(a) A respondent who was originally committed to involuntary inpatient care under AS 47.30.700 - 47.30.915 may be released before the expiration of the commitment period if a provider of outpatient care accepts the respondent for specified outpatient treatment for a period of time not to exceed the duration of the commitment, and if the professional person in charge, or that person's professional designee, finds that
(1) it is not necessary to treat the respondent as an inpatient to prevent the respondent from harming self or others; and
(2) there is reason to believe that the respondent's mental condition would improve as a result of the outpatient treatment.
(b) A copy of the conditions for early release shall be given to the respondent and the respondent's attorney and guardian, if any, the provider of outpatient care, and the court.
(c) If during the commitment period the provider of outpatient care determines that the respondent can no longer be treated on an outpatient basis because the respondent is likely to cause harm to self or others or is gravely disabled, the provider shall give the respondent oral and written notice that the respondent must return to the treatment facility within 24 hours, with copies to the respondent's attorney and guardian, if any, the court, and the inpatient treatment facility. If the respondent fails to arrive at the treatment facility within 24 hours after receiving the notice, the professional person in charge may contact the appropriate peace officers who shall take the respondent into custody and transport the respondent to the facility. If it is determined by the professional person in charge to be necessary, a member of the treatment facility staff shall accompany the peace officers when they take the respondent into custody.
(d) If the provider of outpatient care determines that the respondent will require continued outpatient care after the expiration of the commitment period, the provider may initiate further commitment proceedings as if the provider were the professional person in charge, and the provisions of AS 47.30.660 - 47.30.915 apply, except that provisions relating to inpatient treatment shall be read as applicable to outpatient treatment.