Sec. 17a-682. (Formerly Sec. 19a-126b). Voluntary admissions to treatment facilities operated by the department. Assistance on leaving.
Sec. 17a-682. (Formerly Sec. 19a-126b). Voluntary admissions to treatment
facilities operated by the department. Assistance on leaving. (a) An alcohol-dependent person or a drug-dependent person may apply for voluntary treatment directly to
a treatment facility operated by the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services. If the proposed patient is a minor or an incompetent person, he, a parent, a legal
guardian or other legal representative may make the application.
(b) Subject to regulations adopted by the department, the administrator of a treatment facility operated by the department may determine, on the advice of the medical
officer of the facility, who shall be admitted for treatment. If a person is refused admission to a treatment facility operated by the department, the administrator, subject to
regulations adopted by the department, shall refer the person to another treatment facility
operated by the department or to a private treatment facility for treatment if possible
and appropriate.
(c) If a patient receiving inpatient care leaves a treatment facility operated by the
department, he shall be encouraged to consent to appropriate outpatient or intermediate
treatment. If it appears to the administrator in charge of the treatment facility, on the
advice of the medical officer of the facility, that the patient is an alcohol-dependent
person or drug-dependent person who requires help, the department shall arrange for
assistance in obtaining supportive services and residential facilities.
(d) If a patient leaves a treatment facility operated by the department, with or against
the advice of the administrator of the facility, the department shall make reasonable
provisions for his transportation to another facility or to his home. If he has no home,
he shall be assisted in obtaining shelter. If he is a minor or an incompetent person, the
request for discharge from an inpatient facility shall be made by a parent, legal guardian
or other legal representative or by the minor or incompetent person if he was the original
applicant.
(P.A. 74-280, S. 10, 25; P.A. 75-528, S. 6, 15; 75-569, S. 3, 5; P.A. 86-371, S. 4, 45; P.A. 90-209, S. 4; P.A. 93-381,
S. 9, 39; 93-435, S. 59, 95; P.A. 95-257, S. 5, 58.)
History: P.A. 75-528 and P.A. 75-569 substituted "licensed" facilities for "approved" facilities and deleted word "unemancipated" with reference to minors in Subsecs. (a) and (d); P.A. 86-371 substituted references to the commission for
references to the commissioner and department of mental health; P.A. 90-209 substituted "alcohol-dependent person" for
"alcoholic", provided that drug-dependent persons be allowed to apply for voluntary treatment under the section rather
than repealed Sec. 19a-378, substituted "treatment facility operated by the commission" for "licensed public treatment
facility", provided that the administrator's determinations in Subsec. (b) of who shall be admitted and in Subsec. (c) of
who is a patient who requires help be on the advice of the medical officer of the facility and made technical changes; Sec.
17-155t transferred to Sec. 17a-624 in 1991; P.A. 93-381 and P.A. 93-435 replaced Connecticut alcohol and drug abuse
commission with department of public health and addiction services, effective July 1, 1993; Sec. 17a-624 transferred to
Sec. 19a-126b in 1995; P.A. 95-257 replaced Commissioner and Department of Public Health and Addiction Services
with Commissioner and Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services, effective July 1, 1995; Sec. 19a-126b
transferred to Sec. 17a-682 in 1997.