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2012 Statute



Prev Article 29a. - COMMITMENT OF SEXUALLY VIOLENT PREDATORSNext


59-29a22.Sexually violent predators; rights and rules of conduct; definitions. (a) As used in this section:

(1) "Patient" means any individual:

(A) Who is receiving services for mental illness and who is admitted, detained, committed, transferred or placed in the custody of the secretary of social and rehabilitation services under the authority of K.S.A. 22-3219, 22-3302, 22-3303, 22-3428a, 22-3429, 22-3430, 59-29a05, 75-5209 and 76-1306, and amendments thereto.

(B) In the custody of the secretary of social and rehabilitation services after being found a sexually violent predator pursuant to K.S.A. 59-29a01 et seq., and amendments thereto, including any sexually violent predator placed on transitional release.

(2) "Restraints" means the application of any devices, other than human force alone, to any part of the body of the patient for the purpose of preventing the patient from causing injury to self or others.

(3) "Seclusion" means the placement of a patient, alone, in a room, where the patient's freedom to leave is restricted and where the patient is not under continuous observation.

(b) Each patient shall have the following rights:

(1) Upon admission or commitment, be informed orally and in writing of the patient's rights under this section. Copies of this section shall be posted conspicuously in each patient area, and shall be available to the patient's guardian and immediate family.

(2) The right to refuse to perform labor which is of financial benefit to the facility in which the patient is receiving treatment or service. Privileges or release from the facility may not be conditioned upon the performance of any labor which is regulated by this subsection. Tasks of a personal housekeeping nature are not considered compensable labor. Patients may voluntarily engage in therapeutic labor which is of financial benefit to the facility if such labor is compensated in accordance with a plan approved by the department and if:

(A) The specific labor is an integrated part of the patient's treatment plan approved as a therapeutic activity by the professional staff member responsible for supervising the patient's treatment;

(B) the labor is supervised by a staff member who is qualified to oversee the therapeutic aspects of the activity;

(C) the patient has given written informed consent to engage in such labor and has been informed that such consent may be withdrawn at any time; and

(D) the labor involved is evaluated for its appropriateness by the staff of the facility at least once every 120 days.

(3) A right to receive prompt and adequate treatment, rehabilitation and educational services appropriate for such patient's condition, within the limits of available state and federal funds.

(4) Have the right to be informed of such patient's treatment and care and to participate in the planning of such treatment and care.

(5) Have the following rights, under the following procedures, to refuse medication and treatment:

(A) Have the right to refuse all medication and treatment except as ordered by a court or in a situation in which the medication or treatment is necessary to prevent serious physical harm to the patient or to others. Except when medication or medical treatment has been ordered by the court or is necessary to prevent serious physical harm to others as evidenced by a recent overt act, attempt or threat to do such harm, a patient may refuse medications and medical treatment if the patient is a member of a recognized religious organization and the religious tenets of such organization prohibit such medications and treatment.

(B) Medication may not be used as punishment, for the convenience of staff, as a substitute for a treatment program, or in quantities that interfere with a patient's treatment program.

(C) Patients will have the right to have explained the nature of all medications prescribed, the reason for the prescription and the most common side effects and, if requested, the nature of any other treatments ordered.

(6) Except as provided in paragraph (2), have a right to be free from physical restraint and seclusion.

(A) Restraints or seclusion shall not be applied to a patient unless it is determined by the superintendent of the treatment facility or a physician or licensed psychologist to be necessary to prevent immediate substantial bodily injury to the patient or others and that other alternative methods to prevent such injury are not sufficient to accomplish this purpose. Restraint or seclusion shall never be used as a punishment or for the convenience of staff. The extent of the restraint or seclusion applied to the patient shall be the least restrictive measure necessary to prevent such injury to the patient or others, and the use of restraint or seclusion in a treatment facility shall not exceed three hours without medical reevaluation. When restraints or seclusion are applied, there shall be monitoring of the patient's condition at a frequency determined by the treating physician or licensed psychologist, which shall be no less than once per each 15 minutes. The superintendent of the treatment facility or a physician or licensed psychologist shall sign a statement explaining the treatment necessity for the use of any restraint or seclusion and shall make such statement a part of the permanent treatment record of the patient.

