36-550. Definitions In this article, unless the context otherwise requires: 1. ' Administration' means the Arizona health care cost containment system administration. 2. ' Community residential treatment system' means a statewide system of community-based residential treatment programs for the seriously mentally ill that provides a wide range of services as alternatives to institutionalization and in the least restrictive setting. 3. ' Director' means the director of the administration. 4. ' Seriously mentally ill' means persons who as a result of a mental disorder as defined in section 36-501 exhibit emotional or behavioral functioning that is so impaired as to interfere substantially with their capacity to remain in the community without supportive treatment or services of a long-term or indefinite duration. In these persons mental disability is severe and persistent, resulting in a long-term limitation of their functional capacities for primary activities of daily living such as interpersonal relationships, homemaking, self-care, employment and recreation.
Arizona Legal Code
§ 36.550
Source: https://www.azleg.gov/ars/36/00550.htm· Version 2026