This Maryland statute requires the Department to publish and distribute an annual list of designated emergency facilities (which may include comprehensive crisis response centers, crisis stabilization centers, crisis treatment centers, and outpatient mental health clinics) to courts, law enforcement, and local behavioral health authorities. Before designating a facility, the Department must consult stakeholders to develop model program standards ensuring 24-hour emergency petition services, involuntary admission procedures, and due process protections. The Department must also report annually to the General Assembly on facility designation progress and collaborative model development. This provision governs the administrative designation and standards framework for emergency evaluation facilities under Maryland's involuntary admission system.
View official source- 1 - Article - Health - General [Previous][Next] §10–621. (a) At least once a year, the Department shall: (1) Publish a list of emergency facilities and their addresses; and (2) Give the list to each health department, judge of a court, sheriff’s office, police station, local behavioral health authority, and Secret Service office in this State. (b) The list published under subsection (a)(1) of this section may include: (1) Comprehensive crisis response centers; (2) Crisis stabilization centers; (3) Crisis treatment centers established under § 7.5 –207 of this article; and (4) Outpatient mental health clinics. (c) Before including a facility under subsection (b) of this section in the list of emergency facilities, the Department shall consult with st akeholders to develop a model program structure that ensures that a program wishing to serve as an emergency facility: (1) Is adequately staffed to provide 24 –hour emergency petition services; (2) Provides the necessary services required for an emerg ency petition; (3) Has written procedures in place that provide for involuntary admissions, through an emergency petition, including to a licensed hospital, as necessary; (4) Provides additional support to respect the due process rights of patients received through the emergency petition process; and - 2 - (5) Complies with additional procedures as otherwise determined by the Department. (d) On or before September 30 each year, the Department shall report to the General Assembly, in accordance with § 2–1257 of the State Government Article, on: (1) The number of facilities that have sought to be designated an emergency facility; (2) The number of the facilities reported under item (1) of this subsection that have attempted to meet the model facility standards developed under subsection (c) of this section; (3) The progress of the facilities reported under item (2) of this subsection toward meeting the model facility standards; (4) The development of collaborative models between State, local, and private entities; and (5) Whether the Department, in consultation with stakeholders, has determined that any changes to the model facility standards are necessary. [Previous][Next]