall provide (1) that
any decision concerning involuntary medication treatment shall be made by a person
who is not employed by the facility in which the patient is receiving treatment, provided
the selection of such person shall not be made until the patient's advocate has had
reasonable opportunity to discuss such selection with the facility, (2) written and oral
notification to the patient of available advocacy services, (3) notice to the patient and
the patient's advocate, if one has been chosen, of any proceeding for the determination
of the necessity for involuntary treatment not less than forty-eight hours prior to such
proceeding, (4) the right of the patient to representation during any such proceeding,
(5) questioning of any witness at any such proceeding including, if requested, one or
both of the physicians who made the determination pursuant to subsection (e) of this
section concerning the patient's capacity to give informed consent and the necessity of
medication for the patient's treatment, and (6) a written decision. If a decision is made
in accordance with the standards set forth in this section that a patient shall receive
involuntary medication, and there is substantial probability that without such medication
for the treatment of the psychiatric disabilities of the patient the condition of the patient
will rapidly deteriorate, such involuntary medication may be provided for a period not
to exceed thirty days or until a decision is made by the Probate Court under subsection
(e) or (f) of this section, whichever is sooner.
(e) (1) (A) If it is determined by the head of the hospital and two qualified physicians that a patient is incapable of giving informed consent to medication for the treatment of the patient's psychiatric disabilities and such medication is deemed to be necessary for the patient's treatment, a facility may utilize the procedures established in
subsection (d) of this section and may apply to the Probate Court for appointment of a
conservator of the person with specific authority to consent to the administration of
medication or, in a case where a conservator of the person has previously been appointed
under section 45a-650, the facility or the conservator may petition the Probate Court
to grant such specific authority to the conservator. The Probate Court may appoint a
conservator with such specific authority pursuant to this subparagraph if the court finds
by clear and convincing evidence that the patient is incapable of giving informed consent
to medication for the treatment of the patient's psychiatric disability and such medication
is necessary for the patient's treatment.
(B) The conservator shall meet with the patient and the physician, review the patient's written record and consider the risks and benefits from the medication, the likelihood and seriousness of adverse side effects, the preferences of the patient, the patient's
religious views, and the prognosis with and without medication. After consideration of
such information, the conservator shall either consent to the patient receiving medication
for the treatment of the patient's psychiatric disabilities or refuse to consent to the patient
receiving such medication.
(2) The authority of a conservator to consent to the administration of medication
under subdivision (1) of this subsection shall be effective for not more than one hundred
twenty days. In the case of continuous hospitalization of the patient beyond such one
hundred twenty days, if the head of the hospital and two qualified physicians determine
that the patient continues to be incapable of giving informed consent to medication for
the treatment of the patient's psychiatric disabilities and such medication is deemed to
be necessary for the patient's treatment, the authority of the conservator to consent to
the administration of medication may be extended for a period not to exceed one hundred
twenty days by order of the Probate Court without a hearing upon application by the
head of the hospital. Prompt notice of the order shall be given to the patient, conservator
and facility.
(f) (1) If it is determined by the head of the hospital and two qualified physicians
that (A) a patient is capable of giving informed consent but refuses to consent to medication for treatment of the patient's psychiatric disabilities, (B) there is no less intrusive
beneficial treatment, and (C) without medication, the psychiatric disabilities with which
the patient has been diagnosed will continue unabated and place the patient or others
in direct threat of harm, the facility may utilize the procedures established in subsection
(d) of this section and may apply to the Probate Court to authorize the administration
to the patient of medication for the treatment of the patient's psychiatric disabilities,
despite the refusal of the patient to consent to such medication. The Probate Court may
authorize the administration of medication to the patient pursuant to this subdivision if
the court finds by clear and convincing evidence that (i) the patient is capable of giving
informed consent but refuses to consent to medication for treatment of the patient's
psychiatric disabilities, (ii) there is no less intrusive beneficial treatment, and (iii) without medication, the psychiatric disabilities with which the patient has been diagnosed
will continue unabated and place the patient or others in direct threat of harm.
