§ 59-3077 — Authority of guardian to admit ward to treatment facility; petition; contents; notice; hearing; procedure

(a) At any time after the filing of the petition provided for in K.S.A. 59-3058, 59-3059, 59-3060 or 59-3061, and amendments thereto, any person may file in addition to that original petition, or as a part thereof, or at any time after the appointment of a temporary guardian as provided for in K.S.A. 59-3073, and amendments thereto, or a guardian as provided for in K.S.A. 59-3067, and amendments thereto, the temporary guardian or guardian may file a verified petition requesting that the court grant authority to the temporary guardian or guardian to admit the proposed ward or ward to a treatment facility, as defined in subsection (h), and to consent to the care and treatment of the proposed ward or ward therein. The petition shall include:
(1) The petitioner's name and address, and if the petitioner is the proposed ward's or ward's court appointed temporary guardian or guardian, that fact;
(2) the proposed ward's or ward's name, age, date of birth, address of permanent residence and present address or whereabouts, if different from the proposed ward's or ward's permanent residence;
(3) the name and address of the proposed ward's or ward's court appointed temporary guardian or guardian, if different from the petitioner;
(4) the factual basis upon which the petitioner alleges the need for the proposed ward or ward to be admitted to and treated at a treatment facility, or for the proposed ward or ward to continue to be treated at the treatment facility to which the proposed ward or ward has already been admitted, or for the guardian to have continuing authority to admit the ward for care and treatment at a treatment facility pursuant to K.S.A. 59-2949(b)(3) or K.S.A. 59-29b49(b)(3), and amendments thereto;
(5) the names and addresses of witnesses by whom the truth of this petition may be proved; and
(6) a request that the court find that the proposed ward or ward is in need of being admitted to and treated at a treatment facility, and that the court grant to the temporary guardian or guardian the authority to admit the proposed ward or ward to a treatment facility and to consent to the care and treatment of the proposed ward or ward therein.
(b) The petition may be accompanied by a report of an examination and evaluation of the proposed ward or ward conducted by an appropriately qualified professional that shows that the criteria set out in K.S.A. 39-1803, 59-2946(e), 59-29b46(i) or 76-12b03, and amendments thereto, are met.
(c) Upon the filing of such a petition, the court shall issue the following:
(1) An order fixing the date, time and place of a hearing on the petition. Such hearing, in the court's discretion, may be conducted in a courtroom, a treatment facility or at some other suitable place. The time fixed in the order shall in no event be earlier than seven days or later than 21 days after the date of the filing of the petition. The court may consolidate this hearing with the trial upon the original petition filed pursuant to K.S.A. 59-3058, 59-3059, 59-3060 or 59-3061, and amendments thereto, or with the trial provided for in the care and treatment act for mentally ill persons or the care and treatment act for persons with an alcohol or substance abuse problem, if the petition also incorporates the allegations required by, and is filed in compliance with, the provisions of either of those acts.
(2) An order requiring that the proposed ward or ward appear at the time and place of the hearing on the petition unless the court makes a finding prior to the hearing that the presence of the proposed ward or ward will be injurious to the person's health or welfare, that the proposed ward's or ward's impairment is such that the person could not meaningfully participate in the proceedings or that the proposed ward or ward has filed with the court a written waiver of such ward's right to appear in person. In any such case, the court shall enter in the record of the proceedings the facts upon which the court has found that the presence of the proposed ward or ward at the hearing should be excused. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this subsection, if the proposed ward or ward files with the court at least one day prior to the date of the hearing a written notice stating the person's desire to be present at the hearing, the court shall order that the person must be present at the hearing.
(3) An order appointing an attorney to represent the proposed ward or ward. The court shall give preference, in the appointment of this attorney, to any attorney who has represented the proposed ward or ward in other matters, if the court has knowledge of that prior representation. The proposed ward, or the ward with the consent of the ward's conservator, if one has been appointed, shall have the right to engage an attorney of the proposed ward's or ward's choice and, in such case, the attorney appointed by the court shall be relieved of all duties by the court. Any appointment made by the court shall terminate upon a final determination of the petition and any appeal therefrom, unless the court continues the appointment by further order.
(4) An order fixing the date, time and a place that is in the best interest of the proposed ward or ward at which the proposed ward or ward shall have the opportunity to consult with such ward's attorney. This consultation shall be scheduled to occur prior to the time at which the examination and evaluation ordered pursuant to subsection (d)(1), if ordered, is scheduled to occur.
(5) A notice similar to that provided for in K.S.A. 59-3066, and amendments thereto.
(d) Upon the filing of such a petition, the court may issue the following:
