1999 Legislation
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SENATE BILL NO. 1111 – Defendant/mental competence/evaluat

SENATE BILL NO. 1111

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S1111................................................by JUDICIARY AND RULES
DEFENDANT - MENTAL COMPETENCE - Amends existing law to provide procedures
to govern situations when a criminal defendant is to be evaluated for
mental capacity to contribute to his defense; to require that he also be
evaluated for ability to make informed decisions about treatment; and to
govern procedures for ordering involuntary treatment.

02/04    Senate intro - 1st rdg - to printing
02/05    Rpt prt - to Jud
02/22    Rpt out - rec d/p - to 2nd rdg
02/23    2nd rdg - to 3rd rdg
02/26    3rd rdg - PASSED - 34-0-1
      AYES--Andreason, Boatright, Branch, Bunderson, Burtenshaw, Cameron,
      Crow, Danielson, Davis, Deide, Dunklin, Frasure, Geddes, Hawkins,
      Ingram, Ipsen, Keough, King, Lee, McLaughlin, Noh, Parry, Richardson,
      Riggs, Risch, Sandy, Schroeder, Sorensen, Stegner, Stennett, Thorne,
      Twiggs, Wheeler, Whitworth
      NAYS--None
      Absent and Excused--Darrington
    Floor Sponsor - Ingram
    Title apvd - to House
03/01    House intro - 1st rdg - to Jud

Bill Text


S1111


                                                                        
 ||||              LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF IDAHO             ||||
Fifty-fifth Legislature                 First Regular Session - 1999
                                                                        

                                      IN THE SENATE

                                   SENATE BILL NO. 1111

                             BY JUDICIARY AND RULES COMMITTEE

 1                                        AN ACT
 2    RELATING TO THE MENTAL COMPETENCE OF A  DEFENDANT;  AMENDING  SECTION  18-211,
 3        IDAHO  CODE, AS AMENDED BY SECTION 7, CHAPTER 90, LAWS OF 1998, TO PROVIDE
 4        FOR A FINDING OF THE DEFENDANT'S ABILITY TO MAKE INFORMED DECISIONS  ABOUT
 5        TREATMENT;  AMENDING  SECTION 18-212, IDAHO CODE, TO GOVERN PROCEDURE WHEN
 6        THERE IS A FINDING THAT A DEFENDANT LACKS CAPACITY TO MAKE INFORMED  DECI-
 7        SIONS  ABOUT  TREATMENT AND TO PROVIDE FOR A HEARING REGARDING INVOLUNTARY
 8        TREATMENT AND TO MAKE TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS; AND AMENDING SECTION  66-337,
 9        IDAHO CODE, TO PROVIDE A CORRECT CITATION.

10    Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Idaho:

11        SECTION  1.  That  Section  18-211,  Idaho  Code, as amended by Section 7,
12    Chapter 90, Laws of 1998, be, and the same is hereby amended to read  as  fol-
13    lows:

14        18-211.  EXAMINATION  OF  DEFENDANT  --  APPOINTMENT  OF PSYCHIATRISTS AND
15    LICENSED PSYCHOLOGISTS -- HOSPITALIZATION -- REPORT.  (1)  Whenever  there  is
16    reason  to  doubt  the  defendant's fitness to proceed as set forth in section
17    18-210, Idaho Code, the court shall appoint at least one (1) qualified psychi-
18    atrist or licensed psychologist or shall request the director of  the  depart-
19    ment  of  health  and welfare to designate at least one (1) qualified psychia-
20    trist or licensed psychologist to examine and report upon the mental condition
21    of the defendant to assist counsel with defense or understand the proceedings.
22     The appointed examiner shall also evaluate whether the  defendant  lacks
23    capacity to make informed decisions about treatment.  The costs of exam-
24    ination shall be paid by the defendant if he is financially able. The determi-
25    nation of ability to pay shall be made in accordance with chapter 8, title 19,
26    Idaho Code.
27        (2)  Within  three  (3) days, excluding Saturdays, Sundays and legal holi-
28    days, of the appointment or designation, the examiner shall determine the best
29    location for the examination. If practical, the examination shall be conducted
30    locally on an outpatient basis.
31        (3)  If the examiner determines that confinement is necessary for purposes
32    of the examination, the court may order the defendant  to  be  confined  to  a
33    jail, a hospital, or other suitable facility for that purpose for a period not
34    exceeding  thirty (30) days. The order of confinement shall require the county
35    sheriff to transport the defendant to and from the facility and  shall  notify
36    the facility of any known medical, behavioral, or security requirements of the
37    defendant.  The  court,  upon  request, may make available to the examiner any
38    court records relating to the defendant.
39        (4)  In such examination any method may be employed which is  accepted  by
40    the  examiner's profession for the examination of those alleged not to be com-
41    petent to assist counsel in their defense.
42        (5)  Upon completion of the examination a report shall be submitted to the
43    court and shall include the following:


