Sec 36-523. Petition for evaluation

A. The petition for evaluation shall contain the following:

1. The name, address and interest in the case of the individual who applied for the petition.

2. The name, and address if known, of the proposed patient for whom evaluation is petitioned.

3. The present whereabouts of the proposed patient, if known.

4. A statement alleging that there is reasonable cause to believe that the proposed patient has a mental disorder and is as a result a danger to self or others, has a persistent or acute disability or a grave disability and is unwilling or unable to undergo voluntary evaluation.

5. A summary of the facts that support the allegations that the proposed patient is dangerous, has a persistent or acute disability or a grave disability and is unwilling or unable to be voluntarily evaluated, including the facts that brought the proposed patient to the screening agency's attention.

6. Other information that the director by rule or the court by rule or order may require.

B. The petition shall request that the court issue an order requiring that the proposed patient be given an evaluation and shall advise the court of both of the following:

1. That the opinion of the petitioner is either that the proposed patient is or is not in such a condition that without immediate or continuing hospitalization the patient is likely to suffer serious physical harm or further deterioration or inflict serious physical harm on another person.

2. If the opinion of the petitioner is that the proposed patient is not in the condition described in paragraph 1 of this subsection, that the opinion of the petitioner is either that the evaluation should or should not take place on an outpatient basis.

C. The petition for evaluation shall be accompanied by the application for evaluation, by the recommendation of the county attorney pursuant to section 36-521 and by a prepetition screening report, unless the documents have not been prepared under a provision of law or in accordance with an order of the court. The petition for evaluation shall also be accompanied by a copy of the application for emergency admission if one exists.

D. A petition and other forms required in a court may be filed only by the screening agency that has prepared the petition.

E. If the petition is not filed because it has been determined that the person does not need an evaluation, the agency after a period of six months shall destroy the petition and the various reports annexed to the petition as required by this section.

(L15, Ch. 195, sec. 29. Eff. 7/1/16)