Wherever in any provision of this code heretofore or hereafter enacted the term “parole” is used in relation to the release of a patient from a state hospital, it shall be construed to refer to and mean “leave of absence.” A judicially committed patient or patient with an intellectual disability granted a leave of absence on or after July 1, 1969, and a patient on leave of absence as of July 1, 1969, may at any time during the period of the leave of absence be recalled and returned to the hospital.

Upon the release of a judicially committed patient as granted by the medical director of a state hospital, on leave of absence or discharge upon any of the grounds provided in this article, in accordance with the rules and

regulations prescribed by the department, the superintendent shall issue to or on behalf of the judicially committed patient a document stating the general terms or limitations of the leave of absence, or a certificate stating the general condition of, or the reason for, the discharge of the judicially committed patient.