Public Act 0375 97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HB1591 Enrolled LRB097 07036 KTG 47129 b

Public Act 097-0375

AN ACT concerning health.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 5. The Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Code is amended by changing Sections 2-107.1, 3-101, 3-400, 3-751, 3-800, 3-801, and 3-801.5 and by adding Section 3-401.1 as follows:

(405 ILCS 5/2-107.1) (from Ch. 91 1/2, par. 2-107.1)

Sec. 2-107.1. Administration of psychotropic medication and electroconvulsive therapy upon application to a court.

(a) (Blank).

(a-5) Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 2-107 of this Code, psychotropic medication and electroconvulsive therapy may be administered to an adult recipient of services on an inpatient or outpatient basis without the informed consent of the recipient under the following standards:

(1) Any person 18 years of age or older, including any guardian, may petition the circuit court for an order authorizing the administration of psychotropic medication and electroconvulsive therapy to a recipient of services. The petition shall state that the petitioner has made a good faith attempt to determine whether the recipient has executed a power of attorney for health care under the Powers of Attorney for Health Care Law or a declaration for mental health treatment under the Mental Health Treatment Preference Declaration Act and to obtain copies of these instruments if they exist. If either of the above-named instruments is available to the petitioner, the instrument or a copy of the instrument shall be attached to the petition as an exhibit. The petitioner shall deliver a copy of the petition, and notice of the time and place of the hearing, to the respondent, his or her attorney, any known agent or attorney-in-fact, if any, and the guardian, if any, no later than 3 days prior to the date of the hearing. Service of the petition and notice of the time and place of the hearing may be made by transmitting them via facsimile machine to the respondent or other party. Upon receipt of the petition and notice, the party served, or the person delivering the petition and notice to the party served, shall acknowledge service. If the party sending the petition and notice does not receive acknowledgement of service within 24 hours, service must be made by personal service.

The petition may include a request that the court authorize such testing and procedures as may be essential for the safe and effective administration of the psychotropic medication or electroconvulsive therapy sought to be administered, but only where the petition sets forth the specific testing and procedures sought to be administered.

If a hearing is requested to be held immediately following the hearing on a petition for involuntary admission, then the notice requirement shall be the same as that for the hearing on the petition for involuntary admission, and the petition filed pursuant to this Section shall be filed with the petition for involuntary admission.

(2) The court shall hold a hearing within 7 days of the filing of the petition. The People, the petitioner, or the respondent shall be entitled to a continuance of up to 7 days as of right. An additional continuance of not more than 7 days may be granted to any party (i) upon a showing that the continuance is needed in order to adequately prepare for or present evidence in a hearing under this Section or (ii) under exceptional circumstances. The court may grant an additional continuance not to exceed 21 days when, in its discretion, the court determines that such a continuance is necessary in order to provide the recipient with an examination pursuant to Section 3-803 or 3-804 of this Act, to provide the recipient with a trial by jury as provided in Section 3-802 of this Act, or to arrange for the substitution of counsel as provided for by the Illinois Supreme Court Rules. The hearing shall be separate from a judicial proceeding held to determine whether a person is subject to involuntary admission but may be heard immediately preceding or following such a judicial proceeding and may be heard by the same trier of fact or law as in that judicial proceeding.

(3) Unless otherwise provided herein, the procedures set forth in Article VIII of Chapter 3 of this Act, including the provisions regarding appointment of counsel, shall govern hearings held under this subsection (a-5).

(4) Psychotropic medication and electroconvulsive therapy may be administered to the recipient if and only if it has been determined by clear and convincing evidence that all of the following factors are present. In determining whether a person meets the criteria specified in the following paragraphs (A) through (G), the court may consider evidence of the person's history of serious violence, repeated past pattern of specific behavior, actions related to the person's illness, or past outcomes of various treatment options.

(A) That the recipient has a serious mental illness or developmental disability.