(2) An order authorizing the administration of medication under subdivision (1) of
this subsection shall be effective for not more than one hundred twenty days. In the case
of continuous hospitalization of the patient beyond such one hundred twenty days, if
the head of the hospital and two qualified physicians determine that (A) the patient
continues to be capable of giving informed consent but refuses to consent to medication
for treatment of the patient's psychiatric disabilities, (B) there is no less intrusive beneficial treatment, and (C) without medication, the psychiatric disabilities with which the
patient has been diagnosed will continue unabated and place the patient or others in
direct threat of harm, the order may be extended for a period not to exceed one hundred
twenty days by order of the Probate Court without a hearing. Prompt notice of the order
shall be given to the patient and facility.
(g) If a decision has been made to administer involuntary medication to a patient
pursuant to subsection (d) of this section, the patient may petition the Probate Court to
expedite the hearing on an application filed by the facility pursuant to subsection (e) or
(f) of this section or, if no application has been filed, to hold a hearing to decide whether
to allow the administration of involuntary medication. Either hearing shall be held within
fifteen days after the date of the patient's petition.
(h) For the purposes of this section, "voluntary patient" means any patient sixteen
years of age or older who applies in writing for, and is admitted to, a hospital for observation, diagnosis or treatment of a mental disorder.
(i) Unless there is a serious risk of harm to the patient or others, based upon the
patient's past history or current condition, nothing in this section authorizes any form
of involuntary medical, psychological or psychiatric treatment of any patient who in
the sincere practice of his or her religious beliefs is being treated by prayer alone in
accordance with the principles and practices of a church or religious denomination by
a duly accredited practitioner or ordained minister, priest or rabbi thereof. The Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services shall adopt regulations, in accordance
with chapter 54, to implement the purposes of this subsection.
(1971, P.A. 834, S. 4; P.A. 74-35, S. 1, 2; P.A. 76-227, S. 6, 7; P.A. 77-4, S. 1, 2; 77-595, S. 9; P.A. 78-219, S. 1; P.A.
80-189, S. 3; P.A. 93-369, S. 1; P.A. 95-257, S. 5, 11, 48, 58; P.A. 96-180, S. 47, 166; 96-202, S. 2; 96-215, S. 1, 4; June
18 Sp. Sess. P.A. 97-8, S. 2, 88; P.A. 02-105, S. 4; P.A. 03-31, S. 1; P.A. 04-160, S. 2; P.A. 06-195, S. 61; P.A. 07-117,
S. 1.)
History: P.A. 74-35 set forth conditions under which patient may be treated by procedures without his consent; P.A.
76-227 added feminine personal pronouns and forbade facility to require blanket consent to all procedures as condition of
admission or treatment; P.A. 77-4 and 77-595 changed effective date of 1976 act from March 1, 1977, to October 1, 1977;
P.A. 78-219 divided section into Subsecs. (a) to (c) and (e), prohibited forcing patients to accept unwanted medication or
treatment except as provided, deleted references to electroshock therapy in previous provisions, deleted proviso for performing procedures on voluntary patient without his consent, replaced requirement that patient's condition would be
"immediately fatal" with "extremely critical" condition for emergency procedure with no one's consent and required one
rather than two consulting physicians and inserted new Subsec. (d) re psychosurgery and shock therapy; P.A. 80-189
clarified consent provisions re involuntary patients in Subsec. (b); Sec. 17-206d transferred to Sec. 17a-543 in 1991; P.A.
93-369 revised section by deleting former provisions re treatment of involuntary patients and substituting provisions that
no patient shall receive medication or treatment of mental illness without informed consent of patient, except in accordance
with section or Sec. 17a-566 or 54-56d, that no medical or surgical procedures may be performed without written informed
consent of patient or conservator, unless condition is of critical nature, specifying that emergency treatment may be provided
without consent and that facility may establish internal procedures re involuntary medication treatment of inpatients, and
added provisions re content of such procedures, duration of order for medication, expedited hearing in probate court re
order for involuntary medication and definition of voluntary patient; P.A. 95-257 replaced "mental illness" with "psychiatric
disabilities", effective July 1, 1995; P.A. 96-180 made a technical correction in Subsec. (f), substituting reference to Subsec.
