Section 31-14-8. Period of confinement of patients committed under chapter

   Upon commitment the patient shall be confined in a hospital or facility approved by the department for the care of tubercular patients for a period not to exceed two years unless, before the expiration of such two-year period, the designated responsible physician of the tuberculosis inpatient unit determines that the following conditions no longer exist:

   (1) The patient has active tuberculosis; or

   (2) The patient has active tuberculosis and there is a substantial likelihood of future noncompliance with a proposed treatment plan which will predictably lead to the development of infectious drug-resistant tuberculosis. The likelihood of noncompliance must be based upon a history of noncompliance with treatment; provided, however, that short emergency leaves in the event of death or critical illness in the family or short therapeutic leaves may be granted under conditions which would not adversely affect the public health and in accordance with rules and regulations established by the department.

Ga. L. 1953, Nov.-Dec. Sess., p. 348, § 11; Ga. L. 1957, p. 271, § 1; Code 1933, § 88-711, enacted by Ga. L. 1964, p. 499, § 1; Ga. L. 1985, p. 620, § 3; Ga. L. 1995, p. 1231, § 2; Ga. L. 2005, p. 1513, § 1/SB 56.