KRS 202A.051: Proceedings for 60 -day and 360 -day involuntary hospitalizations --

Petition contents. (Effective until October 1, 2026)

(1) Proceedings for sixty (60) days or three hundred sixty (360) days of involuntary

hospitalization of an individual shall be initiated by the filing of a verified petition

in District Court.

(2) The petition and all subsequent court documents shall be entitled: "In the interest of

(name of respondent)."

(3) The petition shall be filed by a qualified mental health professional , peace officer,

county attorney, Commonwealth's attorney, spouse, relative, friend, or guardian of

the individual concerning whom the petition is filed, or any other interested person.

(4) The petition shall set forth:

(a) Petitioner's relationship to the respondent;

(b) Respondent's name, residence, and current location, if known;

(c) The name and residence of respondent's parents, if living and if known, or

respondent's legal guardian, if any and if known;

(d) The name and residence of respondent's husband or wife, if any and if known;

(e) The name and residence of the person having custody of the respondent, if

any, or if no such person is known, the name and residence of a near relative

or that the person is unknown;

(f) Petitioner's belief, including t he factual basis therefor, that the respondent is

mentally ill and presents a danger or threat of danger to self, family or others

if not restrained; and

(g) If the petition seeks a three hundred sixty (360) day involuntary

hospitalization of the respondent, the petition shall further set forth that the

respondent has been hospitalized in a hospital or a forensic psychiatric facility

for a period of thirty (30) days under the provisions of this chapter or KRS

Chapter 504 within the preceding six (6) months.

(5) Upon receipt of the petition, the court shall examine the petitioner under oath as to

the contents of the petition. If the petitioner is a qualified ment al health

professional, the court may dispense with the examination.

(6) If after reviewing the allegations contained in the petition and examining the

petitioner under oath, it appears to the court that there is probable cause to believe

the respondent should be involuntarily hospitalized, the court shall, unless either the

court or one (1) of the parties objects, implement the procedures provided in KRS

202A.028 and order the individual to be examined without unnecessary delay by a

qualified mental health professional. If the person is not being held under the

provisions of this chapter, the court may order that the sheriff of the county or other

peace officer transport the person to a hospital or psychiatric facility designated by

the cabinet for the purpose of the evaluation. The sheriff or other peace officer may,

upon agreement of a person authorized by the peace officer, authorize the cabinet, a

private agency on contract with the cabinet, or an ambulance service designated by

the cabinet to transport the person to a hospital or psychiatric facility. Following

that, the procedures as set forth in KRS 202A.028 shall be carried out. Otherwise,

the court shall:

(a) Set a date for a preliminary hearing within six (6) days from the date of

holding the person under the provisions of this section (excluding holidays

and weekends) to determine if there is probable cause to believe the person

should be involuntarily hospitalized;

(b) Notify the respondent, the legal guardian, if any, and if known, and the

spouse, parents, or nearest relative or friend of the respondent concerning the

allegations and contents of the petition and the date and purpose of the

preliminary hearing; and the name, address, and telephone number of the

attorney appointed to represent the respondent; and

(c) Cause the respondent to be examined without unnecessary delay by two (2)

qualified mental health professionals, at least one (1) of whom is a physician.

The qualified mental health professionals shall certify within twenty -four (24)

hours (excluding weekends and holidays) their findings.

(7) (a) If the respondent is being presently held under the provisions of this chapter,

the court may order further holding of the respondent to accomplish the

examination ordered by the court.

(b) If the respondent is not being presently held under the provisions of this

chapter, the court may order that the sheriff of the county or a peace officer

transport the respondent to a hospital or a psychiatric facility designated by

the cabinet so that the respon dent shall be examined without unnecessary

delay by two (2) qualified mental health professionals, at least one (1) of

whom is a physician. The sheriff or other peace officer may authorize, upon

agreement of a person authorized by the peace officer, the ca binet, a private

agency on contract with the cabinet, or an ambulance service designated by

the cabinet to transport the person to a hospital or psychiatric facility.

(8) When the court is authorized to issue an order that the respondent be transported to

a hospital or psychiatric facility, the court may, in its discretion, issue a summons.

A summons so issued shall be directed to the respondent, shall command the

respondent to appear at a time and place therein specified where the respondent

shall be there examined by two (2) qualified mental health professionals, at least

one (1) of whom is a physician, and shall command the respondent's appearance at

the preliminary hearing. If a respondent who has been summoned fails to appear for

such examination or at the preliminary hearing, the court may order that the sheriff

of the county or a peace officer transport the respondent to a hospital or psychiatric

facility designated by the cabinet for the purpose of an evaluation.

(9) If upon completion of the prelimin ary hearing, the court finds there is probable

cause to believe the respondent should be involuntarily hospitalized, the court shall

order a final hearing within twenty -one (21) days from the date of holding the

respondent under the provisions of this sect ion to determine if the respondent

should be involuntarily hospitalized.

(10) If the court finds there is no probable cause, the proceedings against the respondent

shall be dismissed, and the respondent shall be released from any holding.

(11) If upon comp letion of the final hearing, the court finds the respondent should be

involuntarily hospitalized, the court shall order the respondent hospitalized in a

hospital for a period not to exceed sixty (60) consecutive days from the date of the

court order or a p eriod not to exceed three hundred sixty (360) consecutive days

from the date of the court order, whatever was the period of time that was requested

in the petition.

Effective: July 15, 1994