§ 26B-5-301 — Definitions.

As used in this part, Part 4, Commitment of Persons Under Age 18, and Part 5, Essential Treatment and Intervention:
(1) "Adult" means an individual 18 years old or older.
(2) "Approved treatment facility or program" means a mental health or substance use treatment provider that meets the goals and measurements described in Subsection 26B-5-102(2)(ii).
(3) "Assisted outpatient treatment" means involuntary outpatient mental health treatment ordered under Section 26B-5-351.
(4) "Attending physician" means a physician licensed to practice medicine in this state who has primary responsibility for the care and treatment of the declarant.
(5) "Attorney-in-fact" means an adult properly appointed under this part to make mental health treatment decisions for a declarant under a declaration for mental health treatment.
(6) "Commitment to the custody of a local mental health authority" means that an adult is committed to the custody of the local mental health authority that governs the mental health catchment area where the adult resides or is found.
(7) "Community mental health center" means an entity that provides treatment and services to a resident of a designated geographical area, that operates by or under contract with a local mental health authority, and that complies with state standards for community mental health centers.
(8) "Designated examiner" means:
(8)(a) a licensed physician, preferably a psychiatrist, who is designated by the division as specially qualified by training or experience in the diagnosis of mental or related illness; or
(8)(b) a licensed mental health professional designated by the division as specially qualified by training and who has at least five years' continual experience in the treatment of mental illness.
(9) "Designee" means a physician who has responsibility for medical functions including admission and discharge, an employee of a local mental health authority, or an employee of a person that has contracted with a local mental health authority to provide mental health services under Section 17-77-304.
(10) "Essential treatment" and "essential treatment and intervention" mean court-ordered treatment at a local substance abuse authority or an approved treatment facility or program for the treatment of an adult's substance use disorder.
(11) "Harmful sexual conduct" means the following conduct upon an individual without the individual's consent, including the nonconsensual circumstances described in Subsections 76-5-406(2)(a) through (l):
(11)(a) sexual intercourse;
(11)(b) penetration, however slight, of the genital or anal opening of the individual;
(11)(c) any sexual act involving the genitals or anus of the actor or the individual and the mouth or anus of either individual, regardless of the gender of either participant; or
(11)(d) any sexual act causing substantial emotional injury or bodily pain.
(12) "Informed waiver" means the patient was informed of a right and, after being informed of that right and the patient's right to waive the right, expressly communicated his or her intention to waive that right.
(13) "Incapable" means that, in the opinion of the court in a guardianship proceeding under Title 75, Utah Uniform Probate Code, or in the opinion of two physicians, a person's ability to receive and evaluate information effectively or communicate decisions is impaired to such an extent that the person currently lacks the capacity to make mental health treatment decisions.
(14) "Institution" means a hospital or a health facility licensed under Section 26B-2-206.
(15) "Lay person" means an individual identified and authorized by a patient to participate in activities related to the patient's commitment, including court appearances, discharge planning, and grievances, except that a patient may revoke a lay person's authorization at any time.
(16) "Local substance abuse authority" means the same as that term is defined in Section 26B-5-101 and described in Section 17-77-201.
(17) "Mental health facility" means the Utah State Hospital or other facility that provides mental health services under contract with the division, a local mental health authority, a person that contracts with a local mental health authority, or a person that provides acute inpatient psychiatric services to a patient.
(18) "Mental health officer" means an individual who is designated by a local mental health authority as qualified by training and experience in the recognition and identification of mental illness, to:
(18)(a) apply for and provide certification for a temporary commitment; or
(18)(b) assist in the arrangement of transportation to a designated mental health facility.
(19) "Mental illness" means:
(19)(a) a psychiatric disorder that substantially impairs an individual's mental, emotional, behavioral, or related functioning; or
(19)(b) the same as that term is defined in:
(19)(b)(i) the current edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders published by the American Psychiatric Association; or
(19)(b)(ii) the current edition of the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems.
(20) "Mental health treatment" means convulsive treatment, treatment with psychoactive medication, or admission to and retention in a facility for a period not to exceed 17 days.
(21) "Patient" means an individual who is:
(21)(a) under commitment to the custody or to the treatment services of a local mental health authority; or
(21)(b) undergoing essential treatment and intervention.
(22) "Physician" means an individual who is:
(22)(a) licensed as a physician under Title 58, Chapter 67, Utah Medical Practice Act; or
(22)(b) licensed as a physician under Title 58, Chapter 68, Utah Osteopathic Medical Practice Act.
(23) "Serious bodily injury" means bodily injury that involves a substantial risk of death, unconsciousness, extreme physical pain, protracted and obvious disfigurement, or protracted loss or impairment of the function of a bodily member, organ, or mental faculty.
(24) "State hospital" means the Utah State Hospital established in Section 26B-5-302.
(25) "Substantial danger" means that due to mental illness, an individual is at serious risk of:
(25)(a) suicide;
(25)(b) serious bodily self-injury;
(25)(c) serious bodily injury because the individual is incapable of providing the basic necessities of life, including food, clothing, or shelter;
(25)(d) causing or attempting to cause serious bodily injury to another individual;
(25)(e) engaging in harmful sexual conduct; or
(25)(f) if not treated, suffering severe and abnormal mental, emotional, or physical distress that:
(25)(f)(i) is associated with significant impairment of judgment, reason, or behavior; and
(25)(f)(ii) causes a substantial deterioration of the individual's previous ability to function independently.
(26) "Treatment" means psychotherapy, medication, including the administration of psychotropic medication, or other medical treatments that are generally accepted medical or psychosocial interventions for the purpose of restoring the patient to an optimal level of functioning in the least restrictive environment.

Legislative History

Amended by Chapter 16, 2025 Special Session 1