(l) for Subsec. (h) of Sec. 17a-540, effective June 3, 1996; P.A. 96-202 made technical change in Subsec. (b)(1) adding
reference to conservators; P.A. 96-215 inserted new Subsec. (d)(3) of Subsec. (d) requiring procedures to provide notice
to patient or advocate re proceeding to determine necessity of involuntary treatment not less than 48 hours prior to proceedings and (d)(5) re questioning of physicians who made determination of capacity to give informed consent and necessity
of medication, renumbering prior Subdivs. as necessary, amended Subsec. (e)(1) re appointment of conservator with
specific authority and added Subdiv. (2) re authority of conservator to consent to medication, added Subsec. (f)(2) re
duration of order authorizing administration of medication, deleted former Subsec. (g) re duration of medication order and
hearing, relettering former Subsecs. (h) and (i) accordingly, amended redesignated Subdiv. (h) by changing age of "voluntary patient" from 18 to 16 years of age and added Subsecs. (i) and (j) re treatment by prayer alone unless serious risk of
harm to patient or others and re regulations (Revisor's note: P.A. 95-257 authorized substitution of "Department of Mental
Health and Addiction Services" for "Department of Mental Health" in public and special acts of the 1996 session of the
General Assembly); June 18 Sp. Sess. P.A. 97-8 combined the former Subsec. (j) with Subsec. (i) limiting the regulations
requirement to (i) re religious beliefs, effective July 1, 1997; P.A. 02-105 added Subsec. (b)(3) allowing informed consent
by a person designated by the patient pursuant to Sec. 1-56r and redesignating existing Subdiv. (3) as Subdiv. (4); P.A.
03-31 amended Subsec. (c) by replacing "other reasonable alternative procedure" with "other, less intrusive beneficial
treatment" and adding provision re order of Court of Probate authorizing shock therapy to be effective for not more than
45 days; P.A. 04-160 added reference to Sec. 17a-543a in Subsec. (a) and made technical changes in Subsecs. (c), (d), (e),
(f), (g) and (i); P.A. 06-195 amended Subsec. (b) by adding new Subdiv. (1) authorizing patient's health care representative
to provide written informed consent for medical or surgical procedures and renumbering existing Subdivs. (1) to (4) as
Subdivs. (2) to (5), respectively; P.A. 07-117 inserted Subpara. (A) and (B) designators in Subsec. (e)(1), inserted in Subsecs.
(e)(1)(A) and (f)(1) provisions re findings by clear and convincing evidence, and made technical changes throughout.
| (Return to Chapter Table of Contents) | (Return to List of Chapters) | (Return to List of Titles) |
Sec. 17a-543a. Administration of medication to criminal defendant placed in
custody of Commissioner of Mental Health and Addiction Services. Special limited
conservator. (a)(1)(A) If it is determined by the head of the hospital and two qualified
physicians that a patient who is a defendant placed in the custody of the Commissioner
of Mental Health and Addiction Services pursuant to section 54-56d is incapable of
giving informed consent to medication for the treatment of the patient's psychiatric
disabilities and such medication is deemed to be necessary for the patient's treatment,
the facility in which the patient is placed may petition the probate court for the district
in which such facility is located for appointment of a special limited conservator with
specific authority to consent to the administration of medication, provided an employee
of such facility shall not be appointed or serve as the special limited conservator. The
provisions of section 45a-649 concerning issuance of a citation and notice, personal
service and representation by, appointment of, and compensation of an attorney shall
apply to any petition filed under this subsection as if such patient were a respondent
under section 45a-649, except that (i) the court shall only be required to issue such
citation and notice to the patient, the patient's attorney and any conservator appointed
for the patient, and (ii) the court, in its discretion, may order notice as it directs to other
persons having an interest in the patient and to such persons the patient requests to be
notified. The Probate Court may appoint a special limited conservator with such specific
authority pursuant to this subparagraph if the court finds by clear and convincing evidence that the patient is incapable of giving informed consent to medication for the
treatment of the patient's psychiatric disabilities and such medication is necessary for
the patient's treatment. The Probate Court may grant the special limited conservator
specific authority to consent to the release of the patient's medical records to such facility
if the court finds by clear and convincing evidence that the patient is unwilling or unable
to release such records and such records are necessary to make decisions concerning
the patient's treatment.
