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LAWS OF MARYLAND

Ch. 534

CHAPTER 534

(Senate Bill 434)

AN ACT concerning

Mental Health - Voluntary Admissions

FOR the purpose of providing for the voluntary admission of
certain minors and lowering the age by which certain
minors may be voluntarily admitted to mental health
facilities; and permitting legal guardians, as well as
parents, to admit certain minors to hospital adolescent

FOR the purpose of authorizing the voluntary admission of
certain minors to mental health facilities, except when
certain medical procedures are involved; lowering the
age at which certain minors may be voluntarily admitted
to certain mental health facilities; requiring a mental
health facility to make a reasonable effort to notify a
certain person of the voluntary admission of a minor
under certain circumstances; and permitting legal
guardians, as well as parents, to admit certain minors
to hospital adolescent units.

BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments,

Article 59 - Mental Hygiene

Section 11(a) and (g)

Annotated Code of Maryland

(1979 Replacement Volume and 1980 Supplement)

SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF
MARYLAND, That section(s) of the Annotated Code of Maryland
be repealed, amended, or enacted to read as follows:

Article 59 - Mental Hygiene

11.

(a) Any facility licensed by or under the jurisdiction
of the Department may admit for purposes of care or
treatment, or both, any person over the age of [18] 14 16
years who has any mental disorder which is susceptible of
care or treatment and who requests admission to such
facility. Veterans of the armed forces of the United
States may be admitted to a Veteran' Administration
hospital without regard to the provisions of this section.
HOWEVER, IF A MINOR HAS VOLUNTARILY BEEN ADMITTED TO A
FACILITY AS AN INPATIENT, THE FACILITY SHALL MAKE A
REASONABLE EFFORT TO NOTIFY AS PROMPTLY AS POSSIBLE THE