(A) A probate court, through a probate judge or magistrate, may issue by telephone an ex parte emergency order authorizing any of the actions described in division (B) of this section if all of the following are the case:

(1) The court receives notice from the county board of developmental disabilities, or an authorized employee of the board, that the board or employee believes an emergency order is needed as described in this section.

(2) The adult who is the subject of the notice is eligible to receive services or support under section 5126.041 of the Revised Code.

(3) There is reasonable cause to believe that the adult is incapacitated.

(4) There is reasonable cause to believe that there is a substantial risk to the adult of immediate physical harm or death.

(B) An order issued under this section may authorize the county board of developmental disabilities to do any of the following:

(1) Provide, or arrange for the provision of, emergency protective services for the adult;

(2) Remove the adult from the adult's place of residence or legal settlement;

(3) Remove the adult from the place where the abuse, neglect, or exploitation occurred.

(C) A court shall not issue an order under this section to remove an adult from a place described in division (B)(2) or (3) of this section until the court is satisfied that reasonable efforts have been made to notify the adult and any person with whom the adult resides of the proposed removal and the reasons for it, except that, the court may issue an order prior to giving the notice if one of the following is the case:

(1) Notification could jeopardize the physical or emotional safety of the adult.

(2) The notification could result in the adult being removed from the court's jurisdiction.

(D) An order issued under this section shall be in effect for not longer than twenty-four hours, except that if the day following the day on which the order is issued is a weekend-day or legal holiday, the order shall remain in effect until the next business day.

(E)

(1) Except as provided in division (E)(2) of this section, not later than twenty-four hours after an order is issued under this section, the county board or employee that provided notice to the probate court shall file a complaint with the court in accordance with division (A) of section 5126.33 of the Revised Code.

(2) If the day following the day on which the order was issued is a weekend-day or a holiday, the county board or employee shall file the complaint with the probate court on the next business day.

(3) Except as provided in section 5126.332 of the Revised Code, proceedings on the complaint filed pursuant to this division shall be conducted in accordance with section 5126.33 of the Revised Code.

Amended by 128th General Assemblych.28, SB 79, §1, eff. 10/6/2009.

Effective Date: 01-30-2004 .