(a) Nothing contained in this article shall be construed to prohibit any director from converting, and it shall be his duty to convert, the admission of any involuntary patient suitable and willing to apply therefor to a voluntary status. The mental hygiene legal service shall be given notice of every conversion from an involuntary status to a voluntary status. (b) Any patient converted from an involuntary status to a voluntary status shall have the right to a judicial hearing before the supreme court or a county court on the questions of his suitability for such conversion and on his willingness to be so converted. The procedure for requesting such a hearing, except as to time limitations and questions to be determined, shall be pursuant to subdivisions (a) and (b) of section 9.31 of this article.
New York Legal Code