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HF123 • 2026

A bill for an act relating to orders for treatment of persons experiencing psychiatric deterioration.(See HF 312 .)

A bill for an act relating to orders for treatment of persons experiencing psychiatric deterioration.(See HF 312 .)

Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor
A. MEYER
Last action
2025-02-24
Official status
Withdrawn. H.J. 418 .
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Using official source text because the generated explanation was unavailable or could not be confirmed against the official bill text.

A bill for an act relating to orders for treatment of persons experiencing psychiatric deterioration.(See HF 312 .)

A bill for an act relating to orders for treatment of persons experiencing psychiatric deterioration.(See HF 312 .)

What This Bill Does

  • A bill for an act relating to orders for treatment of persons experiencing psychiatric deterioration.(See HF 312 .)

Limits and Unknowns

  • This entry is temporarily using official source text because the generated explanation could not be confirmed against the official bill text during the last sync.

Bill History

  1. 2025-02-24 Iowa Legislature

    Withdrawn. H.J. 418 .

  2. 2025-02-10 Iowa Legislature

    Committee report approving bill, renumbered as HF 312 .

  3. 2025-02-06 Iowa Legislature

    Committee vote: Yeas, 20. Nays, 0. Excused, 1. H.J. 281 .

  4. 2025-02-06 Iowa Legislature

    Committee report, recommending passage. H.J. 281 .

  5. 2025-02-05 Iowa Legislature

    Subcommittee recommends passage.

  6. 2025-02-04 Iowa Legislature

    Subcommittee Meeting: 02/05/2025 12:00PM RM 19.

  7. 2025-01-28 Iowa Legislature

    Subcommittee: Ingels, Johnson, R. and Wilz, H. H.J. 135 .

  8. 2025-01-27 Iowa Legislature

    Introduced, referred to Health and Human Services. H.J. 127 .

Official Summary Text

A bill for an act relating to orders for treatment of persons experiencing psychiatric deterioration.(See HF 312 .)

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text
House

File

123

-

Introduced

HOUSE

FILE

123

BY

A.

MEYER

A

BILL

FOR

An

Act

relating

to

orders

for

treatment

of

persons

experiencing

1

psychiatric

deterioration.

2

BE

IT

ENACTED

BY

THE

GENERAL

ASSEMBLY

OF

THE

STATE

OF

IOWA:

3

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123

Section

1.

Section

125.75,

subsection

2,

paragraph

a,

Code

1

2025,

is

amended

to

read

as

follows:

2

a.

State

the

applicant’s

belief

that

the

respondent

is

3

a

person

who

is

experiencing

psychiatric

deterioration

as

4

defined

in

section

229.1,

or

who

presents

a

danger

to

self

or

5

others

and

lacks

judgmental

capacity

due

to

either

any

of

the

6

following:

7

(1)

A

substance

use

disorder

as

defined

in

section

125.2

.

8

(2)

A

serious

mental

impairment

as

defined

in

section

229.1

.

9

Sec.

2.

Section

218.46,

subsection

2,

Code

2025,

is

amended

10

to

read

as

follows:

11

2.

The

department

may

provide

services

and

facilities

12

for

the

scientific

observation,

rechecking,

and

treatment

of

13

persons

with

mental

illness

within

the

state.

Application

14

by,

or

on

behalf

of,

any

person

for

such

services

and

15

facilities

shall

be

made

to

the

director

on

forms

furnished

16

by

the

department.

The

time

and

place

of

admission

of

any

17

person

to

outpatient

or

clinical

services

and

facilities

for

18

scientific

observation,

rechecking,

and

treatment

and

the

use

19

of

such

services

and

facilities

for

the

benefit

of

persons

20

who

have

already

been

hospitalized

for

psychiatric

evaluation

21

and

appropriate

treatment

or

involuntarily

hospitalized

as

22

seriously

mentally

ill

shall

be

in

accordance

with

rules

and

23

regulations

adopted

by

the

department.

24

Sec.

3.

Section

225.11,

Code

2025,

is

amended

to

read

as

25

follows:

26

225.11

Initiating

commitment

procedures.

