4-3-1603 - Powers and duties.
4-3-1603. Powers and duties.
(a) The department of mental health and developmental disabilities has exclusive jurisdiction and control over the mental health and developmental disabilities facilities of the state, regardless of the names by which the facilities are known.
(b) The department, through its appropriate officials, has the duty and power to provide the best possible care for persons with mental illness, serious emotional disturbance, or developmental disabilities in the state by improving existing facilities, by developing future facilities and programs, and by adopting a preventive program for mental illness, serious emotional disturbance, and developmental disabilities, all as provided in title 33.
[Acts 1953, ch. 27, § 1 (Williams, § 255.68e); impl. am. Acts 1963, ch. 52, § 5; impl. am. Acts 1965, ch. 82, §§ 8, 16; Acts 1974, ch. 802, § 1; 1975, ch. 248, § 1(d); 1978, ch. 617, § 1; T.C.A. (orig. ed.), § 4-321; Acts 1993, ch. 234, § 10; 2000, ch. 947, § 5.]