(B) The provisions of clause (A) shall not prevent:

(i) The use of seclusion as part of a treatment methodology that calls for time out when the patient is refusing to participate in a treatment or has become disruptive of a treatment process.

(ii) Patients may be restrained for security reasons during transport to or from the patient's building, including transport to another treatment facility. Any patient committed or transferred to a hospital or other health care facility for medical care may be isolated for security reasons within locked facilities in the hospital.

(iii) Patients may be locked or restricted in such patient's room during the night shift, if such patient resides in a unit in which each room is equipped with a toilet and sink or if the patients who do not have toilets in the rooms shall be given an opportunity to use a toilet at least once every hour, or more frequently if medically indicated.

(iv) Patients may be locked in such patient's room for a period of time no longer than one hour during each change of shift by staff to permit staff review of patient needs.

(v) Patients may also be locked in such patient's room on a unit-wide or facility-wide basis as an emergency measure as needed for security purposes to deal with an escape or attempted escape, the discovery of a dangerous weapon in the unit or facility or the receipt of reliable information that a dangerous weapon is in the unit or facility, or to prevent or control a riot or the taking of a hostage. A unit-wide or facility-wide emergency isolation order may only be authorized by the superintendent of the facility where the order is applicable or the superintendent's designee. A unit-wide or facility-wide emergency isolation order shall be approved within one hour after it is authorized by the superintendent or the superintendent's designee. An emergency order for unit-wide or facility-wide isolation may only be in effect for the period of time needed to preserve order while dealing with the situation and may not be used as a substitute for adequate staffing. During a period of unit-wide or facility-wide isolation, the status of each patient shall be reviewed every 30 minutes to ensure the safety and comfort of the patient, and each patient who is locked in a room without a toilet shall be given an opportunity to use a toilet at least once every hour, or more frequently if medically indicated. The facility shall have a written policy covering the use of isolation that ensures that the dignity of the individual is protected, that the safety of the individual is secured, and that there is regular, frequent monitoring by trained staff to care for bodily needs as may be required.

(vi) Individual patients who are referred by the court or correctional facilities for criminal evaluations may be placed in administrative confinement for security reasons and to maintain proper institutional management when treatment cannot be addressed through routine psychiatric methods. Administrative confinement of individuals shall be limited to only patients that demonstrate or threaten substantial injury to other patients or staff and when there are no clinical interventions available that will be effective to maintain a safe and therapeutic environment for both patients and staff. Administrative confinement shall not be used for any patient who is actively psychotic or likely to be psychologically harmed. The status of each patient shall be reviewed every 15 minutes to ensure the safety and comfort of the patient. The patient shall be afforded all patient rights including being offered a minimum of one hour of supervised opportunity for personal hygiene, exercise and to meet other personal needs.

(7) The right not to be subject to such procedures as psychosurgery, electroshock therapy, experimental medication, aversion therapy or hazardous treatment procedures without the written consent of the patient or the written consent of a parent or legal guardian, if such patient is a minor or has a legal guardian provided that the guardian has obtained authority to consent to such from the court which has venue over the guardianship following a hearing held for that purpose.

(8) The right to individual religious worship within the facility if the patient desires such an opportunity. The provisions for worship shall be available to all patients on a nondiscriminatory basis. No individual may be coerced into engaging in any religious activities.

(9) A right to a humane psychological and physical environment within the hospital facilities. All facilities shall be designed to afford patients with comfort and safety, to promote dignity and ensure privacy. Facilities shall also be designed to make a positive contribution to the effective attainment of the treatment goals of the hospital.

(10) The right to confidentiality of all treatment records, and as permitted by other applicable state or federal laws, have the right to inspect and to receive a copy of such records.

(11) Except as otherwise provided, have a right to not be filmed or taped, unless the patient signs an informed and voluntary consent that specifically authorizes a named individual or group to film or tape the patient for a particular purpose or project during a specified time period. The patient may specify in such consent periods during which, or situations in which, the patient may not be filmed or taped. If a patient is legally incompetent, such consent shall be granted on behalf of the patient by the patient's guardian. A patient may be filmed or taped for security purposes without the patient's consent.

