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§ 37.2-800 (Effective July 1, 2026). Applicability of chapter

For the purposes of this chapter, whenever the term mental illness appears, it shall include substance abuse. Whenever the term responsible person appears, it shall include a family member as that term is defined in § 37.2-100, a community services board or behavioral health authority, any treating physician of the person, or a law-enforcement officer. Whenever the term community services board or board appears, it shall include behavioral health authority.

History

This law was first created in 1968. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapter 477 of that year’s edition of “Acts of Assembly,” the annual state publication listing all changes made to the Code of Virginia in that year. Unfortunately, the 1968 “Acts” aren’t available online. It has been modified 4 times. Those modifications are cataloged by “The Acts of Assembly,” a state publication, by year and chapter. Those modifications that can be read on the General Assembly’s website will be linked accordingly. Those modifications are as follows: in 1976, chapter 671; in 2005, chapter 716; in 2008, chapters 850 and 870; in 2024, chapter 780.

1968, c. 477, § 37.1-63; 1976, c. 671; 2005, c. 716; 2008, cc. 850, 870; 2024, c. 780.

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This is a law from the Code of Virginia. This is the actual, unchanged text of one of the many laws that govern Virginia.

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Court Decisions

Raub v. Bowen (District Court, E.D. Virginia, 08/02/13)
. . . MEMORANDUM OPINION . . .
Santos ex rel. O.G.L.S. v. Smith (District Court, W.D. Virginia, 06/01/17)
. . . MEMORANDUM OPINION . . .

Court opinions are provided by CourtListener, which is developed by the Free Law Project.

Amendment Attempts

HB499: Involuntary commitment; establishes new standard for outpatient commitment.
HB785: Emergency custody and temporary detention; clarifies definition of law-enforcement agency. (failed)
SB1512: Temporary detention; certified evaluators, report. (failed)
HB608: Temporary detention; certified evaluators, report. (failed)
SB34: Temporary detention; certified evaluators, report. (passed)
HB1617: Homeless youth; no fees for issuance of certain government documents. (passed)
HB1629: Health care records; providers shall provide one free copy of records stored in EHR upon request. (passed)
HB1713: Jurisdiction of district courts in felony cases; specialty dockets; Behavioral Health Docket Act. (failed)
HB1727: Establishment of parent and child relationship; persons who committed sexual assault. (passed)
HB1732: Health records; disclosure of laboratory test results. (failed)
HB1937: Acute psychiatric bed registry; patient privacy and data security, etc. (passed)
HB2228: Special conservators of the peace; emergency and involuntary civil admissions. (failed)
HB2399: Minors; parental access to health records. (failed)
HB2505: Termination of parental rights; abused, etc., children or children without parental care, appeals. (failed)
HB2535: Uniform Health Care Decisions Act; created, repeals most provisions of Health Care Decisions Act. (failed)
SB1439: Acute psychiatric bed registry; patient privacy and data security, etc. (passed)
HB73: Juvenile and domestic relations district courts; petitions for relief of care and custody. (passed)
HB240: Admission to bail; fixing terms of bail, mental health considerations. (failed)
HB245: Jurisdiction of district courts in felony cases; specialty dockets, Behavioral Health Docket Act. (passed)
HB336: Fetal and Infant Mortality Review Team; established, penalty, report.
HB548: Uniform Health Care Decisions Act; civil penalty. (failed)
HB667: Juvenile/domestic rel. district cts.; petition, noncitizen aged 18-21 years for leg. custody/relief. (passed)
HB901: Substantial risk orders; eligible petitioners, court jurisdiction, constr. possession of firearms. (passed)
HB973: Health records; disclosure of laboratory test results, waiting period. (passed)
HB1019: Health Coordination Network Program; patient data collection. (passed)
HB1194: Minor's health records; parental access.
HB1302: Jurisdiction of district courts; assault and battery of a family or household member.
HB1398: Fetal and Infant Mortality Review Team; established, definitions, penalty, report. (failed)
HB1403: Severe Maternal Mortality Surveillance and Review Program; established. (passed)
HB1489: Hospitals; reports of threats or acts of violence against health care providers. (passed)
SB171: Minor elementary or secondary school students admitted to inpatient treatment; discl. of discharge. (passed)
SB206: Juvenile and domestic relations district courts; petitions for relief of care and custody. (passed)