(1) An order for a psychological or other examination and evaluation of the proposed ward or ward, as may be specified by the court. The court may order the proposed ward or ward to submit to such an examination and evaluation to be conducted through a general hospital, psychiatric hospital, community mental health center or community developmental disability organization or by a private physician, psychiatrist, psychologist or other person appointed by the court who is qualified to examine and evaluate the proposed ward or ward. The costs of this examination and evaluation shall be assessed as provided for in K.S.A. 59-3094, and amendments thereto.
(2) If the petition is accompanied by a report of an examination and evaluation of the proposed ward or ward as provided for in subsection (b), an order granting temporary authority to the temporary guardian or guardian to admit the proposed ward or ward to a treatment facility and to consent to the care and treatment of the proposed ward or ward therein. Any such order shall expire immediately after the hearing upon the petition, or as the court may otherwise specify, or upon the discharge of the proposed ward or ward by the head of the treatment facility, if the proposed ward or ward is discharged prior to the time at which the order would otherwise expire.
(3) For good cause shown, an order of continuance of the hearing.
(4) For good cause shown, an order of advancement of the hearing.
(5) For good cause shown, an order changing the place of the hearing.
(e) The hearing on the petition shall be held at the time and place specified in the court's order issued pursuant to subsection (c), unless an order of advancement, continuance or a change of place of the hearing has been issued pursuant to subsection (d). The petitioner and the proposed ward or ward shall each be afforded an opportunity to appear at the hearing, to testify and to present and cross-examine witnesses. If the hearing has been consolidated with a trial being held pursuant to either the care and treatment act for mentally ill persons or the care and treatment act for persons with an alcohol or substance abuse problem, persons not necessary for the conduct of the proceedings may be excluded as provided for in those acts. The hearing shall be conducted in as informal a manner as may be consistent with orderly procedure. The court shall have the authority to receive all relevant and material evidence which may be offered, including the testimony or written report, findings or recommendations of any professional or other person who has examined or evaluated the proposed ward or ward pursuant to any order issued by the court pursuant to subsection (d). Such evidence shall not be privileged for the purpose of this hearing.
(f) Upon completion of the hearing, if the court finds by clear and convincing evidence that the criteria set out in K.S.A. 39-1803, 59-2946(e), 59-29b46(i) or 76-12b03, and amendments thereto, are met, and after a careful consideration of reasonable alternatives to admission of the proposed ward or ward to a treatment facility, the court may enter an order granting such authority to the temporary guardian or guardian as is appropriate, including continuing authority to the guardian to readmit the ward to an appropriate treatment facility as may later become necessary. Any such grant of continuing authority shall expire two years after the date of final discharge of the ward from such a treatment facility if the ward has not had to be readmitted to a treatment facility during that two-year period of time. Thereafter, any such grant of continuing authority may be renewed only after the filing of another petition seeking authority in compliance with the provision of this section.
(g) Nothing herein shall be construed so as to prohibit the head of a treatment facility from admitting a proposed ward or ward to that facility as a voluntary patient if the head of the treatment facility is satisfied that the proposed ward or ward at that time has the capacity to understand such ward's illness and need for treatment, and to consent to such ward's admission and treatment. Upon any such admission, the head of the treatment facility shall give notice to the temporary guardian or guardian as soon as possible of the ward's admission, and shall provide to the temporary guardian or guardian copies of any consents the proposed ward or ward has given. Thereafter, the temporary guardian or guardian shall timely either seek to obtain proper authority pursuant to this section to admit the proposed ward or ward to a treatment facility and to consent to further care and treatment, or shall otherwise assume responsibility for the care of the proposed ward or ward, consistent with the authority of the temporary guardian or guardian, and may arrange for the discharge from the facility of the proposed ward or ward, unless the head of the treatment facility shall file a petition requesting the involuntary commitment of the proposed ward or ward to that or some other facility.
(h) As used herein, "treatment facility" means the Kansas neurological institute, Larned state hospital, Osawatomie state hospital, Parsons state hospital and training center, the Rainbow mental health facility, any intermediate care facility for people with intellectual disability, any psychiatric hospital licensed pursuant to K.S.A. 39-2001 et seq., and amendments thereto, and any other facility for mentally ill persons or people with intellectual or developmental disabilities licensed pursuant to K.S.A. 39-2001 et seq., and amendments thereto, if the proposed ward or ward is to be admitted as an inpatient or resident of that facility.

Legislative History

L. 2002, ch. 114, § 28; L. 2012, ch. 91, § 38; L. 2016, ch. 92, § 84; L. 2018, ch. 71, § 20; July 1.