30:1-2.4 Designation of hospital to admit persons involuntarily committed.

2. a. In order to ensure the safety of patients, employees and the general public as well as appropriate treatment, a criminal defendant, sentenced inmate, person being examined or treated for fitness to proceed pursuant to N.J.S.2C:4-5 and N.J.S.2C:4-6, person acquitted of a criminal charge by reason of insanity pursuant to N.J.S.2C:4-9, or person who is committed pursuant to section 4 of P.L.1994,c.134 (C.30:4-82.4), who is in need of involuntary commitment shall not be admitted to a State psychiatric hospital, unless the Commissioner of Human Services has specifically designated the hospital to admit these persons. The court shall commit these persons to the custody of the Commissioner of Human Services for placement in an appropriate, designated hospital.

b. Within 30 days of the date of enactment of this act, the commissioner shall designate those State psychiatric hospitals which may admit one or more of the persons specified in subsection a. of this section. The designation of a hospital shall be subject to renewal every five years. In the event the commissioner proposes changes either upon renewal of a designation or during the five-year period that would result in a State psychiatric hospital being designated for an additional category of person specified in subsection a. of this section, the commissioner shall provide notice of the proposed change to the legislators of a district in which that State psychiatric facility either borders upon or is contained within.

c. The commissioner shall:

(1) arrange for a public hearing in the vicinity of the affected State psychiatric hospital concerning the proposed change; and

(2) review and consider a summary of all comments made at the public hearing prior to making a final decision regarding the proposed change.

L.1998,c.111,s.2.