27

When

a

court

finds

upon

completion

of

a

hearing

held

pursuant

28

to

section

229.12

that

the

contention

that

a

respondent

is

29

seriously

mentally

impaired

,

or

is

experiencing

psychiatric

30

deterioration,

has

been

sustained

by

clear

and

convincing

31

evidence,

and

the

application

filed

under

section

229.6

also

32

contends

or

the

court

otherwise

concludes

that

it

would

be

33

appropriate

to

refer

the

respondent

to

the

state

psychiatric

34

hospital

for

a

complete

psychiatric

evaluation

and

appropriate

35

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treatment

pursuant

to

section

229.13

,

the

judge

may

order

that

1

a

financial

investigation

be

made

in

the

manner

prescribed

by

2

section

225.13

.

If

the

costs

of

a

respondent’s

evaluation

or

3

treatment

are

payable

in

whole

or

in

part

by

a

county,

an

order

4

under

this

section

shall

be

for

referral

of

the

respondent

5

through

the

regional

administrator

for

the

respondent’s

county

6

of

residence

for

an

evaluation

and

referral

of

the

respondent

7

to

an

appropriate

placement

or

service,

which

may

include

8

the

state

psychiatric

hospital

for

additional

evaluation

or

9

treatment.

10

Sec.

4.

Section

229.1,

Code

2025,

is

amended

by

adding

the

11

following

new

subsection:

12

NEW

SUBSECTION

.

16A.

“Psychiatric

deterioration”

means

a

13

deterioration

of

a

person’s

mental

health

described

by

all

of

14

the

following:

15

a.

The

deterioration

makes

the

person

unable

to

understand

16

the

need

to

treat

the

person’s

mental

health

condition.

17

b.

Based

on

the

person’s

history

the

person

is

unlikely

to

18

seek

treatment

for

the

deterioration.

19

c.

Within

a

reasonable

degree

of

medical

certainty,

unless

20

the

person

receives

treatment,

the

deterioration

is

likely

to

21

continue

until

the

person

has

a

serious

mental

impairment.

22

Sec.

5.

Section

229.4,

subsection

3,

Code

2025,

is

amended

23

to

read

as

follows:

24

3.

If

the

chief

medical

officer

of

the

hospital,

not

later

25

than

the

end

of

the

next

secular

business

day

on

which

the

26

office

of

the

clerk

of

the

district

court

for

the

county

in

27

which

the

hospital

is

located

is

open

and

which

follows

the

28

submission

of

the

written

request

for

release

of

the

patient,

29

files

with

that

clerk

a

certification

that

in

the

chief

medical

30

officer’s

opinion

the

patient

is

seriously

mentally

impaired

,

31

or

experiencing

psychiatric

deterioration

,

the

release

may

32

be

postponed

for

the

period

of

time

the

court

determines

is

33

necessary

to

permit

commencement

of

judicial

procedure

for

34

involuntary

hospitalization.

That

period

of

time

may

not

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exceed

five

days,

exclusive

of

days

on

which

the

clerk’s

1

office

is

not

open

unless

the

period

of

time

is

extended

by

2

order

of

a

district

court

judge

for

good

cause

shown.

Until

3

disposition

of

the

application

for

involuntary

hospitalization

4

of

the

patient

is

determined,

if

an

application

is

timely

5

filed,

the

chief

medical

officer

may

detain

the

patient

in

6

the

hospital

and

may

provide

treatment

which

is

necessary

7

to

preserve

the

patient’s

life,

or

to

appropriately

control

8

behavior

by

the

patient

which

is

likely

to

result

in

physical

9

injury

to

the

patient

or

to

others

if

allowed

to

continue,

but

10

may

not

otherwise

provide

treatment

to

the

patient

without

the

11

patient’s

consent.

12

Sec.

6.

Section

229.5,

Code

2025,

is

amended

to

read

as

13

follows:

14

229.5

Departure

without

notice.

15

If

a

voluntary

patient

departs

from

the

hospital

without

16

notice,

and

in

the

opinion

of

the

chief

medical

officer

17

the

patient

is

seriously

mentally

impaired

,

or

experiencing

18

psychiatric

deterioration

,

the

chief

medical

officer

may

file

19

an

application

on

the

departed

voluntary

patient

pursuant

to

20

section

229.6

,

and

request

that

an

order

for

immediate

custody

21

be

entered

by

the

court

pursuant

to

section

229.11

.

22

Sec.

7.

Section

229.6,

subsection

2,

paragraph

a,

Code

2025,

23

is

amended

to

read

as

follows:

24

a.

State

the

applicant’s

belief

that

the

respondent

is

25

a

person

who

is

experiencing

psychiatric

deterioration,

or

26

who

presents

a

danger

to

self

or

others

and

lacks

judgmental

27

capacity

due

to

either

any

of

the

following:

28

(1)

A

substance

use

disorder

as

defined

in

section

125.2

.

