CHAPTER 6.2. Mental Health Advocacy
Heading of Chapter 6.2 renumbered from Chapter 6 (as added by Stats. 1981, Ch. 841) by Stats. 1986, Ch. 248, Sec. 251.
§§ 5500–5550 · 21 sections
ARTICLE 1. General Provisions § 5500 · 1 section
- § 5500 As used in this chapter: (a) “Advocacy” means those activities undertaken on behalf of persons who are receiving or have received mental health services to…
ARTICLE 2. Patients’ Rights Program §§ 5510–5514 · 5 sections
- § 5510 (a) The Legislature finds and declares as follows: (1) The State of California accepts its responsibility to ensure and uphold the right of persons with mental…
- § 5511 The Director of State Hospitals or the executive director of each state hospital may contract with independent persons or agencies to perform patients’ rights…
- § 5512 Training of county patients’ rights advocates shall be provided by the contractor specified in Section 5510 responsible for the provision of protection and…
- § 5513 The patients’ rights program shall serve as a liaison between county patients’ rights advocates and the State Department of Health Care Services.
- § 5514 There shall be a five-person Patients’ Rights Committee formed through the California Behavioral Health Planning Council. This committee, supplemented by two…
ARTICLE 3. County Advocates §§ 5520–5525 · 6 sections
- § 5520 Each local mental health director shall appoint, or contract for the services of, one or more county patients’ rights advocates. The duties of these advocates…
- § 5521 It is the intent of the Legislature that legal representation regarding changes in client legal status or conditions and other areas covered by statute…
- § 5522 County patients’ rights advocates may conduct investigations if there is probable cause to believe that the rights of a past or present recipient of mental…
- § 5523 (a) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, and without regard to the existence of a guardianship or conservatorship, a recipient of mental health services…
- § 5524 (a) Subject to subdivision (b), a county shall verify that county patients’ rights advocates review the patients’ rights advocacy training materials provided…
- § 5525 (a) An employer, or any person acting on behalf of the employer, shall not make, adopt, or enforce any rule, regulation, or policy preventing a county…
ARTICLE 4. Access to Clients § 5530 · 1 section
- § 5530 (a) County patients’ rights advocates shall have access to all clients and other recipients of mental health services in any mental health facility, program,…
ARTICLE 5. Access to Records §§ 5540–5546 · 7 sections
- § 5540 Except as otherwise provided in this chapter or in other provisions of law, information about and records of recipients of mental health services shall be…
- § 5541 (a) A specific authorization by the client or by the guardian ad litem is necessary for a county patients’ rights advocate to have access to, copy or otherwise…
- § 5542 County patients’ rights advocates shall have the right to inspect or copy, or both, any records or other materials not subject to confidentiality under Section…
- § 5543 (a) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, with the authorization of the client, a county patients’ rights advocate may, to the extent necessary for…
- § 5544 Any written client information obtained by county patients’ rights advocates may be used and disseminated in court or administrative proceedings, and to any…
- § 5545 Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to limit access to recipients of mental health services in any mental health facility, program, or service or to…
- § 5546 The actual cost of copying any records or other materials authorized under this chapter, plus any additional reasonable clerical costs, incurred in locating…
ARTICLE 6. Penalties § 5550 · 1 section
- § 5550 (a) Any person participating in filing a complaint or providing information pursuant to this chapter or participating in a judicial proceeding resulting…