16. a. A patient committed pursuant to a court order who is not administratively discharged pursuant to section 17 of P.L.1987, c.116 (C. 30:4-27.17) shall be afforded periodic court review hearings of the need for involuntary commitment to treatment and of the least restrictive environment for that commitment. The review hearing shall be conducted in the manner provided in section 15 of P.L.1987, c.116 (C. 30:4-27.15). If the court determines at a review hearing that involuntary commitment to treatment shall be continued, it shall execute a new order.

In the case of a patient who has been admitted to a facility, the court shall conduct the first review hearing three months from the date of the first hearing, the next review hearing nine months from the date of the first hearing and subsequent review hearings 12 months from the date of the first hearing and annually thereafter. The court may schedule additional review hearings but, except in extraordinary circumstances, not more often than once every 30 days.

In the case of a patient who has been assigned to an outpatient treatment provider, the court shall conduct the first review hearing six months from the date of the first hearing, the next review hearing nine months from the date of the first hearing and subsequent review hearings 12 months from the date of the first hearing and annually thereafter. The court may schedule additional review hearings but, except in extraordinary circumstances, not more often than once every 30 days.

b. At a court review hearing, when the advanced age of the patient or the cause or nature of the mental illness renders it appropriate and when it would be impractical to obtain the testimony of a psychiatrist as required in section 13 of P.L.1987, c.116 (C. 30:4-27.13), the court may permit a physician on the patient’s treatment team, who has personally conducted an examination of the patient as close to the hearing date as possible, but in no event more than five days prior to the hearing date, to testify at the hearing to the clinical basis for the need for involuntary commitment to treatment.

L.1987, c.116, s.16; amended 2009, c.112, s.18.