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HR 4302 108th Congress House Government Operations and Politics Administrative remedies Ambulatory care Appellate procedure Civil actions and liability Civil commitment Civil procedure Congress Congressional oversight Detention of persons District of Columbia Evidence (Law) Government paperwork Health Judges Judicial review Juries Law Local laws Magistrates

District of Columbia Civil Commitment Modernization Act of 2004

Introduced: May 6, 2004 See on congress.gov
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 Everywhere this bill has been 18 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Dec 10, 2004
Became Public Law No: 108-450.
Dec 10, 2004
Signed by President.
Nov 30, 2004
Presented to President.
Nov 20, 2004
Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S11697)
Nov 20, 2004
Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.(consideration: CR S11697)
Oct 7, 2004
Received in the Senate, read twice.
Oct 6, 2004
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
Oct 6, 2004
On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H8257-8258)
Oct 6, 2004
Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.(text: CR H8257-8258)
Oct 6, 2004
DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 4302.
Oct 6, 2004
Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H8257-8259)
Oct 6, 2004
Mr. Davis, Tom moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
Oct 5, 2004
Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 449.
Oct 5, 2004
Reported by the Committee on Government Reform. H. Rept. 108-729.
May 12, 2004
Ordered to be Reported by Voice Vote.
May 12, 2004
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
May 6, 2004
Referred to the House Committee on Government Reform.
May 6, 2004
Introduced in House
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 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

(This measure has not been amended since it was passed by the House on October 6, 2004. The summary of that version is repeated here.)

District of Columbia Mental Health Civil Commitment Modernization Act of 2004 - (Sec. 2) Amends the District of Columbia Code to modify the composition of, appointment to, and organization of the Commission on Mental Health.

(Sec. 3) Limits to Commission members who are psychiatrists or qualified psychologists (currently, the Commission or any of its members) the competency to be witnesses at any mental health proceeding.

(Sec. 4) Authorizes Superior Court extension for up to 21 days, under certain conditions, of the period for which an individual may be detained for emergency observation and diagnosis in a facility, hospital, or mental health provider.

(Sec. 5) Authorizes the Commission to grant a continuance of up to 14 days beyond the current allowed recess of five days for the counsel of persons alleged to be mentally ill to prepare a case. Requires extension of the emergency observation and detention period for the subject of the hearing for the duration of the continuance.

(Sec. 6) Revises procedures on hearings and determination of mental illness. Limits to the least restrictive alternative the kind of facility to which a Court may order a person's commitment, consistent with the best interests of the person and the public.

(Sec. 7) Authorizes a one-year renewal of commitment status by the Commission, subject to judicial review, of a person in a facility, hospital, or mental health provider.

What's happening now December 10, 2004

Became Public Law No: 108-450.

 Bill text 6 versions

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 1
 Cosponsors 1
All 1 Democratic 1
D
Norton, Eleanor Holmes
District of Columbia · May 6, 2004
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 4302: District of Columbia Mental Health Civil Commitment Modernization Act of 2004. 108th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/108-HR-4302/
MLA
"H.R. 4302: District of Columbia Mental Health Civil Commitment Modernization Act of 2004." 108th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/108-HR-4302/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 4302, 108th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/108-HR-4302/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 4302: District of Columbia Mental Health Civil Commitment Modernization Act of 2004](https://openamerica.io/bill/108-HR-4302/)
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