(B) That because of said mental illness or developmental disability, the recipient currently exhibits any one of the following: (i) deterioration of his or her ability to function, as compared to the recipient's ability to function prior to the current onset of symptoms of the mental illness or disability for which treatment is presently sought, (ii) suffering, or (iii) threatening behavior.

(C) That the illness or disability has existed for a period marked by the continuing presence of the symptoms set forth in item (B) of this subdivision (4) or the repeated episodic occurrence of these symptoms.

(D) That the benefits of the treatment outweigh the harm.

(E) That the recipient lacks the capacity to make a reasoned decision about the treatment.

(F) That other less restrictive services have been explored and found inappropriate.

(G) If the petition seeks authorization for testing and other procedures, that such testing and procedures are essential for the safe and effective administration of the treatment.

(5) In no event shall an order issued under this Section be effective for more than 90 days. A second 90-day period of involuntary treatment may be authorized pursuant to a hearing that complies with the standards and procedures of this subsection (a-5). Thereafter, additional 180-day periods of involuntary treatment may be authorized pursuant to the standards and procedures of this Section without limit. If a new petition to authorize the administration of psychotropic medication or electroconvulsive therapy is filed at least 15 days prior to the expiration of the prior order, and if any continuance of the hearing is agreed to by the recipient, the administration of the treatment may continue in accordance with the prior order pending the completion of a hearing under this Section.

(6) An order issued under this subsection (a-5) shall designate the persons authorized to administer the treatment under the standards and procedures of this subsection (a-5). Those persons shall have complete discretion not to administer any treatment authorized under this Section. The order shall also specify the medications and the anticipated range of dosages that have been authorized and may include a list of any alternative medications and range of dosages deemed necessary.

(a-10) The court may, in its discretion, appoint a guardian ad litem for a recipient before the court or authorize an existing guardian of the person to monitor treatment and compliance with court orders under this Section.

(b) A guardian may be authorized to consent to the administration of psychotropic medication or electroconvulsive therapy to an objecting recipient only under the standards and procedures of subsection (a-5).

(c) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section, a guardian may consent to the administration of psychotropic medication or electroconvulsive therapy to a non-objecting recipient under Article XIa of the Probate Act of 1975.

(d) Nothing in this Section shall prevent the administration of psychotropic medication or electroconvulsive therapy to recipients in an emergency under Section 2-107 of this Act.

(e) Notwithstanding any of the provisions of this Section, psychotropic medication or electroconvulsive therapy may be administered pursuant to a power of attorney for health care under the Powers of Attorney for Health Care Law or a declaration for mental health treatment under the Mental Health Treatment Preference Declaration Act.

(f) The Department shall conduct annual trainings for physicians and registered nurses working in State-operated mental health facilities on the appropriate use of psychotropic medication and electroconvulsive therapy, standards for their use, and the preparation of court petitions under this Section.

(Source: P.A. 94-1066, eff. 8-1-06; 95-172, eff. 8-14-07.)

(405 ILCS 5/3-101) (from Ch. 91 1/2, par. 3-101)

Sec. 3-101. (a) The State's Attorneys of the several counties shall represent the people of the State of Illinois in court proceedings under this Chapter and in proceedings under Section 2-107.1 in their respective counties, shall attend such proceedings either in person or by assistant, and shall ensure that petitions, reports and orders are properly prepared. Nothing herein contained shall prevent any party, including any petitioner, from being represented by his own counsel.

(b) Any community mental health provider or inpatient mental health facility, including hospitals operated by the Department, may be represented by counsel in court proceedings under this Chapter if they are providing services or funding for services to the respondent, or if an order by the court directing said entity to provide services or funding for services to the respondent is being sought by any party.

(Source: P.A. 89-439, eff. 6-1-96.)

(405 ILCS 5/3-400) (from Ch. 91 1/2, par. 3-400)

Sec. 3-400. Voluntary admission to mental health facility.

(a) Any person 16 or older, including a person adjudicated a disabled person, may be admitted to a mental health facility as a voluntary recipient for treatment of a mental illness upon the filing of an application with the facility director of the facility if the facility director determines and documents in the recipient's medical record that the person (1) is clinically suitable for admission as a voluntary recipient and (2) has the capacity to consent to voluntary admission.

