NY S00446

Expands the definition of grounds for involuntary psychiatric admission to include "serious psychiatric harm" in addition to "serious physical harm," allowing hospitalization when a person's mental health condition significantly impairs judgment and poses risk of severe deterioration.

Adds new definition of "likely to result in serious psychiatric harm" as significantly impairing a person's ability to make informed decisions about mental health treatment and posing substantial risk of severe deterioration in capacity for judgment, reason, or self-management.

Modifies criteria for emergency and involuntary admissions across multiple sections (9.37, 9.39, 9.40, 9.41, 9.43, 9.45, 9.55, 9.57, 9.58) to include psychiatric harm as a basis for detention and treatment in hospitals and psychiatric emergency programs.

Updates "need for retention" definition to require physicians to consider a patient's current condition, preparedness to adhere to outpatient treatment, and substance abuse history when determining whether continued involuntary hospitalization is necessary.

Makes gender-neutral language updates throughout the statute, replacing references to "himself" with "himself or herself" and clarifying pronoun usage.