Sec. 81.151. APPLICATION FOR COURT ORDER. (a) At the request of the health authority, a municipal, county, or district attorney shall file a sworn written application for a court order for the management of a person with a communicable disease. At the request of the department, the attorney general shall file a sworn written application for a court order for the management of a person with a communicable disease.

(b) The application must be filed with the district court in the county in which the person:

(1) resides;

(2) is found; or

(3) is receiving court-ordered health services.

(c) If the application is not filed in the county in which the person resides, the court may, on request of the person or the person's attorney and if good cause is shown, transfer the application to that county.

(d) A copy of written orders made under Section 81.083, if applicable, and a medical evaluation must be filed with the application, except that a copy of the written orders need not be filed with an application for outpatient treatment.

(e) A single application may be filed for a group if:

(1) the department or health authority reasonably suspects that a group of five or more persons has been exposed to or infected with a communicable disease; and

(2) each person in the group meets the criteria of this chapter for court orders for the management of a person with a communicable disease.

Acts 1989, 71st Leg., ch. 678, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1989. Amended by Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 242, Sec. 1, eff. May 23, 1997; Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 198, Sec. 2.186, eff. Sept. 1, 2003.

Amended by:

Acts 2007, 80th Leg., R.S., Ch. 258 (S.B. 11), Sec. 14.03, eff. September 1, 2007.