3604

VETOES

(b) (1) Any interested person who has reason to
believe that a person is mentally disordered and is in clear
and imminent danger of causing grave and immediate personal
injury to himself or others may complete, sign, and file a
petition for the emergency admission of such person with a
peace officer. Any interested person who signs and files
this petition is hereinafter referred to as the petitioner.

(2)  The petition shall include the following:

(i) The petitioner's name, address, and
home and work telephone numbers;

(ii) The name and a description of the
emergency admittee, and if available the emergency
admittee's address, and the names and addresses of the
emergency admittee's spouse, children, parents or relatives,
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 or certified psychologist
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,