(a) County patients’ rights advocates shall have access to all clients and other recipients of mental health services in any mental health facility, program, or service at all times as are necessary to investigate or resolve specific complaints and in accord with subdivision (b) of Section 5523. County patients’ rights advocates shall have access to mental health facilities, programs, and services, and recipients of services therein during normal working hours and visiting hours for other advocacy purposes. Advocates may appeal any denial of access directly to the head of any facility, the director of a county mental health program, or the State Department of Health Care Services, or may seek appropriate relief in the courts. If a petition to a court sets forth prima facie evidence for relief, a hearing on the merits of the petition shall be held within two judicial days of the filing of the petition. The superior court for the county in which the facility is located shall have jurisdiction to review petitions filed pursuant to this chapter.
(b) County patients’ rights advocates shall have the right to interview all persons providing the client with diagnostic or treatment services.
(c) Upon request, all mental health facilities shall, when available, provide reasonable space for county patients’ rights advocates to interview clients in privacy and shall make appropriate staff persons available for interview with the advocates in connection with pending matters.
(d) Individual patients shall have a right to privacy which shall include the right to terminate any visit by persons who have access pursuant to this chapter and the right to refuse to see any patient advocate.
(e) Notice of the availability of advocacy services and information about patients’ rights may be provided by county patients’ rights advocates by means of distribution of educational materials and discussions in groups and with individual patients.
(Amended by Stats. 2012, Ch. 34, Sec. 110. (SB 1009) Effective June 27, 2012.)