(b) For purposes of consenting to voluntary admission, a person has the capacity to consent to voluntary admission if, in the professional judgment of the facility director or his or her designee, the person is able to understand that:

(1) He or she is being admitted to a mental health facility.

(2) He or she may request discharge at any time. The request must be in writing, and discharge is not automatic.

(3) Within 5 business days after receipt of the written request for discharge, the facility must either discharge the person or initiate commitment proceedings.

(c) No mental health facility shall require the completion of a petition or certificate as a condition of accepting the admission of a recipient who is being transported to that facility from any other inpatient or outpatient healthcare facility if the recipient has completed an application for voluntary admission to the receiving facility pursuant to this Section.

(Source: P.A. 96-612, eff. 1-1-10.)

(405 ILCS 5/3-401.1 new)

Sec. 3-401.1. Transportation to mental health facility. Upon receipt of an application for admission prepared pursuant to this Article, any licensed ambulance service may transport a recipient to a mental health facility or from one mental health facility to another. An ambulance service, acting in good faith and without negligence in connection with the transportation of recipients shall incur no liability, civil or criminal, by reason of such transportation.

(405 ILCS 5/3-751)

Sec. 3-751. Involuntary admission; petition.

(a) Any person 18 years of age or older may execute a petition asserting that another person is subject to involuntary admission on an outpatient basis. The petition shall be prepared pursuant to paragraph (b) of Section 3-601 and shall be filed with the court in the county where the respondent resides or is present.

(b) The court may inquire of the petitioner whether there are reasonable grounds to believe that the facts stated in the petition are true and whether the respondent is subject to involuntary admission on an outpatient basis.

(c) A petition for involuntary admission on an outpatient basis may be combined with or accompanied by a petition for involuntary admission on an inpatient basis under Article VII.

(d) Notwithstanding any other provision in this Chapter, a petition may be filed under this Article prior to the expiration of an agreed order for outpatient admission issued pursuant to Section 3-801.5 of this Chapter, provided that the recipient has refused to agree to an extension of the agreed order as provided in subsection (g) of Section 3-801.5. The filing of such a petition at least 5 days prior to the expiration of such an agreed order shall continue the order in effect pending the disposition of the petition.

(e) A petition for involuntary outpatient commitment may be filed pursuant to this Section concerning a person who has been admitted to a mental health facility on an informal basis under Section 3-300 of this Code or as a voluntary recipient under Section 3-400 of this Code provided that such a person has a documented history of illness and treatment demonstrating that he or she is unlikely to continue to receive needed treatment following release from informal or voluntary admission and that an order for alternative treatment or for care and custody is necessary in order to ensure continuity of treatment outside a mental health facility. The filing of such a petition shall not prevent the recipient from requesting and obtaining a discharge pursuant to subsection (b) of Section 3-300 or Section 3-404, nor shall it prevent the facility director from discharging the recipient pursuant to Section 3-902 of this Code.

(Source: P.A. 96-1399, eff. 7-29-10; 96-1453, eff. 8-20-10.)

(405 ILCS 5/3-800) (from Ch. 91 1/2, par. 3-800)

Sec. 3-800. (a) Unless otherwise indicated, court hearings under this Chapter shall be held pursuant to this Article. Hearings shall be held in such quarters as the court directs. To the extent practical, hearings shall be held in the mental health facility where the respondent is hospitalized. Any party may request a change of venue or transfer to any other county because of the convenience of parties or witnesses or the condition of the respondent. The respondent may request to have the proceedings transferred to the county of his residence.

(b) If the court grants a continuance on its own motion or upon the motion of one of the parties, the respondent may continue to be detained pending further order of the court. Such continuance shall not extend beyond 15 days except to the extent that continuances are requested by the respondent.

