Chapter 326 Oregon Laws 2001

AN ACT

SB 429

Relating to psychiatric patients; amending ORS 161.336.

Be It Enacted by the People of the State of Oregon:

SECTION 1. ORS 161.336 is amended to read:

161.336. (1) If the board determines that the person presents a substantial danger to others but can be adequately controlled with supervision and treatment if conditionally released and that necessary supervision and treatment are available, the board may order the person conditionally released, subject to those supervisory orders of the board as are in the best interests of justice, the protection of society and the welfare of the person. The board may designate any person or state, county or local agency the board considers capable of supervising the person upon release, subject to those conditions as the board directs in the order for conditional release. Prior to the designation, the board shall notify the person or agency to whom conditional release is contemplated and provide the person or agency an opportunity to be heard before the board. After receiving an order entered under this section, the person or agency designated shall assume supervision of the person pursuant to the direction of the board.

(2) Conditions of release contained in orders entered under this section may be modified from time to time and conditional releases may be terminated by order of the board as provided in ORS 161.351.

(3) For purposes of this section, a person affected by a mental disease or defect in a state of remission is considered to have a mental disease or defect requiring supervision when the disease may, with reasonable medical probability, occasionally become active and, when active, render the person a danger to others. The person may be continued on conditional release by the board as provided in this section.

(4)(a) As a condition of release, the board may require the person to report to any state or local mental health facility for evaluation. Whenever medical, psychiatric or psychological treatment is recommended, the board may order the person, as a condition of release, to cooperate with and accept the treatment from the facility.

(b) The facility to which the person has been referred for evaluation shall perform the evaluation and submit a written report of its findings to the board. If the facility finds that treatment of the person is appropriate, it shall include its recommendations for treatment in the report to the board.

(c) Whenever treatment is provided by the facility, it shall furnish reports to the board on a regular basis concerning the progress of the person.

(d) Copies of all reports submitted to the board pursuant to this section shall be furnished to the person and the person’s counsel. The confidentiality of these reports shall be determined pursuant to ORS 192.501 to 192.505.

(e) The facility shall comply with any other conditions of release prescribed by order of the board.

(5) If at any time while the person is under the jurisdiction of the board it appears to the board or its chairperson that the person has violated the terms of the conditional release or that the mental health of the individual has changed, the board or its chairperson may order the person returned to a state hospital designated by the Mental Health and Developmental Disability Services Division for evaluation or treatment. A written order of the board, or its chairperson on behalf of the board, is sufficient warrant for any law enforcement officer to take into custody such person and transport the person accordingly. A sheriff, municipal police officer, constable, parole or probation officer, prison official or other peace officer shall execute the order, and the person shall be returned as soon as practicable to the custody of the Mental Health and Developmental Disability Services Division. Within 20 days following the return of the person to the custody of the Mental Health and Developmental Disability Services Division, the board shall conduct a hearing. Notice of the time and place of the hearing shall be given to the person, the attorney representing the person and the Attorney General. The board may continue the person on conditional release or, if it finds by a preponderance of the evidence that the person is affected by mental disease or defect and presents a substantial danger to others and cannot be adequately controlled if conditional release is continued, it may order the person committed to a state hospital designated by the Mental Health and Developmental Disability Services Division. The state must prove by a preponderance of the evidence the person’s unfitness for conditional release. A person in custody pursuant to this subsection shall have the same rights as any person appearing before the board pursuant to ORS 161.346.

(6) The community mental health and developmental disabilities program director, the director of the facility providing treatment to a person on conditional release, any peace officer or any person responsible for the supervision of a person on conditional release may take a person on conditional release into custody or request that the person be taken into custody if there is reasonable cause to believe the person is a substantial danger to others because of mental disease or defect and that the person is in need of immediate care, custody or treatment. Any person taken into custody pursuant to this subsection shall [immediately] be transported as soon as practicable to a state hospital designated by the Mental Health and Developmental Disability Services Division. A person taken into custody under this subsection shall have the same rights as any person appearing before the board pursuant to ORS 161.346.

(7)(a) Any person conditionally released under this section may apply to the board for discharge from or modification of an order of conditional release on the ground that the person is no longer affected by mental disease or defect or, if still so affected, no longer presents a substantial danger to others and no longer requires supervision, medication, care or treatment. Notice of the hearing on an application for discharge or modification of an order of conditional release shall be made to the Attorney General. The applicant, at the hearing pursuant to this subsection, must prove by a preponderance of the evidence the applicant’s fitness for discharge or modification of the order of conditional release. Applications by the person for discharge or modification of conditional release shall not be filed more often than once every six months.

(b) Upon application by any person or agency responsible for supervision or treatment pursuant to an order of conditional release, the board shall conduct a hearing to determine if the conditions of release shall be continued, modified or terminated. The application shall be accompanied by a report setting forth the facts supporting the application.

(8) The total period of commitment and conditional release ordered pursuant to this section shall not exceed the maximum sentence provided by statute for the crime for which the person was found guilty except for insanity.

(9) The board shall maintain and keep current the medical, social and criminal history of all persons committed to its jurisdiction. The confidentiality of records maintained by the board shall be determined pursuant to ORS 192.501 to 192.505.

(10) In determining whether a person should be committed to a state hospital, conditionally released or discharged, the board shall have as its primary concern the protection of society.

Approved by the Governor June 5, 2001

Filed in the office of Secretary of State June 5, 2001

Effective date January 1, 2002

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