29

(2)

A

serious

mental

impairment

as

defined

in

section

229.1

.

30

Sec.

8.

Section

229.10,

subsections

3

and

4,

Code

2025,

are

31

amended

to

read

as

follows:

32

3.

If

the

report

of

one

or

more

of

the

court-designated

33

physicians

or

mental

health

professionals

is

to

the

effect

that

34

the

individual

is

not

seriously

mentally

impaired

and

is

not

35

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experiencing

psychiatric

deterioration

,

the

court

shall

without

1

taking

further

action

terminate

the

proceeding

and

dismiss

the

2

application

on

its

own

motion

and

without

notice.

3

4.

If

the

report

of

one

or

more

of

the

court-designated

4

physicians

or

mental

health

professionals

is

to

the

effect

5

that

the

respondent

is

seriously

mentally

impaired

,

or

is

6

experiencing

psychiatric

deterioration

,

the

court

shall

7

schedule

a

hearing

on

the

application

as

soon

as

possible.

8

The

hearing

shall

be

held

not

more

than

forty-eight

hours

9

after

the

report

is

filed,

excluding

Saturdays,

Sundays

and

10

holidays,

unless

an

extension

for

good

cause

is

requested

11

by

the

respondent,

or

as

soon

thereafter

as

possible

if

the

12

court

considers

that

sufficient

grounds

exist

for

delaying

the

13

hearing.

14

Sec.

9.

Section

229.11,

subsection

1,

unnumbered

paragraph

15

1,

Code

2025,

is

amended

to

read

as

follows:

16

If

the

applicant

requests

that

the

respondent

be

taken

into

17

immediate

custody

and

the

judge,

upon

reviewing

the

application

18

and

accompanying

documentation,

finds

probable

cause

to

19

believe

that

the

respondent

has

a

serious

mental

impairment

20

and

is

likely

to

injure

the

respondent

or

other

persons

if

21

allowed

to

remain

at

liberty

,

or

the

respondent

is

experiencing

22

psychiatric

deterioration

,

the

judge

may

enter

a

written

order

23

directing

that

the

respondent

be

taken

into

immediate

custody

24

by

the

sheriff

or

the

sheriff’s

deputy

and

be

detained

until

25

the

hospitalization

hearing.

The

hospitalization

hearing

shall

26

be

held

no

more

than

five

days

after

the

date

of

the

order,

27

except

that

if

the

fifth

day

after

the

date

of

the

order

is

28

a

Saturday,

Sunday,

or

a

holiday,

the

hearing

may

be

held

29

on

the

next

succeeding

business

day.

If

the

expenses

of

a

30

respondent

are

payable

in

whole

or

in

part

by

a

mental

health

31

and

disability

services

region,

for

a

placement

in

accordance

32

with

paragraph

“a”

,

the

judge

shall

give

notice

of

the

placement

33

to

the

regional

administrator

for

the

county

in

which

the

court

34

is

located,

and

for

a

placement

in

accordance

with

paragraph

35

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“b”

or

“c”

,

the

judge

shall

order

the

placement

in

a

hospital

or

1

facility

designated

through

the

regional

administrator.

The

2

judge

may

order

the

respondent

detained

for

the

period

of

time

3

until

the

hearing

is

held,

and

no

longer,

in

accordance

with

4

paragraph

“a”

,

if

possible,

and

if

not

then

in

accordance

with

5

paragraph

“b”

,

or,

only

if

neither

of

these

alternatives

is

6

available,

in

accordance

with

paragraph

“c”

.

Detention

may

be

7

in

any

of

the

following:

8

Sec.

10.

Section

229.12,

subsection

3,

paragraph

c,

Code

9

2025,

is

amended

to

read

as

follows:

10

c.

If

upon

completion

of

the

hearing

the

court

finds

that

11

the

contention

that

the

respondent

is

seriously

mentally

12

impaired

,

or

is

experiencing

psychiatric

deterioration,

has

not

13

been

sustained

by

clear

and

convincing

evidence,

it

shall

deny

14

the

application

and

terminate

the

proceeding.

15

Sec.

11.

Section

229.13,

subsection

1,

unnumbered

paragraph

16

1,

Code

2025,

is

amended

to

read

as

follows:

17

If

upon

completion

of

the

hospitalization

hearing

the

court

18

finds

by

clear

and

convincing

evidence

that

the

respondent

has

19

a

serious

mental

impairment

,

or

is

experiencing

psychiatric

20

deterioration

,

the

court

shall

order

the

respondent

committed

21

as

expeditiously

as

possible

for

a

complete

psychiatric

22

evaluation

and

appropriate

treatment

as

follows:

23

Sec.