(c) Court hearings under this Chapter, including hearings under Section 2-107.1, shall be open to the press and public unless the respondent or some other party requests that they be closed. The court may also indicate its intention to close a hearing, including when it determines that the respondent may be unable to make a reasoned decision to request that the hearing be closed. A request that a hearing be closed shall be granted unless there is an objection to closing the hearing by a party or any other person. If an objection is made, the court shall not close the hearing unless, following a hearing, it determines that the patient's interest in having the hearing closed is compelling. The court shall support its determination with written findings of fact and conclusions of law. The court shall not close the hearing if the respondent objects to its closure. Whenever a court determines that a hearing shall be closed, access to the records of the hearing, including but not limited to transcripts and pleadings, shall be limited to the parties involved in the hearing, court personnel, and any person or agency providing mental health services that are the subject of the hearing. Access may also be granted, however, pursuant to the provisions of the Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Confidentiality Act.

(d) The provisions of subsection (a-5) of Section 6 of the Rights of Crime Victims and Witnesses Act shall apply to the initial commitment hearing, as provided under Section 5-2-4 of the Unified Code of Corrections, for a respondent found not guilty by reason of insanity of a violent crime in a criminal proceeding and the hearing has been ordered by the court under this Code to determine if the defendant is:

(1) in need of mental health services on an inpatient basis;

(2) in need of mental health services on an outpatient basis; or

(3) not in need of mental health services.

While the impact statement to the court allowed under this subsection (d) may include the impact that the respondent's criminal conduct has had upon the victim, victim's representative, or victim's family or household member, the court may only consider the impact statement along with all other appropriate factors in determining the:

(i) threat of serious physical harm posed by the respondent to himself or herself, or to another person;

(ii) location of inpatient or outpatient mental health services ordered by the court, but only after complying with all other applicable administrative requirements, rules, and statutory requirements;

(iii) maximum period of commitment for inpatient mental health services; and

(iv) conditions of release for outpatient mental health services ordered by the court.

(e) Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 2-1009 of the Code of Civil Procedure, a respondent may object to a motion for voluntary dismissal and the court may refuse to grant such a dismissal for good cause shown.

(Source: P.A. 96-117, eff. 1-1-10.)

(405 ILCS 5/3-801) (from Ch. 91 1/2, par. 3-801)

Sec. 3-801. A respondent may request admission as an informal or voluntary recipient at any time prior to an adjudication that he is subject to involuntary admission on an inpatient or outpatient basis. The facility director shall approve such a request unless the facility director determines that the respondent lacks the capacity to consent to informal or voluntary admission or that informal or voluntary admission is clinically inappropriate. The director shall not find that voluntary admission is clinically inappropriate in the absence of a documented history of the respondent's illness and treatment demonstrating that the respondent is unlikely to continue to receive needed treatment following release from informal or voluntary admission and that an order for involuntary admission on an outpatient basis is necessary in order to ensure continuity of treatment outside a mental health facility.

If the facility director approves such a request, the petitioner shall be notified of the request and of his or her right to object thereto, if the petitioner has requested such notification on that individual recipient. The court may dismiss the pending proceedings, but shall consider any objection made by either the petitioner, the respondent, or the State's Attorney and may require proof that such dismissal is in the best interest of the respondent and of the public. If voluntary admission is accepted and the petition is dismissed by the court, notice shall be provided to the petitioner, orally and in writing, of his or her right to receive notice of the recipient's discharge pursuant to Section 3-902(d).

(Source: P.A. 96-570, eff. 1-1-10; 96-1399, eff. 7-29-10; 96-1453, eff. 8-20-10.)

(405 ILCS 5/3-801.5)

Sec. 3-801.5. Agreed order for admission on an outpatient basis.

(a) At any time before the conclusion of the hearing and the entry of the court's findings, a respondent may enter into an agreement to be subject to an order for admission on an outpatient basis as provided for in Sections 3-811, 3-812, and 3-813, and 3-815 of this Code, provided that:

(1) The court and the parties have been presented with a written report pursuant to Section 3-810 of this Code containing a recommendation for court-ordered admission on an outpatient basis and setting forth in detail the conditions for such an order, and the court is satisfied that the proposal for admission on an outpatient basis is in the best interest of the respondent and of the public.