(12) The right to be informed in writing upon or at a reasonable time after admission, of any liability that the patient or any of the patient's relatives may have for the cost of the patient's care and treatment and of the right to receive information about charges for care and treatment services.

(13) The right to be treated with respect and recognition of the patient's dignity and individuality by all employees of the treatment facility.

(14) Patients have an unrestricted right to send sealed mail and receive sealed mail to or from legal counsel, the courts, the secretary of social and rehabilitation services, the superintendent of the treatment facility, the agency designated as the developmental disabilities protection and advocacy agency pursuant to P.L. 94-103, as amended, private physicians and licensed psychologists, and have reasonable access to letter-writing materials.

(15) The right as specified under clause (A) to send and receive sealed mail, subject to the limitations specified under clause (B):

(A) A patient shall also have a right to send sealed mail and receive sealed mail to or from other persons, subject to physical examination in the patient's presence if there is reason to believe that such communication contains contraband materials or objects that threaten the security of patients or staff. The officers and staff of a facility may not read any mail covered by this clause.

(B) The above rights to send and receive sealed and confidential mail are subject to the following limitations:

(i) An officer or employee of the facility at which the patient is placed may delay delivery of the mail to the patient for a reasonable period of time to verify whether the person named as the sender actually sent the mail; may open the mail and inspect it for contraband outside the presence of the patient; or may, if the officer or staff member cannot determine whether the mail contains contraband, return the mail to the sender along with notice of the facility mail policy.

(ii) The superintendent of the facility or the superintendent's designee may, in accordance with the standards and the procedure under subsection (c) for denying a right for cause, authorize a member of the facility treatment staff to read the mail, if the superintendent or the superintendent's designee has reason to believe that the mail could pose a threat to security at the facility or seriously interfere with the treatment, rights, or safety of the patient or others.

(iii) Residents may be restricted in receiving in the mail items deemed to be pornographic, offensive or which is deemed to jeopardize their individual treatment or that of others.

(16) Reasonable access to a telephone to make and receive telephone calls within reasonable limits.

(17) Be permitted to use and wear such patient's own clothing and personal possessions, including toilet articles, or be furnished with an adequate allowance of clothes if none are available. Provision shall be made to launder the patient's clothing.

(18) Be provided a reasonable amount of individual secure storage space for private use.

(19) Reasonable protection of privacy in such matters as toileting and bathing.

(20) Be permitted to see a reasonable number of visitors who do not pose a threat to the security or therapeutic climate of other patients or the facility.

(21) The right to present grievances under the procedures established by each facility on the patient's own behalf or that of others to the staff or superintendent of the treatment facility without justifiable fear of reprisal and to communicate, subject to paragraph (14), with public officials or with any other person without justifiable fear of reprisal.

(22) The right to spend such patient's money as such patient chooses, except to the extent that authority over the money is held by another, including the parent of a minor, a court-appointed guardian of the patient's estate or a representative payee. A treatment facility may, as a part of its security procedures, use a patient trust account in lieu of currency that is held by a patient and may establish reasonable policies governing patient account transactions.

(c) A patient's rights guaranteed under subsections (b)(15) to (b)(21) may be denied for cause after review by the superintendent of the facility or the superintendent's designee, and may be denied when medically or therapeutically contraindicated as documented by the patient's physician or licensed psychologist in the patient's treatment record. The individual shall be informed in writing of the grounds for withdrawal of the right and shall have the opportunity for a review of the withdrawal of the right in an informal hearing before the superintendent of the facility or the superintendent's designee. There shall be documentation of the grounds for withdrawal of rights in the patient's treatment record. After an informal hearing is held, a patient or such patient's representative may petition for review of the denial of any right under this subsection through the use of the grievance procedure provided in subsection (d).

(d) The department of social and rehabilitation services shall establish procedures to assure protection of patients' rights guaranteed under this section.

(e) No person may intentionally retaliate or discriminate against any patient or employee for contacting or providing information to any state official or to an employee of any state protection and advocacy agency, or for initiating, participating in, or testifying in a grievance procedure or in an action for any remedy authorized under this section.

(f) This section shall be a part of and supplemental to article 29a of chapter 59 of the Kansas Statutes Annotated, and amendments thereto.

History: L. 2007, ch. 170, § 1; July 1.



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