The Commissioner may establish a statewide system of precare and aftercare services, to include receiving hospital services and halfway houses, in relation to the admission and discharge of patients from state mental hospitals. Physical facilities for these services may be leased, purchased, or constructed by the State of Oklahoma or donated to the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services. Contracts for such services may be negotiated with professional persons, privately owned facilities, or publicly operated facilities. These services may be operated separately or in connection with existing state mental hospitals. These services shall be used for the care and treatment of the mentally ill, especially for those whose condition makes it likely that hospitalization will be necessary and for those patients discharged from state mental hospitals who require periodic outpatient supervision and treatment. Such services shall operate in accordance with the regulations established by the Commissioner.
Added by Laws 1953, p. 175, § 152, emerg. eff. June 3, 1953. Amended by Laws 1965, c. 68, § 1, emerg. eff. April 21, 1965; Laws 1986, c. 103, § 28, eff. Nov. 1, 1986. Renumbered from § 152 of this title by Laws 1986, c. 103, § 103, eff. Nov. 1, 1986. Amended by Laws 1990, c. 51, § 61, emerg. eff. April 9, 1990; Laws 2010, c. 287, § 10, eff. Nov. 1, 2010.