                                          2

 1        (a)  a description of the nature of the examination;
 2        (b)  a diagnosis or evaluation of the mental condition of the defendant;
 3        (c)  an opinion as to the defendant's capacity to understand the  proceed-
 4        ings against him and to assist in his own defense ;
 5        (d)  an  opinion whether the defendant lacks the capacity to make informed
 6        decisions about treatment. "Lack of capacity to  make  informed  decisions
 7        about  treatment" means the defendant's inability, by reason of his mental
 8        condition, to achieve a rudimentary understanding of the purpose,  nature,
 9        and  possible significant risks and benefits of treatment, after conscien-
10        tious efforts at explanation .
11        (6)  If the examination cannot be conducted by reason of the unwillingness
12    of the defendant to participate therein, the report shall so state  and  shall
13    include,  if  possible,  an  opinion  as  to whether such unwillingness of the
14    defendant was the result of mental disease or defect.
15        (7)  The report of the examination shall be filed in triplicate  with  the
16    clerk  of the court, who shall cause copies to be delivered to the prosecuting
17    attorney and to counsel for the defendant.
18        (8)  When the defendant wishes to be examined by  an  expert  of  his  own
19    choice,  such  examiner  shall  be  permitted to have reasonable access to the
20    defendant for the purpose of examination.
21        (9)  In addition to the psychiatrist or licensed psychologist,  the  court
22    may  appoint  additional  experts  to  examine  the  defendant. In the event a
23    defendant is suspected of  being  developmentally  disabled,  the  examination
24    shall  proceed with those experts set out in subsection (6) of section 66-402,
25    Idaho Code.
26        (10) If the defendant lacks capacity  to  make  informed  decisions  about
27    treatment,  as  defined in section 66-317, Idaho Code, the court may authorize
28    consent to be given pursuant to section 66-322, Idaho Code. If  the  defendant
29    lacks capacity to make informed decisions as defined in subsection (8) of sec-
30    tion  66-402, Idaho Code, the court may authorize consent to be given pursuant
31    to sections 66-404 and 66-405, Idaho Code.
32        (11) If the defendant was confined solely for the purpose of  examination,
33    he shall be released from the facility within three (3) days, excluding Satur-
34    days,  Sundays  and legal holidays following notification of completion of the
35    examination.

36        SECTION 2.  That Section 18-212, Idaho Code, be, and the  same  is  hereby
37    amended to read as follows:

38        18-212.  DETERMINATION OF FITNESS OF DEFENDANT TO PROCEED -- SUSPENSION OF
39    PROCEEDING AND COMMITMENT OF DEFENDANT -- POSTCOMMITMENT HEARING. (1) When the
40    defendant's fitness to proceed is drawn in question, the issue shall be deter-
41    mined  by  the  court.    The  court  shall  also determine, based on the
42    examiner's findings, whether the defendant lacks  capacity  to  make  informed
43    decisions  about  treatment.    If  neither the prosecuting attorney nor
44    counsel for the defendant contests the finding of the report filed pursuant to
45    section 18-211, Idaho Code, the court may make the determination on the  basis
46    of such report. If the finding is contested, the court shall hold a hearing on
47    the  issue. If the report is received in evidence upon such hearing, the party
48    who contests the finding thereof shall have the right to summon and to  cross-
49    examine the psychiatrist or licensed psychologist who submitted the report and
50    to offer evidence upon the issue.
51        (2)  If  the court determines that the defendant lacks fitness to proceed,
52    the proceeding against him shall be suspended, except as provided  in  subsec-
53    tions  (  4    5 ) and ( 5  6 ) of


