For purposes of admitting a person who is apprehended under § 27A-10-2 or 27A-10-3 , the Department of Social Services shall designate any facility as an appropriate regional facility if the facility is approved by the department in accordance with this section.

Any facility may apply to the department for designation as an appropriate regional facility at the time and in the manner established by the department under rule promulgated in accordance with chapter 1-26 .

To be designated as an appropriate regional facility, a facility must:

(1) Have the capacity for overnight residential services necessary to stabilize acute psychiatric or behavioral symptoms and evaluate treatment needs;

(2) Have the capacity to admit individuals twenty-four hours per day and seven days per week;

(3) Have the capacity to develop a crisis stabilization plan for each individual admitted;

(4) Have on-site personnel twenty-four hours per day and seven days per week, and have medical personnel available, including by electronic communication, twenty-four hours per day and seven days per week;

(5) Have the capacity to document daily interactions with or observations of the individual by treatment staff of the facility; and

(6) Comply with any other requirements determined by the department by rule promulgated in accordance with chapter 1-26 .

Source: SL 2020, ch 110, § 1.