Colorado Code § 27-65-110

Long-term care and treatment of persons with mental health disorders - procedure
Open in Lexace · Ask the AI about this section
(1) Whenever a respondent has received an extended certification for treatment
pursuant section 27-65-109 (10), the professional person in charge of the certification for short-
term treatment or the BHA may file a petition with the court at least thirty days prior to the
expiration date of the extended certification for long-term care and treatment of the respondent
under the following conditions:
(a) The professional staff of the agency or facility providing short-term treatment has
analyzed the respondent's condition and has found that the respondent has a mental health
disorder and, as a result of the mental health disorder, is a danger to the respondent's self or
others or is gravely disabled;
(b) The respondent has been advised of the availability of, but has not accepted,
voluntary treatment; but, if reasonable grounds exist to believe that the respondent will not
remain in a voluntary treatment program, the respondent's acceptance of voluntary treatment
does not preclude an order pursuant to this section; and
(c) The facility that will provide long-term care and treatment has been designated by the
commissioner to provide the care and treatment.
(2) Every petition for long-term care and treatment must include a request for a hearing
before the court prior to the expiration of six months after the date of original certification and
provide a recommendation as to whether the certification for long-term care and treatment
should take place on an inpatient or outpatient basis. A copy of the petition must be delivered
personally to the respondent for whom long-term care and treatment is sought and electronically
delivered to the respondent's attorney of record simultaneously with the filing.
(3) Within ten days after receipt of the petition, the respondent or the respondent's
attorney may request a hearing before the court or a jury trial by filing a written request with the
court.
(4) The court or jury shall determine whether the conditions of subsection (1) of this
section are met and whether the respondent has a mental health disorder and, as a result of the
mental health disorder, is a danger to the respondent's self or others or is gravely disabled. The
court shall issue an order of long-term care and treatment for a term not to exceed six months,
discharge the respondent for whom long-term care and treatment was sought, or enter any other
appropriate order. An order for long-term care and treatment must grant custody of the
respondent to the BHA for placement with an agency or facility designated by the commissioner
to provide long-term care and treatment. The BHA may delegate the physical custody of the
respondent to a facility designated by the commissioner and the requirement for the provision of
services and care coordination. When a petition contains a request that a specific legal disability
be imposed or that a specific legal right be deprived, the court may order the disability imposed
or the right deprived if the court or a jury has determined that the respondent has a mental health
disorder or is gravely disabled and that, as a result, the respondent is unable to competently
exercise the specific legal right or perform the function for which the disability is sought to be
imposed. Any interested person may ask leave of the court to intervene as a copetitioner for the
purpose of seeking the imposition of a legal disability or the deprivation of a legal right.
(5) An original order of long-term care and treatment or any extension of such order
expires on the date specified, unless further extended as provided in this subsection (5). If an
extension is being sought, the professional person in charge of the evaluation and treatment shall
certify to the court at least thirty days prior to the expiration date of the order in force that an
extension of the order is necessary for the care and treatment of the respondent subject to the
order in force, and a copy of the certification must be simultaneously delivered to the respondent
and electronically delivered to the respondent's attorney of record. At least twenty days before
the expiration of the order, the court shall give written notice to the respondent and the
respondent's attorney of record that a hearing upon the extension may be had before the court or
a jury upon written request to the court within ten days after receipt of the notice. If a hearing is
not requested by the respondent within such time, the court may proceed ex parte. If a hearing is
timely requested, the hearing must be held before the expiration date of the order in force. If the
court or jury finds that the conditions of subsection (1) of this section continue to be met and that
the respondent has a mental health disorder and, as a result of the mental health disorder, is a
danger to others or to the respondent's self or is gravely disabled, the court shall issue an
extension of the order. Any extension must not exceed six months, but there may be as many
extensions as the court orders pursuant to this section.
(6) A respondent certified for long-term care and treatment may be discharged from the
facility upon the signature of the treating professional person and medical director of the facility,
and the facility shall notify the BHA prior to the respondent's discharge. The facility shall make
the respondent's discharge instructions available to the respondent, the respondent's attorney, the
respondent's lay person, and the respondent's legal guardian, if applicable, within one week after
discharge, if requested. A facility that is transferring a respondent to a different facility or to an
outpatient program shall provide all treatment records to the facility or provider accepting the
respondent at least twenty-four hours prior to the transfer.

‹ Prev All Colorado sections Next ›


Lexace provides legal information, not legal advice, and no attorney–client relationship is created. Statute text is provided for general information and may not reflect the most recent amendments; verify against the official state code.