12.

Section

229.13,

subsection

7,

paragraph

a,

24

subparagraph

(3),

Code

2025,

is

amended

to

read

as

follows:

25

(3)

If

the

respondent

chooses

to

be

treated

by

the

26

appropriate

medication

which

may

include

the

use

of

oral

27

medicine

or

injectable

antipsychotic

medicine

but

the

mental

28

health

professional

acting

within

the

scope

of

the

mental

29

health

professional’s

practice

at

the

outpatient

psychiatric

30

clinic,

hospital,

or

other

suitable

facility

determines

that

31

the

respondent’s

behavior

continues

to

be

likely

to

result

in

32

physical

injury

to

the

respondent’s

self

or

others

if

allowed

33

to

continue,

the

mental

health

professional

acting

within

34

the

scope

of

the

mental

health

professional’s

practice

shall

35

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comply

with

the

provisions

of

subparagraph

(1)

and,

following

1

notice

and

hearing

held

in

accordance

with

the

procedures

in

2

section

229.12

,

the

court

may

order

the

respondent

treated

3

on

an

inpatient

basis

requiring

full-time

custody,

care,

4

and

treatment

in

a

hospital

until

such

time

as

the

chief

5

medical

officer

reports

that

the

respondent

does

not

require

6

further

treatment

for

serious

mental

impairment

or

psychiatric

7

deterioration,

or

has

indicated

the

respondent

is

willing

to

8

submit

to

treatment

on

another

basis

as

ordered

by

the

court.

9

Sec.

13.

Section

229.14,

subsection

1,

paragraphs

a,

b,

c,

10

and

d,

Code

2025,

are

amended

to

read

as

follows:

11

a.

That

the

respondent

does

not,

as

of

the

date

of

the

12

report,

require

further

treatment

for

serious

mental

impairment

13

or

psychiatric

deterioration

.

If

the

report

so

states,

the

14

court

shall

order

the

respondent’s

immediate

release

from

15

involuntary

hospitalization

and

terminate

the

proceedings.

16

b.

That

the

respondent

is

seriously

mentally

impaired

and

or

17

experiencing

psychiatric

deterioration,

is

in

need

of

full-time

18

custody,

care

,

and

inpatient

treatment

in

a

hospital,

and

is

19

considered

likely

to

benefit

from

treatment.

The

report

shall

20

include

the

chief

medical

officer’s

recommendation

for

further

21

treatment.

22

c.

That

the

respondent

is

seriously

mentally

impaired

or

23

experiencing

psychiatric

deterioration,

and

is

in

need

of

24

treatment,

but

does

not

require

full-time

hospitalization.

25

If

the

report

so

states,

it

shall

include

the

chief

medical

26

officer’s

recommendation

for

treatment

of

the

respondent

on

an

27

outpatient

or

other

appropriate

basis.

28

d.

The

respondent

is

seriously

mentally

impaired

or

29

experiencing

psychiatric

deterioration,

and

is

in

need

of

30

full-time

custody

and

care,

but

is

unlikely

to

benefit

from

31

further

inpatient

treatment

in

a

hospital.

The

report

shall

32

include

the

chief

medical

officer’s

recommendation

for

an

33

appropriate

alternative

placement

for

the

respondent.

34

Sec.

14.

Section

229.14,

subsection

2,

paragraph

d,

Code

35

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2025,

is

amended

to

read

as

follows:

1

d.

If

the

court

orders

treatment

of

the

respondent

on

an

2

outpatient

or

other

appropriate

basis

as

described

in

the

chief

3

medical

officer’s

report

pursuant

to

subsection

1

,

paragraph

4

“c”

,

the

order

shall

provide

that,

should

the

respondent

5

fail

or

refuse

to

submit

to

treatment

in

accordance

with

the

6

court’s

order,

the

court

may

order

that

the

respondent

be

7

taken

into

immediate

custody

as

provided

by

section

229.11

8

and,

following

notice

and

hearing

held

in

accordance

with

9

the

procedures

of

section

229.12

,

may

order

the

respondent

10

treated

on

an

inpatient

basis

requiring

full-time

custody,

11

care,

and

treatment

in

a

hospital

until

such

time

as

the

chief

12

medical

officer

reports

that

the

respondent

does

not

require

13

further

treatment

for

serious

mental

impairment

or

psychiatric

14

deterioration,

or

has

indicated

the

respondent

is

willing

to

15

submit

to

treatment

on

another

basis

as

ordered

by

the

court.

