(a) Persons subject to capacity hearings pursuant to Section 5332 shall have a right to representation by an advocate or legal counsel. “Advocate,” as used in this section, means a person who is providing mandated patients’ rights advocacy services pursuant to Chapter 6.2 (commencing with Section 5500), and this chapter. If the State Department of State Hospitals provides training to patients’ rights advocates, that training shall include issues specific to capacity hearings.

(b) Petitions for capacity hearings pursuant to Section 5332 shall be filed with the superior court. The director of the treatment facility or his or her designee shall personally deliver a copy of the notice of the filing of the petition for a capacity hearing to the person who is the subject of the petition.

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(c) The mental health professional delivering the copy of the notice of the filing of the petition to the court for a capacity hearing shall, at the time of delivery, inform the person of his or her legal right to a capacity hearing, including the right to the assistance of the patients’ rights advocate or an attorney to prepare for the hearing and to answer any questions or concerns.

(d) As soon after the filing of the petition for a capacity hearing is practicable, an attorney or a patients’ rights advocate shall meet with the person to discuss the capacity hearing process and to assist the person in preparing for the capacity hearing and to answer questions or to otherwise assist the person, as is appropriate.

(Amended by Stats. 2012, Ch. 24, Sec. 129. (AB 1470) Effective June 27, 2012.)