Sec. 14. 22 MRSA §817, as enacted by PL 1989, c. 487, §11, is amended to read:

§817. Discharge

An individual committed to a hospital or, institution facility or private home pursuant to section 812 may be discharged whenever the physician responsible for that individual's treatment and the department determine that the individual may be discharged without danger to other individuals. The department shall immediately report the discharge, with a full statement of the reasons for the discharge, to the court which that ordered the commitment.

If an individual committed to a hospital, facility or private home pursuant to section 812 leaves the hospital violates the commitment prior to discharge in accordance with this section, the hospital or physician responsible for treatment shall immediately report this to the department. An arrest warrant shall issue must be issued upon application by the department to the District Court.

Sec. 15. 22 MRSA §820, sub-§1, ¶A, as enacted by PL 2001, c. 694, Pt. A, §1 and affected by PL 2003, c. 366, §1, is amended to read:

A. Upon request of the department, a medical health care provider, pharmacist, medical laboratory or veterinarian shall provide to the department health information directly related to a declared extreme public health emergency.

Sec. 16. 22 MRSA §820, sub-§1, ¶¶C, D and E are enacted to read:

C.__The department may implement rules to address the risk or potential risk of a shortage of health care workers.

D.__The department may implement rules to address the need for dispensing drugs in an emergency situation.