(2) The court advises the respondent of the conditions of the proposed order in open court and is satisfied that the respondent understands and agrees to the conditions of the proposed order for admission on an outpatient basis.

(3) The proposed custodian is advised of the recommendation for care and custody and agrees to abide by the terms of the proposed order.

(4) No such order may require the respondent to be hospitalized except as provided in subsection (b) of this Section.

(5) No order may include as one of its conditions the administration of psychotropic medication, unless the court determines, based on the documented history of the respondent's treatment and illness, that the respondent is unlikely to continue to receive needed psychotropic medication in the absence of such an order.

(b) An agreed order of care and custody entered pursuant to this Section may grant the custodian the authority to admit a respondent to a hospital if the respondent fails to comply with the conditions of the agreed order. If necessary in order to obtain the hospitalization of the respondent, the custodian may apply to the court for an order authorizing an officer of the peace to take the respondent into custody and transport the respondent to the hospital specified in the agreed order. The provisions of Section 3-605 of this Code shall govern the transportation of the respondent to a mental health facility, except to the extent that those provisions are inconsistent with this Section. However, a person admitted to a hospital pursuant to powers granted under an agreed order for care and custody shall be treated as a voluntary recipient pursuant to Article IV of this Chapter and shall be advised immediately of his or her right to request a discharge pursuant to Section 3-403 of this Code.

(c) If the court has appointed counsel for the respondent pursuant to Section 3-805 of this Code, that appointment shall continue for the duration of any order entered under this Section, and the respondent shall be represented by counsel in any proceeding held pursuant to this Section.

(d) An order entered under this Section shall not constitute a finding that the respondent is subject to involuntary admission on an inpatient or outpatient basis.

(e) Nothing in this Section shall be deemed to create an agency relationship between the respondent and any custodian appointed pursuant to this Section.

(f) Notwithstanding any other provision of Illinois law, no respondent may be cited for contempt for violating the terms and conditions of his or her agreed order of care and custody.

(g) An order entered under this Section may be extended with the agreement of the parties for additional 180-day periods.

(Source: P.A. 96-1399, eff. 7-29-10; 96-1453, eff. 8-20-10.)

Section 10. The Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Confidentiality Act is amended by changing Section 11 as follows:

(740 ILCS 110/11) (from Ch. 91 1/2, par. 811)

Sec. 11. Disclosure of records and communications. Records and communications may be disclosed:

(i) in accordance with the provisions of the Abused and Neglected Child Reporting Act, subsection (u) of Section 5 of the Children and Family Services Act, or Section 7.4 of the Child Care Act of 1969;

(ii) when, and to the extent, a therapist, in his or her sole discretion, determines that disclosure is necessary to initiate or continue civil commitment or involuntary treatment proceedings under the laws of this State or to otherwise protect the recipient or other person against a clear, imminent risk of serious physical or mental injury or disease or death being inflicted upon the recipient or by the recipient on himself or another;

(iii) when, and to the extent disclosure is, in the sole discretion of the therapist, necessary to the provision of emergency medical care to a recipient who is unable to assert or waive his or her rights hereunder;

(iv) when disclosure is necessary to collect sums or receive third party payment representing charges for mental health or developmental disabilities services provided by a therapist or agency to a recipient under Chapter V of the Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Code or to transfer debts under the Uncollected State Claims Act; however, disclosure shall be limited to information needed to pursue collection, and the information so disclosed shall not be used for any other purposes nor shall it be redisclosed except in connection with collection activities;

(v) when requested by a family member, the Department of Human Services may assist in the location of the interment site of a deceased recipient who is interred in a cemetery established under Section 26 100-26 of the Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Administrative Act;

