Sec. 574.003.  APPOINTMENT OF ATTORNEY.  (a)  The judge shall appoint an attorney to represent a proposed patient within 24 hours after the time an application for court-ordered mental health services is filed if the proposed patient does not have an attorney.  At that time, the judge shall also appoint a language or sign interpreter if necessary to ensure effective communication with the attorney in the proposed patient's primary language.
(b)  The court shall inform the attorney in writing of the attorney's duties under Section 574.004.
(c)  The proposed patient's attorney shall be furnished with all records and papers in the case and is entitled to have access to all hospital and physicians' records.
Added by Acts 1991, 72nd Leg., ch. 76, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1991.