1. Except as otherwise provided in NRS 432B.6077, if the court finds, after proceedings for the court-ordered admission of a child alleged to be a child with an emotional disturbance who is in the custody of an agency which provides child welfare services to a facility, including, without limitation, an evidentiary hearing:

(a) That there is not clear and convincing evidence that the child with respect to whom the hearing was held exhibits observable behavior such that the child is likely to harm himself or herself or others if allowed liberty, the court shall enter its finding to that effect and the child must not be admitted to a facility.

(b) That there is clear and convincing evidence that the child with respect to whom the hearing was held is in need of treatment in a facility and is likely to harm himself or herself or others if allowed liberty, the court may order the admission of the child for the most appropriate course of treatment. The order of the court must be interlocutory and must not become final if, within 30 days after the admission, the child is unconditionally released from the facility pursuant to NRS 432B.6084.

2. Before issuing an order for admission or a renewal thereof, the court shall explore other alternative courses of treatment within the least restrictive appropriate environment as suggested by the evaluation team who evaluated the child, or other persons professionally qualified in the field of psychiatric mental health, which the court believes may be in the best interests of the child.

(Added to NRS by 2005, 1318; A 2009, 411)