Oklahoma Code § 43A-5-416

Title 43A. Mental Health: Alternatives to hospitalization
Open in Lexace · Ask the AI about this section
A.  The court, in considering a commitment petition filed under
Section 5-410 of this title, shall not order hospitalization without
a thorough consideration of available treatment alternatives to
hospitalization, or without addressing the competency of the
consumer to consent to or refuse the treatment that is ordered
including, but not limited to, the rights of the consumer:
1.  To be heard concerning the treatment of the consumer; and
2.  To refuse medications.
B.  1.  If the court, in considering a commitment petition filed
under Section 5-410 of this title, finds that a program other than
hospitalization, including an assisted outpatient treatment program,
is adequate to meet the treatment needs of the individual and is
sufficient to prevent injury to the individual or to others, the
court may order the individual to receive whatever treatment other
than hospitalization is appropriate for a period set by the court;
provided, the court may only order assisted outpatient treatment if
the individual meets the criteria set forth in Section 1-103 of this
title and in subsection F of this section.  During this time the
court:
a. shall have continuing jurisdiction over the individual
as a person requiring treatment or an assisted
outpatient, and
b. shall periodically, no less often than annually,
review the treatment needs of the individual and
determine whether or not to continue, discontinue, or
modify the treatment.
2.  If at any time it comes to the attention of the court from a
person competent to file or request the filing of a petition,

pursuant to subsection A of Section 5-410 of this title, that the
individual ordered to undergo a program of alternative treatment to
hospitalization is not complying with the order or that the
alternative treatment program has not been sufficient to prevent
harm or injury which the individual may be inflicting upon himself
or others, the court may order the person to show cause why the
court should not:
a. implement other alternatives to hospitalization,
modify or rescind the original order or direct the
individual to undergo another program of alternative
treatment, if necessary and appropriate, based on
written findings of the court, or
b. enter an order of admission pursuant to the provisions
of this title, directing that the person be committed
to inpatient treatment and, if the individual refuses
to comply with this order of inpatient treatment, the
court may direct a peace officer to take the
individual into protective custody and transport the
person to a public or private facility designated by
the court.
3.  The court shall give notice to the person ordered to show
cause and hold the hearing within seventy-two (72) hours of the
notice.  The person ordered to undergo a program of alternative
treatment shall not be detained in emergency detention pending the
show cause hearing unless, prior to the emergency detention, the
person has undergone an initial examination and a determination is
made that emergency detention is warranted.
4.  If an order of alternative treatment will expire without
further review by the court and it is believed that the individual
continues to require treatment, a person competent to file or
request the filing of a petition, pursuant to subsection A of
Section 5-410 of this title, may file or request the district
attorney file either an application for an extension of the court's
previous order or an entirely new petition for a determination that
the individual is a person requiring treatment or an assisted
outpatient.
5.  A hearing on the application or petition filed pursuant to
paragraph 4 of this subsection shall be held within ten (10) days
after the application or petition is filed, unless the court extends
the time for good cause.  In setting the matter for hearing, the
court shall consider whether or not the prior orders of the court
will expire during the pendency of the hearing and shall make
appropriate orders to protect the interests of the individual who is
the subject of the hearing.
C.  Prior to ordering the inpatient treatment of an individual,
the court shall inquire into the adequacy of treatment to be
provided to the individual by the facility, and inpatient treatment

shall not be ordered unless the facility in which the individual is
to be treated can provide such person with treatment which is
adequate and appropriate to such person's condition.
D.  Nothing in this section shall prohibit the Department of
Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services or the facility or
program providing the alternative treatment from discharging a
person admitted pursuant to this section, at a time prior to the
expiration of the period of alternative treatment, or any extension
thereof.  The facility or program providing the alternative
treatment shall file a report with the court outlining the
disposition of each person admitted pursuant to this section within
forty-eight (48) hours after discharge.
E.  Notice of any proceedings pursuant to this section shall be
given to the person, the person's guardian, the person's attorney,
and the person filing the petition or application.
F.  If the petition alleges the person to be an assisted
outpatient as provided in Section 7 of this act, the court shall not
order assisted outpatient treatment unless the petitioning licensed
mental health professional develops and provides to the court a
proposed written treatment plan.  All service providers included in
the treatment plan shall be notified regarding their inclusion in
the written treatment plan.  Where deemed advisable, the court may
make a finding that a person is an assisted outpatient and delay the
treatment order until such time as the treatment plan is provided to
the court.  Such plan shall be provided to the court no later than
the date set by the court pursuant to subsection J of this section.
G.  The licensed mental health professional who develops the
written treatment plan shall provide the following persons with an
opportunity to actively participate in the development of such plan:
1.  The assisted outpatient;
2.  The treating physician, if any;
3.  The treatment advocate as defined in Section 1-109.1 of this
title, if any; and
4.  An individual significant to the assisted outpatient,
including any relative, close friend or individual otherwise
concerned with the welfare of the assisted outpatient, upon the
request of the assisted outpatient.
H.  The licensed mental health professional shall make a
reasonable effort to gather relevant information for the development
of the treatment plan from a member of the assisted outpatient's
family or significant other.  If the assisted outpatient has
executed an advance directive for mental health treatment, the
physician shall consider any directions included in such advance
directive for mental health treatment in developing the written
treatment plan.
I.  The court shall not order assisted outpatient treatment
unless the petitioner testifies to explain the proposed written

