1958

LAWS OF MARYLAND

Ch. 700

or any person known to be interested in the emergency

admittee;

(iii) A description of the behavior and
statements of the emergency admittee which have led the
petitioner to reach a reasonable presumption that the
emergency admittee is mentally disordered, including
whatever behavior and statements of the emergency admittee
that have led the petitioner to conclude that because of the
presumed mental disorder, the emergency admittee is in clear
and imminent danger of causing grave and immediate personal
harm to himself or others, and any other facts that support
the petitioner's conclusion that the emergency admission is
appropriate;

(iv) Notice that any petitioner completing
and signing the petition may be required to accompany the
emergency admittee to a physician and that the State
Department of HEALTH AND Mental Hygiene may require the
appearance of the petitioner at the mental health facility
to which the emergency admittee is admitted within 96 hours
in order to provide further information, and that failure to
comply shall subject the petitioner to court order
compelling his appearance.

(3)   The peace officer with whom the petition is
filed, unless he, himself, is the petitioner, shall explain
to every petitioner the serious nature of the petition and
the meaning and content of the petition shall be explained
to any petitioner who cannot read.

(4)   Statements made in the petition are under
the penalties of perjury.

(5)   No liability, either civil or criminal,
shall attach to any such petitioner who files a petition in
good faith and with reasonable grounds. No liability,
either civil or criminal shall attach to any peace officer
who acts as a custodian of the emergency admittee and who
acts in good faith and with reasonable grounds.

(c) If the petitioner is anyone other than a peace
officer [of the rank of sergeant or higher], a duly licensed
physician, or the local health officer, as described by
Sections 46 and 47 of Article 43, or his designee, then the
petition accompanied by the petitioner shall be presented to
a judge of the District Court or of the circuit court for an
immediate review and determination by the judge as to
whether there is probable cause to believe that the
emergency admittee has the symptoms of a mental disorder and
appears to be in clear and imminent danger or causing grave
and immediate personal harm to himself or others. If the
judge finds probable cause for emergency admission he shall
endorse the petition by signing it, and the emergency
admittee shall be taken into custody by a peace officer and
transported BY AMBULANCE OR OTHER EMERGENCY VEHICLE to [an]
THE CLOSEST DESIGNATED emergency facility where the