202A.021 Hospitalization of minors -- Admission or discharge of voluntary patients. (1) The hospitalization of minors alleged to be mentally ill, except those provided for in KRS Chapter 640, shall be governed by KRS Chapter 645. (2) An authorized staff physician of a hospital may admit for observation, diagnosis, care and treatment any person who is mentally ill or who has symptoms of mental illness and who applies voluntarily therefor. (3) An authorized staff physician of a hospital shall discharge any voluntary patient who has recovered or whose hospitalization the staff physician determines to be no longer necessary or advisable. (4) A voluntary patient shall be released upon the patient's written request unless further detained under the applicable provisions of this chapter. Effective: July 15, 1988 History: Amended 1988 Ky. Acts ch. 139, sec. 2, effective July 15, 1988. -- Amended 1986 Ky. Acts ch. 423, sec. 195, effective July 1, 1987. -- Created 1982 Ky. Acts ch. 445, sec. 2, effective July 1, 1982. Legislative Research Commission Note. This section was enacted in 1982 Acts, Chapter 445, which contains the following language in Section 45 of that Act: "This Act shall become effective on July 1, 1982." The Ky. Constitution, in Section 55, requires that a reason be set forth for the emergency. However, no reason is set forth in this Act. The effective date for 1982 Acts with no emergency provision is July 15, 1982.