2025 SESSION

INTRODUCED

25102286D

HOUSE BILL NO. 2228

Offered January 13, 2025

Prefiled January 7, 2025

A BILL to amend and reenact § 37.2-800, as it is currently effective and as it shall become effective, of the Code of Virginia, relating to special conservators of the peace; emergency and involuntary civil admissions.

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Patron—Cherry

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Referred to Committee on Health and Human Services

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Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That § 37.2-800, as it is currently effective and as it shall become effective, of the Code of Virginia is amended and reenacted as follows:

§ 37.2-800. (Expires July 1, 2026) Applicability of chapter.

For the purposes of this chapter, whenever the term mental illness appears, it shall include substance abuse. Whenever the term responsible person appears, it shall include a family member as that term is defined in § 37.2-100, a community services board or behavioral health authority, any treating physician of the person, a certified evaluator as defined in § 37.2-809, or a law-enforcement officer. Whenever the term community services board or board appears, it shall include behavioral health authority. Whenever the term law-enforcement officer appears, it shall include a special conservator of the peace authorized by an order of appointment pursuant to § 19.2-13 that he is a "law-enforcement officer" for the purposes of Article 4 (§ 37.2-808 et seq.).

§ 37.2-800. (Effective July 1, 2026). Applicability of chapter.

For the purposes of this chapter, whenever the term mental illness appears, it shall include substance abuse. Whenever the term responsible person appears, it shall include a family member as that term is defined in § 37.2-100, a community services board or behavioral health authority, any treating physician of the person, or a law-enforcement officer. Whenever the term community services board or board appears, it shall include behavioral health authority. Whenever the term law-enforcement officer appears, it shall include a special conservator of the peace authorized by an order of appointment pursuant to § 19.2-13 that he is a "law-enforcement officer" for the purposes of Article 4 (§ 37.2-808 et seq.).