H.B. No. 888
 
 
 
 
AN ACT
  relating to the detention and examination of certain persons
  accepted for a preliminary mental health examination.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 573.021(b), Health and Safety Code, is
  amended to read as follows:
         (b)  A person accepted for a preliminary examination may be
  detained in custody for not longer than 48 hours after the time the
  person is presented to the facility unless a written order for
  protective custody is obtained. The 48-hour period allowed by this
  section includes any time the patient spends waiting in the
  facility for medical care before the person receives the
  preliminary examination. If the 48-hour period ends on a Saturday,
  Sunday, legal holiday, or before 4 p.m. on the first succeeding
  business day, the person may be detained until 4 [12] p.m. on the
  first succeeding business day. If the 48-hour period ends at a
  different time, the person may be detained only until 4 p.m. on the
  day the 48-hour period ends. If extremely hazardous weather
  conditions exist or a disaster occurs, the presiding judge or
  magistrate may, by written order made each day, extend by an
  additional 24 hours the period during which the person may be
  detained. The written order must declare that an emergency exists
  because of the weather or the occurrence of a disaster.
         SECTION 2.  The change in law made by this Act applies only
  to the detention and examination of a person admitted for a
  preliminary examination under Section 573.021, Health and Safety
  Code, on or after the effective date of this Act. The detention and
  examination of a person admitted for a preliminary examination
  before the effective date of this Act is governed by the law in
  effect when the person was admitted, and the former law is continued
  in effect for those purposes.
         SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
  a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
  provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this
  Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
  Act takes effect September 1, 2009.
 
 
  ______________________________ ______________________________
     President of the Senate Speaker of the House     
 
 
         I certify that H.B. No. 888 was passed by the House on April
  24, 2009, by the following vote:  Yeas 139, Nays 0, 1 present, not
  voting.
 
  ______________________________
  Chief Clerk of the House   
 
 
         I certify that H.B. No. 888 was passed by the Senate on May
  21, 2009, by the following vote:  Yeas 31, Nays 0.
 
  ______________________________
  Secretary of the Senate    
  APPROVED:  _____________________
                     Date          
   
            _____________________
                   Governor