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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>62018</law_id><section_number>37.2-505</section_number><catch_line>Coordination of services for preadmission screening and discharge planning</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><referred_to_by><reference>37.2-100</reference><reference>37.2-316</reference><reference>37.2-501</reference><reference>37.2-606</reference><reference>37.2-837</reference><reference>51.5-146</reference><reference>63.2-1602</reference></referred_to_by><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="1" identifier="37.2">Behavioral Health and Developmental Services</unit><unit label="subtitle" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="II">Behavioral Health and Developmental Services</unit><unit label="chapter" level="3" order_by="1" identifier="5">Community Services Boards</unit></structure><text>
						<section id="A"><p><span class="prefix-number">A.</span> The <span class="dictionary">community services board</span> shall fulfill the following responsibilities: <a id="paragraph-226349" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/37.2-505/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A1" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">1.</span> Be responsible for coordinating the community services necessary to accomplish effective preadmission screening and discharge planning for persons referred to the <span class="dictionary">community services board</span>. When preadmission screening reports are required by the <span class="dictionary">court</span> on an emergency basis pursuant to Article 5 (&#xA7; <a class="law" title="(Effective July 1, 2026) Commitment hearing for involuntary admission; written explanation; right to counsel; rights of petitioner" href="/37.2-814/">37.2-814</a> et seq.) of Chapter 8, the <span class="dictionary">community services board</span> shall ensure the development of the report for the <span class="dictionary">court</span>. To accomplish this coordination, the <span class="dictionary">community services board</span> shall establish a structure and procedures involving staff from the <span class="dictionary">community services board</span> and, as appropriate, representatives from (i) the <span class="dictionary">state hospital</span> or <span class="dictionary">training center</span> serving the board&#x2019;s <span class="dictionary">service area</span>, (ii) the local <span class="dictionary">department</span> of social services, (iii) the health <span class="dictionary">department</span>, (iv) the <span class="dictionary">Department</span> for Aging and Rehabilitative Services office in the board&#x2019;s <span class="dictionary">service area</span>, (v) the local school division, and (vi) other public and private human services agencies, including <span class="dictionary">licensed hospitals</span>. <a id="paragraph-226350" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/37.2-505/#A1"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A2" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">2.</span> Provide preadmission screening services prior to the admission for treatment pursuant to &#xA7; <a class="law" title="(Effective July 1, 2026) Voluntary admission" href="/37.2-805/">37.2-805</a> or Article 5 (&#xA7; <a class="law" title="(Effective July 1, 2026) Commitment hearing for involuntary admission; written explanation; right to counsel; rights of petitioner" href="/37.2-814/">37.2-814</a> et seq.) of Chapter 8 of any person who requires emergency <span class="dictionary">mental health services</span> while in a city or county served by the <span class="dictionary">community services board</span>. In the case of inmates incarcerated in a regional jail, each <span class="dictionary">community services board</span> that serves a county or city that is a participant in the regional jail shall review any existing <span class="dictionary">Memorandum</span> of Understanding between the <span class="dictionary">community services board</span> and any other <span class="dictionary">community services boards</span> that serve the regional jail to ensure that such <span class="dictionary">memorandum</span> sets forth the roles and responsibilities of each <span class="dictionary">community services board</span> in the preadmission screening process, provides for communication and information sharing protocols between the <span class="dictionary">community services boards</span>, and provides for due consideration, including financial consideration, should there be disproportionate obligations on one of the <span class="dictionary">community services boards</span>. <a id="paragraph-226351" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/37.2-505/#A2"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A3" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">3.</span> Provide, in consultation with the appropriate <span class="dictionary">state hospital</span> or <span class="dictionary">training center</span>, discharge planning for any individual who, prior to admission, resided in a city or county served by the <span class="dictionary">community services board</span>. In the case of any individual to be discharged from Central <span class="dictionary">State Hospital</span>, Southwestern Virginia Mental Health Institute, or Southern Virginia Mental Health Institute in 30 days or less after admission, the appropriate <span class="dictionary">community services board</span> shall implement the discharge plan developed by the state <span class="dictionary">facility</span>. Upon initiation of discharge planning, the <span class="dictionary">community services board</span> that serves the city or county where the individual resided prior to admission shall inform the individual that he may choose to return to the county or city in which he resided prior to admission or to any other county or city in the Commonwealth. If the individual is unable to make informed decisions regarding his care, the <span class="dictionary">community services board</span> shall so inform his authorized representative, who may choose the county or city in which the individual shall reside upon discharge. In either case and to the extent permitted by federal <span class="dictionary">law</span>, for <span class="dictionary">individuals</span> who choose to return to the county or city in which they resided prior to admission, the <span class="dictionary">community services board</span> shall make every reasonable effort to place the <span class="dictionary">individuals</span> in such county or city. The <span class="dictionary">community services board</span> serving the county or city in which he will reside following discharge shall be responsible for arranging transportation for the individual upon request following the discharge protocols developed by the <span class="dictionary">Department</span>.