(B) The special limited conservator shall meet with the patient and the physician,
review the patient's written record and consider the risks and benefits from the medication, the likelihood and seriousness of adverse side effects, the preferences of the patient,
the patient's religious views, and the prognosis with and without medication. After
consideration of such information, the special limited conservator shall either consent
to the patient receiving medication for the treatment of the patient's psychiatric disabilities or refuse to consent to the patient receiving such medication.
(2) The authority of a special limited conservator to consent to the administration
of medication under subdivision (1) of this subsection shall be effective for not more
than one hundred twenty days. In the case of continuous hospitalization of the patient
beyond such one hundred twenty days, if the head of the hospital and two qualified
physicians determine that the patient continues to be incapable of giving informed consent to medication for the treatment of the patient's psychiatric disabilities and such
medication is deemed to be necessary for the patient's treatment, the authority of the
special limited conservator to consent to the administration of medication may be extended for a period not to exceed one hundred twenty days by order of the Probate Court
without a hearing upon application by the head of the hospital. Prompt notice of the
order shall be given to the patient, special limited conservator and facility.
(3) The reasonable compensation of a special limited conservator appointed under
this subsection shall be established by the Probate Court Administrator and paid from
the Probate Court Administration Fund.
(b) (1) If it is determined by the head of the hospital and two qualified physicians
that (A) a patient who is a defendant placed in the custody of the Commissioner of
Mental Health and Addiction Services pursuant to section 54-56d is capable of giving
informed consent but refuses to consent to medication for treatment of the patient's
psychiatric disabilities, (B) there is no less intrusive beneficial treatment, and (C) without
medication, the psychiatric disabilities with which the patient has been diagnosed will
continue unabated and place the patient or others in direct threat of harm, the facility
in which the patient is placed may petition the probate court for the district in which
such facility is located to authorize the administration to the patient of medication for
the treatment of the patient's psychiatric disabilities, despite the refusal of the patient
to consent to such medication. The provisions of section 45a-649 concerning issuance
of a citation and notice, personal service and representation by, appointment of, and
compensation of an attorney shall apply to any petition filed under this subsection as if
such patient were a respondent under section 45a-649, except that (i) the court shall
only be required to issue such citation and notice to the patient, the patient's attorney
and any conservator appointed for the patient, and (ii) the court, in its discretion, may
order notice as it directs to other persons having an interest in the patient and to such
persons the patient requests to be notified. The Probate Court may authorize the administration of medication to the patient if the court finds by clear and convincing evidence
that (I) the patient is capable of giving informed consent but refuses to consent to medication for treatment of the patient's psychiatric disabilities, (II) there is no less intrusive
beneficial treatment, and (III) without medication, the psychiatric disabilities with which
the patient has been diagnosed will continue unabated and place the patient or others
in direct threat of harm.
(2) An order authorizing the administration of medication under subdivision (1) of
this subsection shall be effective for not more than one hundred twenty days. In the case
of continuous hospitalization of the patient beyond such one hundred twenty days, if
the head of the hospital and two qualified physicians determine that (A) the patient
continues to be capable of giving informed consent but refuses to consent to medication
for treatment of the patient's psychiatric disabilities, (B) there is no less intrusive beneficial treatment, and (C) without medication, the psychiatric disabilities with which the
patient has been diagnosed will continue unabated and place the patient or others in
direct threat of harm, the order may be extended for a period not to exceed one hundred
twenty days by order of the Probate Court without a hearing. Prompt notice of the order
shall be given to the patient and facility.
