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House File 619 - IntroducedA Bill ForAn Act 1relating to the notification of law enforcement
2regarding the discharge of a voluntary patient who is
3mentally ill or has symptoms of mental illness from a
4hospital.
5BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:
1 Section 1. Section 229.3, Code 2019, is amended to read as
2follows:
3229.3 Discharge of voluntary patients.
41. Any voluntary patient who has recovered, or whose
5hospitalization the chief medical officer of the hospital
6determines is no longer advisable, shall be discharged. Any
7voluntary patient may be discharged if to do so would in the
8judgment of the chief medical officer contribute to the most
9effective use of the hospital in the care and treatment of that
10patient and of other persons with mental illness.
112. If the chief medical officer of the hospital is informed
12that an arrest warrant has been issued for or charges are
13pending against a voluntary patient of the hospital, the chief
14medical officer may notify the appropriate law enforcement
15agency about the discharge of the patient prior to the
16patient’s discharge.
17EXPLANATION
18The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with
19the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
20This bill relates to notification of law enforcement about
21the discharge of a voluntary patient who is mentally ill
22or has symptoms of mental illness. Under current law, any
23voluntarily admitted patient for mental health treatment who
24has recovered, or whose hospitalization the chief medical
25officer of the hospital determines is no longer advisable,
26shall be discharged. The bill provides that if the chief
27medical officer of the hospital is informed that an arrest
28warrant has been issued for or charges are pending against a
29voluntary patient of the hospital, the chief medical officer
30may notify the appropriate law enforcement agency about the
31discharge of the patient prior to the patient’s discharge.
-1-hb/rh
2regarding the discharge of a voluntary patient who is
3mentally ill or has symptoms of mental illness from a
4hospital.
5BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:
1 Section 1. Section 229.3, Code 2019, is amended to read as
2follows:
3229.3 Discharge of voluntary patients.
41. Any voluntary patient who has recovered, or whose
5hospitalization the chief medical officer of the hospital
6determines is no longer advisable, shall be discharged. Any
7voluntary patient may be discharged if to do so would in the
8judgment of the chief medical officer contribute to the most
9effective use of the hospital in the care and treatment of that
10patient and of other persons with mental illness.
112. If the chief medical officer of the hospital is informed
12that an arrest warrant has been issued for or charges are
13pending against a voluntary patient of the hospital, the chief
14medical officer may notify the appropriate law enforcement
15agency about the discharge of the patient prior to the
16patient’s discharge.
17EXPLANATION
18The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with
19the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
20This bill relates to notification of law enforcement about
21the discharge of a voluntary patient who is mentally ill
22or has symptoms of mental illness. Under current law, any
23voluntarily admitted patient for mental health treatment who
24has recovered, or whose hospitalization the chief medical
25officer of the hospital determines is no longer advisable,
26shall be discharged. The bill provides that if the chief
27medical officer of the hospital is informed that an arrest
28warrant has been issued for or charges are pending against a
29voluntary patient of the hospital, the chief medical officer
30may notify the appropriate law enforcement agency about the
31discharge of the patient prior to the patient’s discharge.
-1-hb/rh