ROBERT L. EHRLICH, JR., Governor

Ch. 315

CHAPTER 315
(Senate Bill 873)

AN ACT concerning

Mental Health - Emergency Evaluation - Psychiatric Nurses

FOR the purpose of authorizing clinical nurse specialists in psychiatric and mental
health nursing and psychiatric nurse practitioners to file and present a petition
for an emergency evaluation of an individual; requiring certain individuals to
include a certain license number on certain petitions; and generally relating to
emergency evaluations by psychiatric nurses.

BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments,
Article - Health - General
Section 10-620, 10-622, 10-623, and 10-624(a)
Annotated Code of Maryland
(2000 Replacement Volume and 2003 Supplement)

SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF
MARYLAND, That the Laws of Maryland read as follows:

Article - Health - General

10-620.

(a)     In Part IV of this subtitle the following words have the meanings
indicated.

(b)     "Court" means a district or circuit court of this State.

(c)      "Emergency evaluee" means an individual for whom an emergency
evaluation is sought or made under Part IV of this subtitle.

(d)     (1) "Emergency facility" means a facility that the Department
designates, in writing, as an emergency facility.

(2) "Emergency facility" includes a licensed general hospital that has an
emergency room, unless the Department, after consultation with the health officer,
exempts the hospital.

(e)     (1) "Mental disorder" means the behavioral or other symptoms that
indicate:

(i) To a lay petitioner who is submitting an emergency petition, a
clear disturbance in the mental functioning of another individual; and

(ii) To [a physician, psychologist, clinical social worker, or a
licensed clinical professional counselor] THE FOLLOWING HEALTH PROFESSIONALS
doing an examination, at least one mental disorder that is described in the version of

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