§43A-1-107.

§43A-1-107.
   
   A. Hearings required by the Mental Health Law for emergency detention
   or involuntary commitment of a person may be held within the mental
   health facility in which the person is being detained or is to be
   committed whenever the judge deems such venue would be in the best
   interest of the patient.
   
   Such hearings shall be conducted by any judge designated by the
   presiding judge of the judicial district in which the mental health
   facility is located. Hearings may be held in an area of the hospital
   designated by the Commissioner of Mental Health and Substance Abuse
   Services and agreed upon by the presiding judge of that judicial
   district.
   
   B. The Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services, if
   funds become available, or any board of county commissioners within
   the judicial district in which a mental health facility is located may
   purchase or otherwise provide for the operation, maintenance and
   equipping of a video teleconferencing system in the mental health
   facility for conducting any nonjury hearings pursuant to this section
   or such other uses determined necessary by the board of county
   commissioners.
   
   C. The court may conduct any nonjury hearing required or authorized
   pursuant to the provisions of the Mental Health Law for detained or
   confined persons, at the discretion of the judge, by video
   teleconferencing after advising the person subject to possible
   detention or commitment of his constitutional rights. If the video
   teleconferencing hearing is conducted, the image of the detainee or
   person subject to commitment may be broadcast by closed-circuit
   television to the judge. A closed-circuit television system shall
   provide for two-way communications including image and sound between
   the detainee or person to be committed and the judge.
   
   D. The provisions for criminal venue as provided otherwise by law
   shall not be applicable to proceedings encompassed by commitment
   statutes referred to in the Mental Health Law which are deemed civil
   in nature.
   
   E. Unless otherwise provided by law, the rules of civil procedure
   shall apply to all judicial proceedings provided for in the Mental
   Health Law, including but not limited to the rules concerning vacation
   of orders and appellate review.