MA S1401

Requires mental health facility staffing plans to align with available physician resources and national standards for evening and night hospital coverage

Imposes strict timelines for independent medical examinations: requests must be made within 24 hours of counsel appointment and completed within 3 business days

Removes provisions allowing patients or counsel to request delays in commitment hearings under Sections 5 and 7 of Chapter 123

Reduces the timeframe in Section 8B from 14 days to 5 days for certain mental health proceedings

Requires guardianship hearings for inpatient mental health patients to be conducted within 7 days of petition filing, and directs DCF and the Office of the Child Advocate to create a streamlined process for administering antipsychotic medication to children in state custody at psychiatric facilities