2334

LAWS OF MARYLAND

Ch. 579

PUBLISHED PERIODICALLY BY THE AMERICAN PSYCHIATRIC
ASSOCIATION.

(II) "MENTAL DISORDER" DOES NOT INCLUDE
MENTAL RETARDATION.

(5)  "PEACE OFFICER" MEANS A SHERIFF, STATE
POLICE OFFICER, MUNICIPAL, OR OTHER LOCAL POLICE OFFICER.

(6) (I) "PETITION" MEANS A PETITION FOR THE
EMERGENCY EVALUATION OF AN EMERGENCY EVALUEE. "PETITION"
INCLUDES:

1.  THE PETITIONER'S NAME, ADDRESS,
AND HOME AND WORK TELEPHONE NUMBERS; AND

2.  THE NAME AND A DESCRIPTION OF THE
EMERGENCY EVALUEE AND, IF AVAILABLE, THE EMERGENCY EVALUEE'S
ADDRESS, AND THE NAMES AND ADDRESSES OF THE EMERGENCY
EVALUEE'S SPOUSE, CHILDREN, PARENTS OR RELATIVES, OR ANY
PERSON KNOWN TO BE INTERESTED IN THE EMERGENCY EVALUEE;

3.  A DESCRIPTION OF THE BEHAVIOR AND
STATEMENTS OF THE EMERGENCY EVALUEE WHICH LED THE PETITIONER
TO HAVE REASON TO BELIEVE THAT THE EMERGENCY EVALUEE IS
SUFFERING FROM A MENTAL DISORDER AND IS IN CLEAR AND
IMMINENT DANGER OF CAUSING PERSONAL HARM TO HIMSELF OR
OTHERS AND ANY OTHER FACTS THAT SUPPORT THE PETITIONER'S
BELIEF THAT EMERGENCY EVALUATION IS APPROPRIATE; AND

4.  NOTICE THAT THE PETITIONER
SUBMITTING THE PETITION TO A PEACE OFFICER MAY BE REQUIRED
TO APPEAR BEFORE THE COURT AND THAT THE STATEMENTS MADE IN
THE PETITION ARE UNDER PENALTIES OF PERJURY.

(B) (1) ANY INTERESTED PERSON WHO HAS REASON TO
BELIEVE THAT A PERSON IS SUFFERING FROM A MENTAL DISORDER
AND IS IN CLEAR AND IMMINENT DANGER OF CAUSING PERSONAL HARM
TO HIMSELF OR OTHERS MAY COMPLETE AND SIGN A PETITION FOR
THE EMERGENCY EVALUATION OF SUCH PERSON AND SUBMIT THE
PETITION TO A PEACE OFFICER.

(2)  STATEMENTS MADE IN THE PETITION ARE UNDER
PENALTIES OF PERJURY.

(3)  THE PEACE OFFICER TO WHOM THE PETITION IS
SUBMITTED SHALL EXPLAIN TO EVERY PETITIONER THE MEANING AND
CONTENT OF THE PETITION AND THE SERIOUS NATURE OF THE
PETITION.

(C) (1) THE PEACE OFFICER TO WHOM THE PETITION IS
SUBMITTED IN ACCORDANCE WITH SUBSECTION (B) OF THIS SECTION
SHALL PRESENT THE PETITION ACCOMPANIED BY THE PETITIONER TO
THE COURT FOR AN IMMEDIATE REVIEW AND DETERMINATION BY THE
COURT AS TO WHETHER THERE IS PROBABLE CAUSE TO BELIEVE THAT
THE EMERGENCY EVALUEE IS SUFFERING FROM A MENTAL DISORDER
AND IS IN CLEAR AND IMMINENT DANGER OF CAUSING PERSONAL HARM
TO HIMSELF OR OTHERS.