Alabama § 22-11A-32 - Commitment Petition - Findings; Rehearing; Confinement When No Treatment Available.

§ 22-11A-32. Commitment Petition - Findings; Rehearing; Confinement When No Treatment Available.

(a) If, at the final hearing, upon a petition seeking to commit a person to the custody of the Alabama Department of Public Health or such other facility as the court may order, the probate judge, on the basis of clear and convincing evidence, shall find:

(1) That the person sought to be committed has been exposed or is afflicted with one of the diseases designated in this article;

(2) That the person has refused testing or voluntary treatment;

(3) That, as a consequence of the disease, the person is dangerous to himself and the health of the community;

(4) That the person conducts himself so as to expose others to the disease;

(5) That treatment is available for the person’s illness if confined or that confinement is necessary to prevent further spread of the disease; and

(6) That commitment is the least restrictive alternative necessary and available for the treatment of the person’s illness and the protection of public health;

Then upon such findings, the probate judge shall enter an order, setting forth his findings, granting the petition and ordering the person committed to the custody of the Alabama Department of Public Health or such other facility as the court may order.

(b) If upon rehearing, the probate judge shall find, from the evidence, that one or more of the elements required for commitment, shall no longer be applicable to the person who is the subject of the rehearing, the probate judge shall discharge the person.

(c) If the probate judge finds that no treatment is presently available for the person’s illness, but that confinement is necessary to prevent the person from causing harm to the health of the community, the order committing the person shall provide that, should treatment become available during the person’s confinement, such curative treatment will immediately be made available to him.