(a) Wherever a petition is filed pursuant to this article, the court shall appoint the director of a regional center for the developmentally disabled established under Division 4.5 (commencing with Section 4500), or the designee of the director, to examine the person alleged to have a developmental disability.
(b) Within 15 judicial days after his or her appointment, the regional center director or designee shall submit to the court in writing a report containing his or her evaluation of the person alleged to have a developmental disability. If the person is an individual described in paragraph (2) of subdivision (a) of Section 7505, the report shall include the results of the assessment conducted pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 4418.7. The report shall contain a recommendation of a facility or facilities in which the alleged developmentally disabled person may be placed. The report shall include any comprehensive assessment, or updated assessment, conducted by the regional center pursuant to paragraph (2) of subdivision (c) of Section 4418.25.
(c) The report shall include a description of the least restrictive residential placement necessary to achieve the purposes of treatment. In determining the least restrictive residential placement, consideration shall be given to public safety. If placement into or out of a developmental center is recommended, the regional center director or designee simultaneously shall submit the report to the executive director of the developmental center or his or her designee. The executive director of the developmental center or his or her designee may, within 15 days of receiving the regional center report, submit to the court a written report evaluating the ability of the developmental center to achieve the purposes of treatment for this person and whether the developmental center placement can adequately provide the security measures or systems required to protect the public health and safety from the potential dangers posed by the person’s known behaviors.
(d) The reports prepared by the regional center director and developmental center director, if applicable, shall also address suitable interim placements for the person as provided for in Section 6506.
(Amended by Stats. 2014, Ch. 30, Sec. 22. (SB 856) Effective June 20, 2014.)