16

If

a

patient

is

transferred

for

treatment

to

another

provider

17

under

this

paragraph,

the

treatment

provider

who

will

be

18

providing

the

outpatient

or

other

appropriate

treatment

shall

19

be

provided

with

copies

of

relevant

court

orders

by

the

former

20

treatment

provider.

21

Sec.

15.

Section

229.16,

Code

2025,

is

amended

to

read

as

22

follows:

23

229.16

Discharge

and

termination

of

proceeding.

24

When

the

condition

of

a

patient

who

is

hospitalized

pursuant

25

to

a

report

issued

under

section

229.14,

subsection

1

,

26

paragraph

“b”

,

or

is

receiving

treatment

pursuant

to

a

report

27

issued

under

section

229.14,

subsection

1

,

paragraph

“c”

,

or

is

28

in

full-time

care

and

custody

pursuant

to

a

report

issued

under

29

section

229.14,

subsection

1

,

paragraph

“d”

,

is

such

that

in

30

the

opinion

of

the

chief

medical

officer

the

patient

no

longer

31

requires

treatment

or

care

for

serious

mental

impairment

,

or

32

psychiatric

deterioration

,

the

chief

medical

officer

shall

33

tentatively

discharge

the

patient

and

immediately

report

that

34

fact

to

the

court

which

ordered

the

patient’s

hospitalization

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or

care

and

custody.

Upon

receiving

the

report,

the

court

1

shall

issue

an

order

confirming

the

patient’s

discharge

from

2

the

hospital

or

from

care

and

custody,

as

the

case

may

be,

and

3

shall

terminate

the

proceedings

pursuant

to

which

the

order

was

4

issued.

Copies

of

the

order

shall

be

sent

by

regular

mail

to

5

the

hospital,

the

patient,

and

the

applicant

if

the

applicant

6

has

filed

a

written

waiver

signed

by

the

patient.

7

Sec.

16.

Section

229.17,

Code

2025,

is

amended

to

read

as

8

follows:

9

229.17

Status

of

respondent

during

appeal.

10

If

a

respondent

appeals

to

the

supreme

court

from

a

finding

11

that

the

contention

the

respondent

is

seriously

mentally

12

impaired

,

or

is

experiencing

psychiatric

deterioration,

has

13

been

sustained,

and

the

respondent

was

previously

ordered

14

taken

into

immediate

custody

under

section

229.11

or

has

15

been

hospitalized

for

psychiatric

evaluation

and

appropriate

16

treatment

under

section

229.13

before

the

court

is

informed

17

of

intent

to

appeal

its

finding,

the

respondent

shall

remain

18

in

custody

as

previously

ordered

by

the

court,

the

time

limit

19

stated

in

section

229.11

notwithstanding,

or

shall

remain

20

in

the

hospital

subject

to

compliance

by

the

hospital

with

21

sections

229.13

through

229.16

,

as

the

case

may

be,

unless

the

22

supreme

court

orders

otherwise.

If

a

respondent

appeals

to

the

23

supreme

court

regarding

a

placement

order,

the

respondent

shall

24

remain

in

placement

unless

the

supreme

court

orders

otherwise.

25

Sec.

17.

Section

229.19,

subsection

1,

paragraph

c,

Code

26

2025,

is

amended

to

read

as

follows:

27

c.

The

advocate’s

responsibility

with

respect

to

any

patient

28

shall

begin

at

whatever

time

the

attorney

employed

or

appointed

29

to

represent

that

patient

as

respondent

in

hospitalization

30

proceedings,

conducted

under

sections

229.6

through

229.13

,

31

reports

to

the

court

that

the

attorney’s

services

are

no

longer

32

required

and

requests

the

court’s

approval

to

withdraw

as

33

counsel

for

that

patient.

However,

if

the

patient

is

found

to

34

be

seriously

mentally

impaired

,

or

experiencing

psychiatric

35

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deterioration,

at

the

hospitalization

hearing,

the

attorney

1

representing

the

patient

shall

automatically

be

relieved

of

2

responsibility

in

the

case

and

an

advocate

shall

be

assigned

3

to

the

patient

at

the

conclusion

of

the

hearing

unless

the

4

attorney

indicates

an

intent

to

continue

the

attorney’s

5

services

and

the

court

so

directs.

