(a)
In any county in which services are available pursuant to Section 5348, any person who is determined by the court to be subject to subdivision (a) of Section 5346 may voluntarily enter into an agreement for services under this section.
(b)
(1)After a petition for an order for assisted outpatient treatment is filed, but before the conclusion of the hearing on the petition, the person who is the subject of the petition, or the
person’s legal counsel with the person’s consent, may waive the right to an assisted outpatient treatment hearing for the purpose of obtaining treatment under a settlement agreement, provided that an examining licensed mental health treatment provider states that the person can survive safely in the community. The settlement agreement may not exceed 180 days in duration and shall be agreed to by all parties.
(2)
The settlement agreement shall be in writing, shall be approved by the court, and shall include a treatment plan developed by the community-based program that will provide services that provide treatment in the least restrictive manner consistent with the needs of the person who is the subject of the petition.
(3)
Either party may request that the court modify the treatment plan at any time during the 180-day period.
(4)
The court shall designate the appropriate county department to monitor the person’s treatment under, and compliance with, the settlement agreement. If the person fails to comply with the treatment according to the agreement, the designated county department shall notify the counsel designated by the county and the person’s counsel of the person’s noncompliance.
(5)
A settlement agreement approved by the court pursuant to this section shall have the same force and effect as an order for assisted outpatient treatment pursuant to Section 5346.
(6)
At a hearing on the issue of noncompliance with the agreement, the written statement of noncompliance submitted shall be prima facie evidence that a violation of the conditions of the agreement has occurred. If the person who is the subject of the petition denies any of the facts as stated in the statement, he or she has
the burden of proving by a preponderance of the evidence that the alleged facts are false.