treatment plan; provided, the parties may stipulate upon mutual
consent that the petitioner need not testify.  The petitioner shall
state facts which establish that such treatment is the least
restrictive alternative.  If the assisted outpatient has executed an
advance directive for mental health treatment, the licensed mental
health professional shall state the consideration given to any
directions included in such advance directive for mental health
treatment in developing the written treatment plan.  Such testimony
shall be given on the date set by the court pursuant to subsection J
of this section.
J.  If the court has yet to be provided with a written treatment
plan at the time of the hearing in which the court finds a person to
be an assisted outpatient, the court shall order such treatment plan
and testimony no later than the third day, excluding Saturdays,
Sundays and holidays, immediately following the date of such hearing
and order; provided, the parties may stipulate upon mutual consent
that such testimony need not be provided.  Upon receiving such plan
and any required testimony, the court may order assisted outpatient
treatment as provided in this section.
K.  A court may order the patient to self-administer
psychotropic drugs or accept the administration of such drugs by
authorized personnel as part of an assisted outpatient treatment
program.  Such order may specify the type and dosage range of such
psychotropic drugs and such order shall be effective for the
duration of such assisted outpatient treatment.
L.  A copy of any court order for assisted outpatient treatment
shall be served personally, or by mail, facsimile or electronic
means, upon the assisted outpatient, the assisted outpatient
treatment program and all others entitled to notice under the
provisions of subsection D of Section 5-412 of this title.
M.  The initial order for assisted outpatient treatment shall be
for a period of one (1) year.  Within thirty (30) days prior to the
expiration of the order, a licensed mental health professional
employed by the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse
Services or employed by a community mental health center certified
by the Department pursuant to Section 3-306.1 of this title may file
a petition to extend the order of outpatient treatment.  Notice
shall be given in accordance with Section 5-412 of this title.  The
court shall hear the petition, review the treatment plan and
determine if the assisted outpatient continues to meet the criteria
for assisted outpatient treatment and such treatment is the least
restrictive alternative.  If the court finds the assisted outpatient
treatment should continue, it will make such an order extending the
assisted treatment an additional year and order the treatment plan
updated as necessary.  Subsequent extensions of the order may be
obtained in the same manner.  If the court's disposition of the
motion does not occur prior to the expiration date of the current

order, the current order shall remain in effect for up to thirty
(30) additional days until such disposition.
N.  In addition to any other right or remedy available by law
with respect to the order for assisted outpatient treatment, the
assisted outpatient or anyone acting on the assisted outpatient's
behalf may petition the court on notice to every facility providing
treatment pursuant to the assisted outpatient treatment order to
stay, vacate or modify the order.
O.  Facilities providing treatment pursuant to the assisted
outpatient treatment order shall petition the court for approval
before instituting a proposed material change in the assisted
outpatient treatment plan, unless such change is authorized by the
order of the court.  Such petition shall be filed on notice to the
assisted outpatient, any treatment advocate designated by the
assisted outpatient pursuant to this title, any attorney
representing the assisted outpatient, and any guardian appointed by
the court to represent the assisted outpatient.  Not later than five
(5) days after receiving such petition, excluding Saturdays, Sundays
and holidays, the court shall hold a hearing on the petition;
provided, that if the assisted outpatient informs the court that he
or she agrees to the proposed material change, the court may approve
such change without a hearing.  Nonmaterial changes may be
instituted to the assisted outpatient treatment plan without court
approval.  For the purposes of this subsection, a material change is
an addition or deletion of a category of services to or from a
current assisted outpatient treatment plan or any deviation, without
the assisted outpatient's consent, from the terms of a current order
relating to the administration of psychotropic drugs.
P.  Where, in the clinical judgment of a licensed mental health
professional:
1.  The assisted outpatient has failed or refused to comply with
the assisted outpatient treatment;
2.  Efforts were made to solicit compliance; and
3.  Such assisted outpatient appears to be a person requiring
treatment,
the licensed mental health professional may cause the assisted
outpatient to be taken into protective custody pursuant to the
provisions of Sections 5-206 through 5-209 of this title or may
refer or initiate proceedings pursuant to Sections 5-410 through 5-
415 of this title for involuntary commitment to a hospital, or may
return the assisted outpatient to a facility providing treatment
pursuant to the assisted outpatient treatment plan to determine if
the assisted outpatient will comply with the treatment plan.
Failure or refusal to comply with assisted outpatient treatment
shall include, but not be limited to, a substantial failure to take
medication, to submit to blood testing or urinalysis where such is
part of the treatment plan, failure of such tests or failure to

receive treatment for alcohol or substance abuse if such is part of
the treatment plan.
Q.  Failure to comply with an order of assisted outpatient
treatment shall not be grounds for involuntary civil commitment or a
finding of contempt of court.
Added by Laws 1980, c. 324, § 10, emerg. eff. June 17, 1980.
Amended by Laws 1986, c. 103, § 80, eff. Nov. 1, 1986.  Renumbered
from § 54.9 of this title by Laws 1986, c. 103, § 103, eff. Nov. 1,
1986.  Amended by Laws 1987, c. 141, § 2, eff. Nov. 1, 1987; Laws
1988, c. 260, § 12, eff. Nov. 1, 1988; Laws 1990, c. 51, § 99,
emerg. eff. April 9, 1990.  Renumbered from § 5-405 of this title by
Laws 1997, c. 387, § 12, eff. Nov. 1, 1997.  Amended by Laws 2000,
c. 421, § 9, eff. Nov. 1, 2000; Laws 2002, c. 488, § 43, eff. Nov.
1, 2002; Laws 2005, c. 150, § 49, emerg. eff. May 9, 2005; Laws
2006, c. 97, § 23, eff. Nov. 1, 2006; Laws 2016, c. 177, § 8, eff.
Nov. 1, 2016.

‹ Prev All Oklahoma 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.