ORS Chapter 426 — Persons With Mental Illness;

ORS 426.074. Investigation; procedure; content; report. The following is applicable to an investigation initiated by a community mental health program director, or a designee of the director, as part of commitment procedures under ORS 426.070 and 426.228 to 426.235: (1) If the person alleged to have a mental illness is held in custody before the hearing the investigation shall be completed at least 24 hours before the hearing under ORS 426.095, otherwise the investigation shall comply with the following time schedule: (a) If the person can be located, the investigator shall contact the person within three judicial days from the date the community mental health program director or a designee receives a notice under ORS 426.070 alleging that the person has a mental illness and is in need of treatment. (b) Within 15 days from the date the community mental health program director or a designee receives a notice under ORS 426.070, one of the following shall occur: (A) The investigation shall be completed and submitted to the court. (B) An application for extension shall be made to the court under paragraph (c) of this subsection. (c) The community mental health program director, a designee or the investigator may file for an extension of the time under paragraph (b) of this subsection only if one of the following occurs: (A) A treatment option less restrictive than involuntary inpatient commitment is actively being pursued. (B) The person alleged to have a mental illness cannot be located. (d) A court may grant an extension under paragraph (c) of this subsection for a time and upon the terms and conditions the court considers appropriate. (2) This subsection establishes a nonexclusive list of provisions applicable to the content of the investigation, as follows: (a) The investigation conducted should, where appropriate, include an interview or examination of the person alleged to have a mental illness in the home of the person or other place familiar to the person. (b) Whether or not the person consents, the investigation should include interviews with any individuals that the investigator has probable cause to believe have pertinent information regarding the investigation. If the person objects to the contact with any individual, the objection shall be noted in the investigators report. (c) The investigator shall be allowed access to licensed independent practitioners, nurses or social workers and to medical records compiled during the current involuntary prehearing period of detention to determine probable cause and to develop alternatives to commitment. If commitment is proposed because the person appears to be a person with mental illness as defined in ORS 426.005 (1)(f)(C), the investigator shall be allowed access to medical records necessary to verify the existence of criteria described in ORS 426.005 (1)(f)(C). The investigator shall include pertinent parts of the medical record in the investigation report. Records and communications described in this paragraph and related communications are not privileged under ORS 40.230, 40.235, 40.240 or 40.250. (3) A copy of the investigation report shall be provided as soon as possible, but in no event later than 24 hours prior to the hearing, to the person and to the persons counsel. Copies shall likewise be provided to counsel assisting the court, to the examiners and to the court for use in questioning witnesses.