(c) Unless there is a serious risk of harm to the patient or others, based upon the
patient's past history or current condition, nothing in this section authorizes any form
of involuntary medical, psychological or psychiatric treatment of any patient who in
the sincere practice of his or her religious beliefs is being treated by prayer alone in
accordance with the principles and practices of a church or religious denomination by
a duly accredited practitioner or ordained minister, priest or rabbi thereof.
(d) Nothing in this section shall be construed to limit the application of sections
45a-644 to 45a-663, inclusive, except as specifically provided in this section.
(P.A. 04-160, S. 3; P.A. 07-117, S. 2.)
History: P.A. 07-117 inserted Subpara. (A) and (B) designators in Subsec. (a)(1), inserted in Subsecs. (a)(1)(A) and
(b)(1) provisions re notice pursuant to Sec. 45a-649, with enumerated exceptions, and findings by clear and convincing
evidence, and made technical changes throughout.
| (Return to Chapter Table of Contents) | (Return to List of Chapters) | (Return to List of Titles) |
Sec. 17a-566. (Formerly Sec. 17-244). Certain convicted persons to be examined. Report and recommendation.
Subsec. (a):
Defendant may waive 15-day period for examination report to be made to the court, and time period may be extended
if defendant makes waiver knowingly and voluntarily. 101 CA 770.
| (Return to Chapter Table of Contents) | (Return to List of Chapters) | (Return to List of Titles) |
Sec. 17a-582. (Formerly Sec. 17-257c). Confinement of acquittee for examination. Court order of commitment to board or discharge. (a) When any person charged
with an offense is found not guilty by reason of mental disease or defect pursuant to
section 53a-13, the court shall order such acquittee committed to the custody of the
Commissioner of Mental Health and Addiction Services who shall cause such acquittee
to be confined, pending an order of the court pursuant to subsection (e) of this section,
in any of the state hospitals for psychiatric disabilities or to the custody of the Commissioner of Developmental Services, for an examination to determine his mental condition.
(b) Not later than sixty days after the order of commitment pursuant to subsection
(a) of this section, the superintendent of such hospital or the Commissioner of Developmental Services shall cause the acquittee to be examined and file a report of the examination with the court, and shall send a copy thereof to the state's attorney and counsel for
the acquittee, setting forth the superintendent's or said commissioner's findings and
conclusions as to whether the acquittee is a person who should be discharged.
(c) Not later than ten days after receipt of such superintendent's or said commissioner's report, either the state's attorney or counsel for the acquittee may file notice of
intent to perform a separate examination of the acquittee. An examination conducted
on behalf of the acquittee may be performed by a psychiatrist or psychologist chosen
by the acquittee and shall be performed at the acquittee's expense unless the acquittee
is indigent. If the acquittee is indigent, the court shall provide the acquittee with the
services of a psychiatrist or psychologist to perform the examination at the expense of
the state. The superintendent or said commissioner who conducted the initial examination shall, not later than five days after a request of any party conducting a separate
examination pursuant to this subsection, release to such party all records and reports
compiled in the initial examination of the acquittee. Any separate examination report
shall be filed with the court not later than thirty days after the filing with the court of
the initial examination report by the superintendent or said commissioner.
(d) The court shall commence a hearing not later than fifteen days after its receipt
of any separate examination report or if no notice of intent to perform a separate examination has been filed under subsection (c) of this section, not later than twenty-five days
after the filing of such initial examination report.
(e) At the hearing, the court shall make a finding as to the mental condition of the
acquittee and, considering that its primary concern is the protection of society, make
one of the following orders:
(1) If the court finds that the acquittee is a person who should be confined or conditionally released, the court shall order the acquittee committed to the jurisdiction of the
board and either confined in a hospital for psychiatric disabilities or placed with the
Commissioner of Developmental Services, for custody, care and treatment pending a
hearing before the board pursuant to section 17a-583; provided (A) the court shall fix
a maximum term of commitment, not to exceed the maximum sentence that could have
been imposed if the acquittee had been convicted of the offense, and (B) if there is reason
to believe that the acquittee is a person who should be conditionally released, the court
shall include in the order a recommendation to the board that the acquittee be considered
for conditional release pursuant to subdivision (2) of section 17a-584; or
(2) If the court finds that the acquittee is a person who should be discharged, the
court shall order the acquittee discharged from custody.
