MO HB631

Mental health facilities must record emergency contact information for voluntary patients and record guardian/representative/attorney contact information for involuntary patients at the time of admission

Facilities must notify designated contacts of an involuntarily held patient's location within 24 hours by telephone or in person, with contact attempts documented in clinical records

Written notice of involuntary placement petitions must include court filing location, public defender appointment information, hearing details, venue change rights, and right to independent expert examination

Courts may appoint a guardian advocate for patients deemed incompetent to consent to treatment, with preference given to health care surrogates, spouses, adult children, parents, next of kin, or adult friends in that order

Guardian advocates must complete at least 4 hours of court-approved training and cannot consent to abortion, sterilization, electroconvulsive treatment, psychosurgery, or unapproved experimental treatments without separate court approval