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Terms Used In Florida Statutes 397.6815

  • Court: means the court of legal jurisdiction in the context in which the term is used in this chapter. See Florida Statutes 397.311
  • Guardian: A person legally empowered and charged with the duty of taking care of and managing the property of another person who because of age, intellect, or health, is incapable of managing his (her) own affairs.
  • Law enforcement officer: means a law enforcement officer as defined in…. See Florida Statutes 397.311
  • Licensed service provider: means a public agency under this chapter, a private for-profit or not-for-profit agency under this chapter, a physician or any other private practitioner licensed under this chapter, or a hospital that offers substance abuse services through one or more licensed service components. See Florida Statutes 397.311
  • minor: includes any person who has not attained the age of 18 years. See Florida Statutes 1.01
  • person: includes individuals, children, firms, associations, joint adventures, partnerships, estates, trusts, business trusts, syndicates, fiduciaries, corporations, and all other groups or combinations. See Florida Statutes 1.01
  • Stabilization: means :
    (a) Alleviation of a crisis condition; or
    (b) Prevention of further deterioration,

    and connotes short-term emergency treatment. See Florida Statutes 397.311

  • substance abuse impaired: means a condition involving the use of alcoholic beverages or any psychoactive or mood-altering substance in such a manner as to induce mental, emotional, or physical problems and cause socially dysfunctional behavior. See Florida Statutes 397.311
  • Summons: Another word for subpoena used by the criminal justice system.
Upon receipt and filing of the petition for the involuntary assessment and stabilization of a substance abuse impaired person by the clerk of the court, the court shall ascertain whether the respondent is represented by an attorney, and if not, whether, on the basis of the petition, an attorney should be appointed; and shall:

(1) Provide a copy of the petition and notice of hearing to the respondent; the respondent’s parent, guardian, or legal custodian, in the case of a minor; the respondent’s attorney, if known; the petitioner; the respondent’s spouse or guardian, if applicable; and such other persons as the court may direct, and have such petition and notice personally delivered to the respondent if he or she is a minor. The court shall also issue a summons to the person whose admission is sought and conduct a hearing within 10 days; or
(2) Without the appointment of an attorney and, relying solely on the contents of the petition, enter an ex parte order authorizing the involuntary assessment and stabilization of the respondent. The court may order a law enforcement officer or other designated agent of the court to take the respondent into custody and deliver him or her to the nearest appropriate licensed service provider.