(f) At the hearing before the court, the acquittee shall have the burden of proving by
a preponderance of the evidence that the acquittee is a person who should be discharged.
(g) An order of the court pursuant to subsection (e) of this section may be appealed
by the acquittee or the state's attorney to the Appellate Court. The court shall so notify
the acquittee.
(h) During any term of commitment to the board, the acquittee shall remain under
the jurisdiction of the board until discharged by the court pursuant to section 17a-593.
Except as provided in subsection (c) of said section, the acquittee shall be immediately
discharged at the expiration of the maximum term of commitment.
(i) On committing an acquittee to the jurisdiction of the board, the court shall advise
the acquittee of the right to a hearing before the board in accordance with section
17a-583.
(P.A. 85-506, S. 3, 32; P.A. 87-486, S. 2; P.A. 95-257, S. 11, 48, 58; P.A. 06-91, S. 2; P.A. 07-73, S. 2(b).)
History: P.A. 87-486 amended Subsec. (a) to permit the court to commit the acquittee to the custody of the commissioner
of mental retardation, amended Subsecs. (b) and (c) to add references to the commissioner of mental retardation, and
amended Subsec. (e) to include the situation where the court finds that the acquittee is a person who should be conditionally
released and to permit the court to commit the acquittee to the jurisdiction of the board for placement with the commissioner
of mental retardation; Sec. 17-257c transferred to Sec. 17a-582 in 1991; P.A. 95-257 replaced Commissioner and Department of Mental Health with Commissioner and Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services and substituted
"psychiatric disabilities" for "mental illness", effective July 1, 1995; P.A. 06-91 amended Subsec. (b) by making a technical
change and extending, from 45 to 60 days, the time period for examining an acquittee committed to the custody of the
Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services following an order of commitment, and amended Subsecs. (c), (d)
and (f) by making technical changes; pursuant to P.A. 07-73 "Commissioner of Mental Retardation" was changed editorially
by the Revisors to "Commissioner of Developmental Services", effective October 1, 2007.
| (Return to Chapter Table of Contents) | (Return to List of Chapters) | (Return to List of Titles) |
Sec. 17a-584. (Formerly Sec. 17-257e). Finding and action by board. Recommendation of discharge. Order of conditional release or confinement. At any hearing
before the board considering the discharge, conditional release or confinement of the
acquittee, except a hearing pursuant to section 17a-592 or subsection (d) of section 17a-593, the board shall make a finding as to the mental condition of the acquittee and,
considering that its primary concern is the protection of society, shall do one of the
following:
(1) If the board finds that the acquittee is a person who should be discharged, it
shall recommend such discharge to the court pursuant to section 17a-593.
(2) If the board finds that the acquittee is a person who should be conditionally
released, the board shall order the acquittee conditionally released subject to such conditions as are necessary to prevent the acquittee from constituting a danger to himself or
others.
(3) If the board finds that the acquittee is a person who should be confined, the
board shall order the person confined in a hospital for psychiatric disabilities or placed
with the Commissioner of Developmental Services for custody, care and treatment.
(P.A. 85-506, S. 5, 32; P.A. 87-486, S. 3; P.A. 95-257, S. 48, 58; P.A. 07-73, S. 2(b).)
