BLAIR LEE III, Acting Governor

1083

and for transportation to that facility. If the person is
not either admitted to a detoxification center or referred
to another facility and has no funds, authorized personnel
shall offer to take him to his residence if he has one, or
if he has no residence shall offer to attempt to find and to
take him to some other facility where he may obtain shelter.
A detoxification center may provide medical OR PARAMEDICAL
help to a person who is not admitted as a patient. The
[medical officer] PROGRAM DIRECTOR shall make a bona fide
attempt to notify the family or next of kin when a patient
is admitted to a facility for treatment, but is not required
to do so if the patient requests him not to.

305.

(d) If a patient has withdrawn from outpatient
treatment against [medical] THE advice [he] OF THE PROGRAM
DIRECTOR, THE PATIENT may be readmitted at the discretion of
the [medical officer] PROGRAM DIRECTOR in charge of
outpatient treatment.          He may not be denied readmission

solely because he withdrew against [medical] THE advice OF
THE PROGRAM DIRECTOR.

306.

(a) A judge of the circuit court in equity and the
District Court in the county in which a detoxification unit
is located, or of the county wherein the patient resides,
or, if he has no residence, the county from which he came to
the unit, on a petition of the [Commissioner] DIRECTOR of
THE Mental Hygiene ALCOHOLISM CONTROL ADMINISTRATION, or his
delegate, or on a petition of the governing body of a
subdivision, or its delegate, if the detoxification unit is
a local government facility, filed and heard before the
5—day period of detention for detoxification expires, may
order a person to be temporarily committed further for
detoxification or inpatient treatment and care for a period
not to exceed 30 days from the date of admission to a
detoxification unit if, sitting without a jury, he
determines that the person (1) is a chronic alcoholic, and
as a result of chronic or acute intoxication is (2) in
immediate danger of substantial physical harm and (3) unable
to make a rational decision about accepting assistance. A
patient so committed shall be released without the necessity
of court permission as soon as, in the judgment of the
[medical officer] PROGRAM DIRECTOR in charge of the facility
wherein he is detained, he is once again able to make a
rational decision about accepting assistance, unless he
chooses voluntarily to remain. He shall be encouraged to
consent to further treatment and rehabilitation.

SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act
shall take effect July 1, 1978.

Approved April 11, 1978.