If

the

court

directs

the

6

attorney

to

remain

on

the

case,

the

attorney

shall

assume

7

all

the

duties

of

an

advocate.

The

clerk

shall

furnish

8

the

advocate

with

a

copy

of

the

court’s

order

approving

the

9

withdrawal

and

shall

inform

the

patient

of

the

name

of

the

10

patient’s

advocate.

11

Sec.

18.

Section

229.21,

subsection

3,

paragraphs

a

and

b,

12

Code

2025,

are

amended

to

read

as

follows:

13

a.

Any

respondent

with

respect

to

whom

the

magistrate

or

14

judicial

hospitalization

referee

has

found

the

contention

that

15

the

respondent

is

seriously

mentally

impaired

,

is

experiencing

16

psychiatric

deterioration,

or

is

a

person

with

a

substance

use

17

disorder

sustained

by

clear

and

convincing

evidence

presented

18

at

a

hearing

held

under

section

229.12

or

section

125.82

,

may

19

appeal

from

the

magistrate’s

or

referee’s

finding

to

a

judge

20

of

the

district

court

by

giving

the

clerk

notice

in

writing,

21

within

ten

days

after

the

magistrate’s

or

referee’s

finding

is

22

made,

that

an

appeal

is

taken.

The

appeal

may

be

signed

by

23

the

respondent

or

by

the

respondent’s

next

friend,

guardian,

24

or

attorney.

25

b.

An

order

of

a

magistrate

or

judicial

hospitalization

26

referee

with

a

finding

that

the

respondent

is

seriously

27

mentally

impaired

,

is

experiencing

psychiatric

deterioration,

28

or

is

a

person

with

a

substance

use

disorder

shall

include

the

29

following

notice,

located

conspicuously

on

the

face

of

the

30

order:

31

NOTE:

The

respondent

may

appeal

from

this

order

to

a

judge

of

32

the

district

court

by

giving

written

notice

of

the

appeal

to

33

the

clerk

of

the

district

court

within

ten

days

after

the

date

34

of

this

order.

The

appeal

may

be

signed

by

the

respondent

or

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by

the

respondent’s

next

friend,

guardian,

or

attorney.

For

a

1

more

complete

description

of

the

respondent’s

appeal

rights,

2

consult

section

229.21

of

the

Code

of

Iowa

or

an

attorney.

3

Sec.

19.

Section

229.22,

subsection

1,

Code

2025,

is

amended

4

to

read

as

follows:

5

1.

The

procedure

prescribed

by

this

section

shall

be

used

6

when

it

appears

that

a

person

should

be

immediately

detained

7

due

to

serious

mental

impairment

or

psychiatric

deterioration

,

8

but

an

application

has

not

been

filed

naming

the

person

as

the

9

respondent

pursuant

to

section

229.6

,

and

the

person

cannot

be

10

ordered

into

immediate

custody

and

detained

pursuant

to

section

11

229.11

.

12

Sec.

20.

Section

229.22,

subsection

2,

paragraph

a,

13

subparagraph

(4),

subparagraph

division

(a),

Code

2025,

is

14

amended

to

read

as

follows:

15

(a)

If

the

examining

physician,

examining

physician

16

assistant,

examining

mental

health

professional,

or

examining

17

psychiatric

advanced

registered

nurse

practitioner

finds

18

that

there

is

reason

to

believe

that

the

person

is

seriously

19

mentally

impaired,

and

because

of

that

impairment

is

likely

20

to

physically

injure

the

person’s

self

or

others

if

not

21

immediately

detained

,

or

the

person

is

experiencing

psychiatric

22

deterioration

,

the

facility

shall

have

the

authority

to

detain

23

the

person

for

a

period

of

no

longer

than

twelve

hours.

Within

24

twelve

hours

of

detaining

a

person

pursuant

to

this

section

,

25

the

examining

physician,

examining

physician

assistant,

26

examining

mental

health

professional,

or

examining

psychiatric

27

advanced

registered

nurse

practitioner

shall

communicate

with

28

the

nearest

available

magistrate.

29

Sec.

21.

Section

229.22,

subsection

2,

paragraph

b,

Code

30

2025,

is

amended

to

read

as

follows:

31

b.