History: P.A. 87-486 amended Subdiv. (1) to replace requirement that the board recommend discharge and file an
application for discharge with the court with requirement that the board recommend such discharge "to the court" and
amended Subdiv. (3) to authorize placement of the person with the commissioner of mental retardation; Sec. 17-257e
transferred to Sec. 17a-584 in 1991; P.A. 95-257 substituted "psychiatric disabilities" for "mental illness", effective July
1, 1995; pursuant to P.A. 07-73 "Commissioner of Mental Retardation" was changed editorially by the Revisors to "Commissioner of Developmental Services", effective October 1, 2007.
| (Return to Chapter Table of Contents) | (Return to List of Chapters) | (Return to List of Titles) |
Sec. 17a-586. (Formerly Sec. 17-257g). Periodic report re mental condition of
acquittee. The superintendent of any hospital for psychiatric disabilities in which an
acquittee has been confined or the Commissioner of Developmental Services with whom
an acquittee has been placed pursuant to order of the board, or the person or agency
responsible for the supervision or treatment of a conditionally released acquittee, shall
submit to the board at least every six months a written report with respect to the mental
condition of the acquittee. The board shall furnish copies of the report to the counsel
for the acquittee and the state's attorney.
(P.A. 85-506, S. 7, 32; P.A. 87-486, S. 4; P.A. 95-257, S. 48, 58; P.A. 07-73, S. 2(b).)
History: P.A. 87-486 required submission of a report by "the commissioner of mental retardation with whom an acquittee
has been placed"; Sec. 17-257g transferred to Sec. 17a-586 in 1991; P.A. 95-257 replaced "mental illness" with "psychiatric
disabilities", effective July 1, 1995; pursuant to P.A. 07-73 "Commissioner of Mental Retardation" was changed editorially
by the Revisors to "Commissioner of Developmental Services", effective October 1, 2007.
| (Return to Chapter Table of Contents) | (Return to List of Chapters) | (Return to List of Titles) |
Sec. 17a-587. (Formerly Sec. 17-257h). Temporary leaves. If at any time after
the confinement of an acquittee in a hospital for psychiatric disabilities or the placement
of an acquittee with the Commissioner of Developmental Services pursuant to order of
the board, the superintendent of such hospital or said commissioner is of the opinion
that the acquittee's psychiatric supervision and treatment would be advanced by permitting the acquittee to leave such hospital or the custody of said commissioner temporarily,
the superintendent or said commissioner shall apply to the board for an order authorizing
temporary leaves. The application shall include a statement of reasons in support thereof.
The board shall send a copy of the application to the state's attorney. The board may
order a hearing on the application and shall order such a hearing if the state's attorney
files with the board a request therefor within ten days of his receipt of the application.
The board shall grant the application if it concludes that the acquittee's temporary leave,
under the conditions specified, would not constitute a danger to himself or others. If
such application is granted, the acquittee may be permitted to leave such hospital or the
custody of said commissioner temporarily, under the charge of his guardian, relatives
or friends, or by himself, at such times and under such conditions as the superintendent
or said commissioner deems appropriate, unless the order of the board provides otherwise. The provisions of section 17a-521 not inconsistent with this section shall be applicable to temporary leaves authorized by this section.
(P.A. 85-506, S. 8, 32; P.A. 87-486, S. 5; P.A. 95-257, S. 48, 58; P.A. 07-73, S. 2(b).)
History: P.A. 87-486 added provisions re temporary leaves from the custody of the commissioner of mental retardation
of acquittees placed with said commissioner; Sec. 17-257h transferred to Sec. 17a-587 in 1991; P.A. 95-257 replaced
"mental illness" with "psychiatric disabilities", effective July 1, 1995; pursuant to P.A. 07-73 "Commissioner of Mental
Retardation" was changed editorially by the Revisors to "Commissioner of Developmental Services", effective October
1, 2007.
| (Return to Chapter Table of Contents) | (Return to List of Chapters) | (Return to List of Titles) |
Sec. 17a-588. (Formerly Sec. 17-257i). Conditional release. (a) If at any time
after the confinement of an acquittee in a hospital for psychiatric disabilities or the
placement of an acquittee with the Commissioner of Developmental Services, the superintendent of such hospital or said commissioner is of the opinion that such acquittee is
a person who should be conditionally released, the superintendent or said commissioner
shall apply to the board for an order of conditional release. The application shall be
accompanied by a report setting forth the facts supporting the opinion of the superintendent or said commissioner, and by a conditional release plan. The board shall hold a
hearing on the application within sixty, but not less than thirty, days of its receipt.