(vi) in judicial proceedings under Article VIII of Chapter III and Article V of Chapter IV of the Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Code and proceedings and investigations preliminary thereto, to the State's Attorney for the county or residence of a person who is the subject of such proceedings, or in which the person is found, or in which the facility is located, to the attorney representing the petitioner in the judicial proceedings, to the attorney representing the recipient in the judicial proceedings, to any person or agency providing mental health services that are the subject of the proceedings and to that person's or agency's attorney, to any court personnel, including but not limited to judges and circuit court clerks, and to a guardian ad litem if one has been appointed by the court. Information , provided that the information so disclosed under this subsection shall not be utilized for any other purpose nor be redisclosed except in connection with the proceedings or investigations. ; Copies of any records provided to counsel for a petitioner shall be deleted or destroyed at the end of the proceedings and counsel for petitioner shall certify to the court in writing that he or she has done so. At the request of a recipient or his or her counsel, the court shall issue a protective order insuring the confidentiality of any records or communications provided to counsel for a petitioner;

(vii) when, and to the extent disclosure is necessary to comply with the requirements of the Census Bureau in taking the federal Decennial Census;

(viii) when, and to the extent, in the therapist's sole discretion, disclosure is necessary to warn or protect a specific individual against whom a recipient has made a specific threat of violence where there exists a therapist-recipient relationship or a special recipient-individual relationship;

(ix) in accordance with the Sex Offender Registration Act;

(x) in accordance with the Rights of Crime Victims and Witnesses Act;

(xi) in accordance with Section 6 of the Abused and Neglected Long Term Care Facility Residents Reporting Act; and

(xii) in accordance with Section 55 of the Abuse of Adults with Disabilities Intervention Act.

Any person, institution, or agency, under this Act, participating in good faith in the making of a report under the Abused and Neglected Child Reporting Act or in the disclosure of records and communications under this Section, shall have immunity from any liability, civil, criminal or otherwise, that might result by reason of such action. For the purpose of any proceeding, civil or criminal, arising out of a report or disclosure under this Section, the good faith of any person, institution, or agency so reporting or disclosing shall be presumed.

(Source: P.A. 95-331, eff. 8-21-07; 96-466, eff. 8-14-09; revised 9-16-10.)

Section 15. The Probate Act of 1975 is amended by changing Section 11a-10 as follows:

(755 ILCS 5/11a-10) (from Ch. 110 1/2, par. 11a-10)

Sec. 11a-10. Procedures preliminary to hearing.

(a) Upon the filing of a petition pursuant to Section 11a-8, the court shall set a date and place for hearing to take place within 30 days. The court shall appoint a guardian ad litem to report to the court concerning the respondent's best interests consistent with the provisions of this Section, except that the appointment of a guardian ad litem shall not be required when the court determines that such appointment is not necessary for the protection of the respondent or a reasonably informed decision on the petition. If the guardian ad litem is not a licensed attorney, he or she shall be qualified, by training or experience, to work with or advocate for the developmentally disabled, mentally ill, physically disabled, the elderly, or persons disabled because of mental deterioration, depending on the type of disability that is alleged in the petition. The court may allow the guardian ad litem reasonable compensation. The guardian ad litem may consult with a person who by training or experience is qualified to work with persons with a developmental disability, persons with mental illness, or physically disabled persons, or persons disabled because of mental deterioration, depending on the type of disability that is alleged. The guardian ad litem shall personally observe the respondent prior to the hearing and shall inform him orally and in writing of the contents of the petition and of his rights under Section 11a-11. The guardian ad litem shall also attempt to elicit the respondent's position concerning the adjudication of disability, the proposed guardian, a proposed change in residential placement, changes in care that might result from the guardianship, and other areas of inquiry deemed appropriate by the court. Notwithstanding any provision in the Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Confidentiality Act or any other law, a guardian ad litem shall have the right to inspect and copy any medical or mental health record of the respondent which the guardian ad litem deems necessary, provided that the information so disclosed shall not be utilized for any other purpose nor be redisclosed except in connection with the proceedings. At or before the hearing, the guardian ad litem shall file a written report detailing his or her observations of the respondent, the responses of the respondent to any of the inquires detailed in this Section, the opinion of the guardian ad litem or other professionals with whom the guardian ad litem consulted concerning the appropriateness of guardianship, and any other material issue discovered by the guardian ad litem. The guardian ad litem shall appear at the hearing and testify as to any issues presented in his or her report.