If

the

magistrate

orders

that

the

person

be

detained,

32

the

magistrate

shall,

by

the

close

of

business

on

the

next

33

working

day,

file

a

written

order

with

the

clerk

in

the

county

34

where

it

is

anticipated

that

an

application

may

be

filed

35

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under

section

229.6

.

The

order

may

be

filed

by

facsimile

if

1

necessary.

A

peace

officer

from

the

law

enforcement

agency

2

that

took

the

person

into

custody,

if

no

request

was

made

3

under

paragraph

“a”

,

may

inform

the

magistrate

that

an

arrest

4

warrant

has

been

issued

for

or

charges

are

pending

against

5

the

person

and

request

that

any

written

order

issued

under

6

this

paragraph

require

the

facility

or

hospital

to

notify

7

the

law

enforcement

agency

about

the

discharge

of

the

person

8

prior

to

discharge.

The

order

shall

state

the

circumstances

9

under

which

the

person

was

taken

into

custody

or

otherwise

10

brought

to

a

facility

or

hospital,

and

the

grounds

supporting

11

the

finding

of

probable

cause

to

believe

that

the

person

is

12

seriously

mentally

impaired

and

likely

to

injure

the

person’s

13

self

or

others

if

not

immediately

detained

,

or

the

person

is

14

experiencing

psychiatric

deterioration

.

The

order

shall

also

15

include

any

law

enforcement

agency

notification

requirements

if

16

applicable.

The

order

shall

confirm

the

oral

order

authorizing

17

the

person’s

detention

including

any

order

given

to

transport

18

the

person

to

an

appropriate

facility

or

hospital.

A

peace

19

officer

from

the

law

enforcement

agency

that

took

the

person

20

into

custody

may

also

request

an

order,

separate

from

the

21

written

order,

requiring

the

facility

or

hospital

to

notify

the

22

law

enforcement

agency

about

the

discharge

of

the

person

prior

23

to

discharge.

The

clerk

shall

provide

a

copy

of

the

written

24

order

or

any

separate

order

to

the

chief

medical

officer

of

the

25

facility

or

hospital

to

which

the

person

was

originally

taken,

26

to

any

subsequent

facility

to

which

the

person

was

transported,

27

and

to

any

law

enforcement

department,

ambulance

service,

or

28

transportation

service

under

contract

with

a

mental

health

29

and

disability

services

region

that

transported

the

person

30

pursuant

to

the

magistrate’s

order.

A

transportation

service

31

that

contracts

with

a

mental

health

and

disability

services

32

region

for

purposes

of

this

paragraph

shall

provide

a

secure

33

transportation

vehicle

and

shall

employ

staff

that

has

received

34

or

is

receiving

mental

health

training.

35

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Sec.

22.

Section

229.26,

Code

2025,

is

amended

to

read

as

1

follows:

2

229.26

Exclusive

procedure

for

involuntary

hospitalization.

3

Sections

229.6

through

229.19

constitute

the

exclusive

4

procedure

for

involuntary

hospitalization

of

persons

by

reason

5

of

serious

mental

impairment

,

or

psychiatric

deterioration,

6

in

this

state,

except

that

this

chapter

does

not

negate

the

7

provisions

of

section

904.503

relating

to

transfer

of

prisoners

8

with

mental

illness

to

state

mental

health

institutes

and

9

does

not

apply

to

commitments

of

persons

under

chapter

812

or

10

the

rules

of

criminal

procedure,

Iowa

court

rules,

or

negate

11

the

provisions

of

section

232.51

relating

to

disposition

of

12

children

with

mental

illness.

13

Sec.

23.

Section

229.28,

subsection

1,

unnumbered

paragraph

14

1,

Code

2025,

is

amended

to

read

as

follows:

15

When

a

court

finds

that

the

contention

that

a

respondent

is

16

seriously

mentally

impaired

,

or

is

experiencing

psychiatric

17

deterioration,

has

been

sustained

or

proposes

to

order

18

continued

hospitalization

of

any

person,

or

an

alternative

19

placement,

as

described

under

section

229.14,

subsection

1

,

20

paragraph

“b”

or

“d”

,

and

the

court

is

furnished

evidence

that

21

the

respondent

or

patient

is

eligible

for

care

and

treatment

in

22

a

facility

operated

by

the

United

States

department

of

veterans

23

affairs

or

another

agency

of

the

United

States

government

and

24

that

the

facility

is

willing

to

receive

the

respondent

or

25

patient,

the

court

may

so

order.

26

Sec.

24.

Section

229.31,

Code

2025,

is

amended

to

read

as

27

follows:

28

229.31

Commission

of

inquiry.