(b) At any time after the confinement of an acquittee in a hospital for psychiatric
disabilities or the placement of an acquittee with the Commissioner of Developmental
Services, the acquittee or another person acting on his behalf may apply to the board
for an order of conditional release. On receipt of the application, the board shall request
the superintendent of the hospital or said commissioner to report whether he is of the
opinion that the acquittee is a person who should be conditionally released. The report
shall set forth facts supporting the opinion. An application for conditional release under
this subsection shall not be filed more often than once every six months from the date
of the initial board hearing held pursuant to section 17a-583. The board is not required
to hold a hearing on a first application under this subsection any sooner than ninety days
after the initial hearing. Hearings resulting from any subsequent requests shall be held
within sixty days of the filing of the application.
(c) Not less than thirty days prior to any such hearing, the board shall send copies
of the superintendent's or said commissioner's report to the state's attorney and counsel
for the acquittee. At any hearing held pursuant to this section, the board shall make a
finding and act pursuant to section 17a-584.
(P.A. 85-506, S. 9, 32; P.A. 87-486, S. 6; P.A. 95-257, S. 48, 58; P.A. 07-73, S. 2(b).)
History: P.A. 87-486 made section applicable to acquittees placed with the commissioner of mental retardation and
amended Subsec. (a) to require a hearing on the application not less than 30, rather than 45, days from its receipt and
amended Subsec. (c) to require copies of the report to be sent not less than 30, rather than 45, days prior to the hearing;
Sec. 17-257i transferred to Sec. 17a-588 in 1991; P.A. 95-257 replaced "mental illness" with "psychiatric disabilities",
effective July 1, 1995; pursuant to P.A. 07-73 "Commissioner of Mental Retardation" was changed editorially by the
Revisors to "Commissioner of Developmental Services", effective October 1, 2007.
| (Return to Chapter Table of Contents) | (Return to List of Chapters) | (Return to List of Titles) |
Sec. 17a-592. (Formerly Sec. 17-257m). Board recommendation to discharge
acquittee from custody. (a) The superintendent of any hospital for psychiatric disabilities in which an acquittee has been confined or the Commissioner of Developmental
Services with whom an acquittee has been placed pursuant to an order of the board or
any person or agency responsible for the supervision or treatment of a conditionally
released acquittee may request the board to recommend to the court discharge of the
acquittee from custody. Any such request shall be accompanied by a report setting forth
the facts supporting the request. Within sixty days of receipt of the request, the board
shall commence a hearing on the request to recommend discharge. Not less than thirty
days prior to such hearing, the board shall send copies of the request and report to the
state's attorney and counsel for the acquittee.
(b) The board may, on its own motion, consider whether to recommend discharge
of the acquittee from custody. The board shall immediately give notice to the state's
attorney and counsel for the acquittee of its decision to consider whether to recommend
discharge of the acquittee. The board may order a hearing on whether to recommend
discharge of the acquittee and shall order such a hearing if the state's attorney files with
the board a request therefor within ten days of his receipt from the board of the notice
of its decision to consider whether to make such a recommendation. Any such hearing
shall be held within sixty days of the board's decision to consider whether to recommend
discharge of the acquittee.
(c) If the board decides to recommend discharge of the acquittee, the board shall
make such recommendation pursuant to section 17a-593.
(P.A. 85-506, S. 13, 32; P.A. 87-486, S. 8; P.A. 95-257, S. 48, 58; P.A. 07-73, S. 2(b).)
History: P.A. 87-486 amended Subsec. (a) to authorize the commissioner of mental retardation with whom an acquittee
has been placed to request the board to recommend discharge of the acquittee from custody and to require the board to
send copies of the request and report not less than 30, rather than 45, days prior to the hearing, and amended Subsec. (c)
to replace provision that if the board recommends discharge it shall "apply for discharge" with provision that it shall "make
such recommendation" pursuant to Sec. 17-257n; Sec. 17-257m tra