Sec. 81.177. COMMITMENT TO PRIVATE FACILITY. (a) The court may order a person committed to a private health care facility at no expense to the state if the court receives:

(1) an application signed by the person or the person's guardian or next friend requesting that the person be placed in a designated private health care facility at the person's or applicant's expense; and

(2) a written agreement from the head of the private health care facility to admit the person and to accept responsibility for the person in accordance with this chapter.

(b) Consistent with Subsection (a), the court may order a person committed to a private health care facility at no expense to the state, a county, a municipality, or a hospital district if:

(1) a state of disaster or a public health disaster has been declared or an area quarantine is imposed under Section 81.085;

(2) the health care facility is located within the disaster area or area quarantine, as applicable; and

(3) the judge determines that there is no public health care facility within the disaster area or area quarantine, as applicable, that has appropriate facilities and the capacity available to receive and treat the person.

(c) Nothing in this section prevents a health care facility that accepts a person under this section from pursuing reimbursement from any appropriate source, such as a third-party public or private payor or disaster relief fund.

Acts 1989, 71st Leg., ch. 678, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1989.

Amended by:

Acts 2007, 80th Leg., R.S., Ch. 258 (S.B. 11), Sec. 14.14, eff. September 1, 2007.