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36-548. Court-ordered treatment by the veterans administration or other agency of the United States

A. Whenever, in any proceeding under the laws of this state for the court-ordered treatment of a person alleged to be, as a result of a mental disorder, a danger to self or to others or gravely disabled, it is determined after such adjudication of the status of such person as may be required by law that hospitalization in a mental health treatment agency is necessary for treatment, and it appears that the person is eligible for care or treatment by the veterans administration or other agency of the United States, the court, upon receipt of a certificate from the veterans administration or other agency showing that facilities are available and that the person is eligible for care or treatment, may order the person to undergo treatment by the veterans administration or other agency of the United States. A person hospitalized in a veterans administration facility or institution operated by another agency of the United States in accordance with the court's order for treatment shall be subject to the rules and regulations of the veterans administration or other agency whether the facility is located within or without the state. The chief officer of the veterans administration facility or other institution by another agency of the United States in which the person is hospitalized shall with respect to the person be vested with the same powers as the medical director of a mental health treatment agency with respect to the continuation of hospitalization or release. Jurisdiction is retained by the court which ordered the treatment of the patient or other superior court of the state at any time to inquire into the mental condition of the person and to determine the necessity for continuance of his hospitalization.

B. The judgment or order of commitment by a court of competent jurisdiction of another state or of the District of Columbia, committing a person to the veterans administration or other agency of the United States for care or treatment, shall have the same force and effect as to the committed person while in this state as in the jurisdiction where the court which entered the judgment or made the order is located, and the courts of the committing state, or of the District of Columbia, shall be deemed to have retained jurisdiction of the person so committed for the purpose of inquiring into the mental condition of the person, and of determining the necessity for continuance of his hospitalization as provided by subsection A with respect to persons ordered to undergo treatment by the courts of this state. Consent is given to the application of the law of the committing state or District of Columbia with respect to the authority of the chief officer of any facility of the veterans administration or any institution operated in this state by any other agency of the United States to retain custody, or transfer, parole, or discharge the committed person.

C. Upon receipt of a certificate of the veterans administration or other agency of the United States that facilities are available for the care or treatment of any person heretofore ordered to undergo treatment in a mental health treatment agency and that the person is eligible for care or treatment, the medical director of the mental health treatment agency may cause the transfer of the person to a veterans administration facility or institution operated by another agency of the United States for care or treatment. Upon effecting any such transfer, the superior court which ordered treatment for the patient shall be notified thereof by the transferring agency. No person shall be transferred to a veterans administration facility or institution operated by another agency of the United States if he is confined pursuant to an order of a superior court under rules of criminal procedure, unless prior to transfer the superior court enters an order for the transfer.

D. A person transferred as provided in this section is deemed to have been ordered to undergo treatment by the veterans administration or other agency of the United States pursuant to the original court order for treatment. No person ordered to undergo treatment by the veterans administration or transferred to the veterans administration as provided in this section shall be removed from the state for evaluation or treatment without specific informed consent of the patient or his legal guardian.