				The discharge plan shall be completed prior to the individual&#x2019;s discharge. The plan shall be prepared with the involvement and participation of the <span class="dictionary">individual receiving services</span> or his representative and must reflect the individual&#x2019;s preferences to the greatest extent possible. The plan shall include the mental health, developmental, <span class="dictionary">substance abuse</span>, social, educational, medical, employment, housing, legal, advocacy, transportation, and other services that the individual will need upon discharge into the community and identify the public or private agencies that have agreed to provide these services.
				No individual shall be discharged from a <span class="dictionary">state hospital</span> or <span class="dictionary">training center</span> without completion by the <span class="dictionary">community services board</span> of the discharge plan described in this subdivision. If <span class="dictionary">state hospital</span> or <span class="dictionary">training center</span> staff identify an individual as ready for discharge and the <span class="dictionary">community services board</span> that is responsible for the individual&#x2019;s care disagrees, the <span class="dictionary">community services board</span> shall document in the treatment plan within 72 hours of the individual&#x2019;s identification any reasons for not accepting the individual for discharge. If the <span class="dictionary">state hospital</span> or <span class="dictionary">training center</span> disagrees with the <span class="dictionary">community services board</span> and the board refuses to develop a discharge plan to accept the individual back into the community, the <span class="dictionary">state hospital</span> or <span class="dictionary">training center</span> or the <span class="dictionary">community services board</span> shall ask the <span class="dictionary">Commissioner</span> to review the <span class="dictionary">state hospital</span>&#x2019;s or <span class="dictionary">training center</span>&#x2019;s determination that the individual is ready for discharge in accordance with procedures established by the <span class="dictionary">Department</span> in collaboration with <span class="dictionary">state hospitals</span>, <span class="dictionary">training centers</span>, and <span class="dictionary">community services boards</span>. If the <span class="dictionary">Commissioner</span> determines that the individual is ready for discharge, a discharge plan shall be developed by the <span class="dictionary">Department</span> to ensure the availability of adequate services for the individual and the protection of the community. The <span class="dictionary">Commissioner</span> also shall verify that sufficient state-controlled funds have been allocated to the <span class="dictionary">community services board</span> through the <span class="dictionary">performance contract</span>. If sufficient state-controlled funds have been allocated, the <span class="dictionary">Commissioner</span> may contract with a private provider, another <span class="dictionary">community services board</span>, or a <span class="dictionary">behavioral health authority</span> to deliver the services specified in the discharge plan and withhold allocated funds applicable to that individual&#x2019;s discharge plan from the <span class="dictionary">community services board</span> in accordance with subsections C and E of &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Performance contract for mental health, developmental, and substance abuse services" href="/37.2-508/">37.2-508</a>. <a id="paragraph-226352" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/37.2-505/#A3"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A4" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">4.</span> Provide information, if available, to all hospitals licensed pursuant to Article 1 (&#xA7; <a class="law" title="(Effective January 1, 2026) Definitions" href="/32.1-123/">32.1-123</a> et seq.) of Chapter 5 of Title 32.1 about alcohol and <span class="dictionary">substance abuse</span> services available to <span class="dictionary">minors</span>. <a id="paragraph-226353" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/37.2-505/#A4"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">B.</span> The <span class="dictionary">community services board</span> may perform the functions set out in subdivision A 1 in the case of children by referring them to the locality&#x2019;s family assessment and planning team and by cooperating with the community policy and management team in the coordination of services for troubled youths and their families. The <span class="dictionary">community services board</span> may involve the family assessment and planning team and the community policy and management team, but it remains responsible for performing the functions set out in subdivisions A 2 and 3 in the case of children. <a id="paragraph-226354" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/37.2-505/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>1980, c. 582, &#xA7; 37.1-197.1; 1986, c. 609; 1992, cc. 837, 880; 1995, c. 844; 1998, c. 680; 2002, c. 747; 2005, c. 716; 2012, cc. 180, 476, 507, 656, 803, 813, 835; 2017, cc. 601, 606; 2021, Sp. Sess. I, c. 249; 2024, cc. 153, 279.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
