(a) In counties with a population of 3,000,000 or more, when a recipient is hospitalized upon court order, the order may authorize a relative or friend of the recipient to transport the recipient to the facility if such person is able to do so safely and humanely. When the Department indicates that it has transportation to the facility available, the order may authorize the Department to transport the recipient there. The court may order the sheriff of the county in which such proceedings are held to transport the recipient to the facility. When a recipient is hospitalized upon court order, and the recipient has been transported to a mental health facility, other than a state-operated mental health facility, and it is determined by the facility that the recipient is in need of commitment or treatment at another mental health facility, the court shall determine whether a relative or friend of the recipient or the Department is authorized to transport the recipient between facilities, or whether the county sheriff is responsible for transporting the recipient between facilities. The sheriff may make arrangements with another public or private entity including a licensed ambulance service to transport the recipient to the facility. The transporting entity acting in good faith and without negligence in connection with the transportation of recipients shall incur no liability, civil or criminal, by reason of such transportation.(a-5) In counties with a population under 3,000,000, when a recipient is hospitalized upon court order, the order may authorize a relative or friend of the recipient to transport the recipient to the facility if the person is able to do so safely and humanely. The court may order the Department to transport the recipient to the facility. When a recipient is hospitalized upon court order, and the recipient has been transported to a mental health facility other than a State-operated mental health facility, and it is determined by the facility that the recipient is in need of commitment or treatment at another mental health facility, the court shall determine whether a relative or friend of the recipient is authorized to transport the recipient between facilities, or whether the Department is responsible for transporting the recipient between facilities. If the court determines that the Department is responsible for the transportation, the Department shall make arrangements either directly or through agreements with another public or private entity, including a licensed ambulance service, to appropriately transport the recipient to the facility. The making of such arrangements and agreements with public or private entities is independent of the Department's role as a provider of mental health services and does not indicate that the recipient is admitted to any Department facility. In making such arrangements and agreements with other public or private entities, the Department shall include provisions to ensure (i) the provision of trained personnel and the use of an appropriate vehicle for the safe transport of the recipient and (ii) that the recipient's insurance carrier as well as other programs, both public and private, that provide payment for such transportation services are fully utilized to the maximum extent possible. The Department may not make arrangements with an existing hospital or grant-in-aid or fee-for-service community provider for transportation services under this Section unless the hospital or provider has voluntarily submitted a proposal for its transportation services. This requirement does not eliminate or reduce any responsibility on the part of a hospital or community provider to ensure transportation that may arise independently through other State or federal law or regulation.
A transporting entity acting in good faith and without negligence in connection with the transportation of a recipient incurs no liability, civil or criminal, by reason of that transportation.
(b) The transporting entity may bill the recipient, the estate of the recipient, legally responsible relatives, or insurance carrier for the cost of providing transportation of the recipient to a mental health facility. The recipient and the estate of the recipient are liable for the payment of transportation costs for transporting the recipient to a mental health facility. If the recipient is a beneficiary of a trust described in Section 509 of the Illinois Trust Code, the trust shall not be considered a part of the recipient's estate and shall not be subject to payment for transportation costs for transporting the recipient to a mental health facility under this section, except to the extent permitted under Section 509 of the Illinois Trust Code. If the recipient is unable to pay or if the estate of the recipient is insufficient, the responsible relatives are severally liable for the payment of those sums or for the balance due in case less than the amount owing has been paid. If the recipient is covered by insurance, the insurance carrier shall be liable for payment to the extent authorized by the recipient's insurance policy.(c) Upon the delivery of a recipient to a facility, in accordance with the procedure set forth in this Article, the facility director of the facility shall sign a receipt acknowledging custody of the recipient and for any personal property belonging to him, which receipt shall be filed with the clerk of the court entering the hospitalization order.Amended by P.A. 102-0279,§ 5, eff. 1/1/2022.Amended by P.A. 101-0048,§ 1607, eff. 1/1/2020.Amended by P.A. 093-0770, § 5, eff. 1/1/2005.