Art. 46C.261.  RENEWAL OF ORDERS FOR INPATIENT COMMITMENT OR OUTPATIENT OR COMMUNITY-BASED TREATMENT AND SUPERVISION.  (a)  A court that orders an acquitted person committed to inpatient treatment or orders outpatient or community-based treatment and supervision annually shall determine whether to renew the order.
(b)  Not later than the 30th day before the date an order is scheduled to expire, the institution to which a person is committed, the person responsible for providing outpatient or community-based treatment and supervision, or the attorney representing the state may file a request that the order be renewed.  The request must explain in detail the reasons why the person requests renewal under this article.  A request to renew an order committing the person to inpatient treatment must also explain in detail why outpatient or community-based treatment and supervision is not appropriate.
(c)  The request for renewal must be accompanied by a certificate of medical examination for mental illness signed by a physician who examined the person during the 30-day period preceding the date on which the request is filed.
(d)  On the filing of a request for renewal under this article, the court shall:
(1)  set the matter for a hearing; and
(2)  appoint an attorney to represent the person.
(e)  The court shall act on the request for renewal before the order expires.
(f)  If a hearing is held, the person may be transferred from the facility to which the acquitted person was committed to a jail for purposes of participating in the hearing only if necessary but not earlier than 72 hours before the hearing begins.  If the order is renewed, the person shall be transferred back to the facility immediately on renewal of the order.
(g)  If no objection is made, the court may admit into evidence the certificate of medical examination for mental illness.  Admitted certificates constitute competent medical or psychiatric testimony, and the court may make its findings solely from the certificate and the detailed request for renewal.
(h)  A court shall renew the order only if the court finds that the party who requested the renewal has established by clear and convincing evidence that continued mandatory supervision and treatment are appropriate.  A renewed order authorizes continued inpatient commitment or outpatient or community-based treatment and supervision for not more than one year.
(i)  The court, on application for renewal of an order for inpatient or residential care services, may modify the order to provide for outpatient or community-based treatment and supervision if the court finds the acquitted person has established by a preponderance of the evidence that treatment and supervision can be safely and effectively provided as outpatient or community-based treatment and supervision.
Added by Acts 2005, 79th Leg., Ch. 831 (S.B. 837), Sec. 2, eff. September 1, 2005.