Section 9.23. Voluntary and informal admissions; conversion to

(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.