Any person, partnership, corporation or association that violates the provisions of this chapter or any regulations promulgated under authority delegated to the Mental Health Department, and after due notice served by registered or certified mail or personally, shall be liable to pay a penalty of $50.00 per day for each day of such violation. Any officer or any employee of the Mental Health Department, or any other person who shall allow, assist, or abet in the escape of any patient or client confined by court action under the authority of the Mental Health Department shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and, upon conviction, shall be punished by a fine not exceeding $100.00, and he may be punished by imprisonment in the county jail or at hard labor for the county, not exceeding 90 days, the imprisonment to be at the discretion of the judge trying or presiding over the trial of the case. Any member of the Legislature, any member of the Mental Health Department, or any holder of any office of profit with the state who takes any contract for work or services of the Mental Health Department or any of its agencies, or is employed in any way under such contract, or sells any goods or supplies to the Mental Health Department or any of its agencies or is in any wise pecuniarily interested in any such contract or sale, as principal or agent, must, on conviction, be fined not less than $50.00 nor more than $1,000.00 and also forfeit his or her office.
Last modified: May 3, 2021