(b) The court (1) may appoint counsel for the respondent, if the court finds that the interests of the respondent will be best served by the appointment, and (2) shall appoint counsel upon respondent's request or if the respondent takes a position adverse to that of the guardian ad litem. The respondent shall be permitted to obtain the appointment of counsel either at the hearing or by any written or oral request communicated to the court prior to the hearing. The summons shall inform the respondent of this right to obtain appointed counsel. The court may allow counsel for the respondent reasonable compensation.

(c) If the respondent is unable to pay the fee of the guardian ad litem or appointed counsel, or both, the court may enter an order for the petitioner to pay all such fees or such amounts as the respondent or the respondent's estate may be unable to pay. However, in cases where the Office of State Guardian is the petitioner, consistent with Section 30 of the Guardianship and Advocacy Act, where an elder abuse provider agency is the petitioner, pursuant to Section 9 of the Elder Abuse and Neglect Act, or where the Department of Human Services Office of Inspector General is the petitioner, consistent with Section 45 of the Abuse of Adults with Disabilities Intervention Act, no guardian ad litem or legal fees shall be assessed against the Office of State Guardian, the elder abuse provider agency, or the Department of Human Services Office of Inspector General.

(d) The hearing may be held at such convenient place as the court directs, including at a facility in which the respondent resides.

(e) Unless he is the petitioner, the respondent shall be personally served with a copy of the petition and a summons not less than 14 days before the hearing. The summons shall be printed in large, bold type and shall include the following notice:

NOTICE OF RIGHTS OF RESPONDENT

You have been named as a respondent in a guardianship petition asking that you be declared a disabled person. If the court grants the petition, a guardian will be appointed for you. A copy of the guardianship petition is attached for your convenience.

The date and time of the hearing are: The place where the hearing will occur is: The Judge's name and phone number is:

If a guardian is appointed for you, the guardian may be given the right to make all important personal decisions for you, such as where you may live, what medical treatment you may receive, what places you may visit, and who may visit you. A guardian may also be given the right to control and manage your money and other property, including your home, if you own one. You may lose the right to make these decisions for yourself.

You have the following legal rights:

(1) You have the right to be present at the court hearing.

(2) You have the right to be represented by a lawyer, either one that you retain, or one appointed by the Judge.

(3) You have the right to ask for a jury of six persons to hear your case.

(4) You have the right to present evidence to the court and to confront and cross-examine witnesses.

(5) You have the right to ask the Judge to appoint an independent expert to examine you and give an opinion about your need for a guardian.

(6) You have the right to ask that the court hearing be closed to the public.

(7) You have the right to tell the court whom you prefer to have for your guardian.

You do not have to attend the court hearing if you do not want to be there. If you do not attend, the Judge may appoint a guardian if the Judge finds that a guardian would be of benefit to you. The hearing will not be postponed or canceled if you do not attend.

IT IS VERY IMPORTANT THAT YOU ATTEND THE HEARING IF YOU DO NOT WANT A GUARDIAN OR IF YOU WANT SOMEONE OTHER THAN THE PERSON NAMED IN THE GUARDIANSHIP PETITION TO BE YOUR GUARDIAN. IF YOU DO NOT WANT A GUARDIAN OF IF YOU HAVE ANY OTHER PROBLEMS, YOU SHOULD CONTACT AN ATTORNEY OR COME TO COURT AND TELL THE JUDGE.

Service of summons and the petition may be made by a private person 18 years of age or over who is not a party to the action.

(f) Notice of the time and place of the hearing shall be given by the petitioner by mail or in person to those persons, including the proposed guardian, whose names and addresses appear in the petition and who do not waive notice, not less than 14 days before the hearing.

(Source: P.A. 95-373, eff. 8-23-07; 96-1052, eff. 7-14-10.)

Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon becoming law.