§ 21–542. Hearing by Commission; presence and rights of person affected; hearing regarding liability.

(a) The Commission shall promptly examine a person alleged to be mentally ill after the filing of a petition under § 21-541 and shall thereafter promptly hold a hearing on the issue of his mental illness. The hearing shall be conducted in a manner consistent with orderly procedure and in a physical setting not likely to have a harmful effect on the mental health of the person named in such petition. In conducting the hearing, the Commission shall hear testimony of any person whose testimony may be relevant and shall receive all relevant evidence which may be offered. A person with respect to whom a hearing is held under this section may, in his discretion, be present at the hearing, to testify, and to present and cross-examine witnesses.

(b) The Commission shall also hold a hearing in order to determine liability under the provisions of § 21-586 for the expenses of commitment of the alleged mentally ill person, if it is determined that he is mentally ill and should be committed as provided under this chapter. The hearing may be conducted separately from the hearing on the issue of mental illness. If conducted separately, it may be conducted by the Chairman of the Commission alone.

(c) If it is determined by the Commission that transporting a person who is the subject of a petition filed under § 21-541 for a hearing under this section poses a significant risk to the safety and wellbeing to the person, court personnel, or the public, the Commission may, upon written request from the chief of service of a hospital, the chief clinical officer of the Department of Behavioral Health or their designee, or the person's attorney, grant a continuance of the hearing. The Commission shall consider reasonable alternatives to in-person attendance, such as virtual attendance, in lieu of granting a continuance under this subsection. The continuance shall last for no longer than 48 hours and shall take into consideration the nature of the case and the specific circumstances that would warrant a continuance, which may include:

(1) severe weather conditions that pose a safety risk;

(2) threats to the security of the individuals transporting the person subject to the petition;

(3) medical conditions of the person that would make transportation unsafe; or

(4) a declaration of a public health emergency that would make an in-person hearing unsafe.

(Sept. 14, 1965, 79 Stat. 755, Pub. L. 89-183, § 1; Apr. 4, 2003, D.C. Law 14-283, § 2(q), 50 DCR 917; Mar. 21, 2025, D.C. Law 25-304, § 2(o), 72 DCR 790.)

Prior Codifications

1981 Ed., § 21-542.

1973 Ed., § 21-542.

Section References

This section is referenced in § 21-526, § 21-544, § 21-545.01, and § 24-531.07.

Effect of Amendments

D.C. Law 14-283, in subsec. (a), substituted “a manner” for “as informal a manner as may be”; and in subsec. (b), substituted “commitment” for “hospitalization” and substituted “committed” for “hospitalized”.

Emergency Legislation

For temporary (90 day) amendment of section, see § 2(p) of Mental Health Commitment Emergency Amendment Act of 2002 (D.C. Act 14-265, January 30, 2002, 49 DCR 1450).

For temporary (90 day) amendment of section, see § 2(p) of Mental Health Commitment Congressional Review Emergency Act of 2002 (D.C. Act 14-350, April 24, 2002, 49 DCR 4417).

For temporary (90 day) amendment of section, see § 2(q) of Mental Health Civil Commitment Emergency Act of 2002 (D.C. Act 14-546, December 12, 2002, 50 DCR 199).

For temporary (90 day) amendment of section, see § 2(q) of Mental Health Civil Commitment Congressional Review Emergency Act of 2003 (D.C. Act 15-41, March 24, 2003, 50 DCR 2784).

Temporary Legislation

Section 2(p) of D.C. Law 14-131, in subsec. (b), in the first sentence, substituted “commitment” for “hospitalization”, and “committed” for “hospitalized”.

Section 5(b) of D.C. Law 14-131 provided that the act shall expire after 225 days of its having taken effect.