29

A

sworn

complaint,

alleging

that

a

named

person

is

not

30

seriously

mentally

impaired

or

experiencing

psychiatric

31

deterioration,

and

is

unjustly

deprived

of

liberty

in

any

32

hospital

in

the

state,

may

be

filed

by

any

person

with

the

33

clerk

of

the

district

court

of

the

county

in

which

such

named

34

person

is

so

confined,

or

of

the

county

in

which

such

named

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person

is

a

resident.

Upon

receiving

the

complaint,

a

judge

1

of

that

court

shall

appoint

a

commission

of

not

more

than

2

three

persons

to

inquire

into

the

truth

of

the

allegations.

3

One

of

the

commissioners

shall

be

a

physician

and

if

4

additional

commissioners

are

appointed,

one

of

the

additional

5

commissioners

shall

be

a

lawyer.

6

Sec.

25.

Section

229.33,

Code

2025,

is

amended

to

read

as

7

follows:

8

229.33

Hearing.

9

If,

on

such

report

and

statement,

and

the

hearing

of

10

testimony

if

any

is

offered,

the

judge

shall

find

that

11

such

person

is

not

seriously

mentally

impaired

,

and

is

not

12

experiencing

psychiatric

deterioration

,

the

judge

shall

order

13

the

person’s

discharge;

if

the

contrary,

the

judge

shall

so

14

state,

and

authorize

the

continued

detention

of

the

person,

15

subject

to

all

applicable

requirements

of

this

chapter

.

16

Sec.

26.

Section

229.37,

Code

2025,

is

amended

to

read

as

17

follows:

18

229.37

Habeas

corpus.

19

All

persons

confined

as

seriously

mentally

impaired

,

or

as

20

experiencing

psychiatric

deterioration,

shall

be

entitled

to

21

the

benefit

of

the

writ

of

habeas

corpus,

and

the

question

22

of

serious

mental

impairment

,

or

psychiatric

deterioration,

23

shall

be

decided

at

the

hearing.

If

the

judge

shall

decide

24

that

the

person

is

seriously

mentally

impaired

,

or

experiencing

25

psychiatric

deterioration

,

such

decision

shall

be

no

bar

to

the

26

issuing

of

the

writ

a

second

time,

whenever

it

shall

be

alleged

27

that

such

person

is

no

longer

seriously

mentally

impaired

or

28

experiencing

psychiatric

deterioration

.

29

Sec.

27.

Section

602.8102,

subsection

41,

Code

2025,

is

30

amended

to

read

as

follows:

31

41.

Carry

out

duties

relating

to

the

involuntary

commitment

32

of

persons

with

mental

impairments

commitments

as

provided

in

33

chapter

125

and

involuntary

hospitalizations

as

provided

in

34

chapter

229

.

35

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H.F.

123

EXPLANATION

1

The

inclusion

of

this

explanation

does

not

constitute

agreement

with

2

the

explanation’s

substance

by

the

members

of

the

general

assembly.

3

This

bill

relates

to

orders

for

treatment

of

persons

4

experiencing

psychiatric

deterioration.

5

Under

current

law,

a

court

may

order

the

treatment

of

a

6

person

if

the

court

finds

by

clear

and

convincing

evidence

7

that

the

person

is

seriously

mentally

impaired.

The

bill

8

allows

a

court

to

also

order

the

treatment

of

a

person

if

9

the

court

finds

by

clear

and

convincing

evidence

that

the

10

person

is

experiencing

psychiatric

deterioration.

The

bill

11

defines

“psychiatric

deterioration”

as

a

deterioration

of

12

a

person’s

mental

health

such

that

based

on

that

person’s

13

history

the

person

is

unlikely

to

seek

treatment,

the

person

14

is

unable

to

understand

the

need

to

treat

the

person’s

mental

15

health

condition,

and,

within

a

reasonable

degree

of

medical

16

certainty,

the

person

is

likely

to

continue

to

deteriorate

17

until

they

have

a

serious

mental

impairment

unless

they

receive

18

treatment.

19

The

bill

makes

conforming

changes

to

Code

sections

125.75

20

(substance

abuse

disorders

——

application),

218.46

(scientific

21

investigation),

225.11

(psychiatric

hospital

——

initiating

22

commitment

procedures),

and

602.8102

(clerk

of

district

court

23

——

general

duties)

and

Code

chapter

229

(hospitalization

of

24

persons

with

mental

illness).

25

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