                                          3

 1    this section, and the court shall commit him to the custody of the director of
 2    the department of health and welfare  for a period not  exceeding  ninety
 3    (90)  days    for  care  and treatment at an appropriate facility of the
 4    department of health and welfare or if the defendant is found  to  be  danger-
 5    ously  mentally  ill as defined in section 66-1305, Idaho Code, to the depart-
 6    ment of correction for a period not exceeding  ninety  (90)  days.    The
 7    order of commitment shall include the finding by the court whether the defend-
 8    ant  lacks  capacity  to  make informed decisions about treatment.   For
 9    purposes of this section "facility" shall mean a state hospital,  institution,
10    mental health center, or those facilities enumerated in subsection (7) of sec-
11    tion 66-402, Idaho Code, equipped to evaluate or rehabilitate such defendants.
12    The  order  of  commitment  shall  require the county sheriff to transport the
13    defendant  to  and  from  the  facility  and  require  an  evaluation  of  the
14    defendant's mental condition at the time of admission to the facility,  and  a
15    progress report on the defendant's mental condition. The progress report shall
16    include an opinion whether the defendant is fit to proceed, or if not, whether
17    there is a substantial probability the defendant will be fit to proceed within
18    the  foreseeable  future.  If the report concludes that there is a substantial
19    probability that the defendant will be  fit  to  proceed  in  the  foreseeable
20    future,  the  court may order the continued commitment of the defendant for an
21    additional one hundred eighty (180) days. If at any time the director  of  the
22    facility  to which the defendant is committed determines that the defendant is
23    fit to proceed, such determination shall be reported to the court.
24        (3)   If during a commitment under this section a defendant  who  has
25    the  capacity  to  make informed decisions about treatment refuses any and all
26    treatment, or the only treatment available to restore  competency  for  trial,
27    the  court  shall, within five (5) days of receiving notice of the defendant's
28    refusal from the facility, conduct a hearing on whether to  order  involuntary
29    treatment or order such other terms and conditions as may be determined appro-
30    priate.  The  burden shall be on the state to demonstrate grounds for involun-
31    tary treatment including, but not limited  to:  the  prescribed  treatment  is
32    essential  to  restore  the  defendant's competency, the medical necessity and
33    appropriateness of the  prescribed  treatment,  no  less  intrusive  treatment
34    alternative exists to render the defendant competent for trial, and other rel-
35    evant  information.  If each of these findings is made by the court, treatment
36    shall be ordered consistent with the findings. 
37         (4)   Each report shall be filed in triplicate with the  clerk
38    of the court, who shall cause copies to be delivered to the prosecuting attor-
39    ney  and  to  counsel  for  the defendant. Upon receipt of a report, the court
40    shall determine, after a hearing if a hearing is requested, the disposition of
41    the defendant and the proceedings against him. If the  court  determines  that
42    the  defendant  is  fit to proceed, the proceeding shall be resumed. If at the
43    end of the initial ninety (90) days the court determines that the defendant is
44    unfit and there is not a substantial probability the defendant will be fit  to
45    proceed  within  the foreseeable future or if the defendant is not fit to pro-
46    ceed after the expiration of the additional one hundred eighty (180) days
47    ,  involuntary commitment proceedings shall be  instituted  pursuant  to
48    either section 66-329 or section 66-406, Idaho Code, in the court in which the
49    criminal charge is pending.
50        (  4   5 )  In its review of commitments pursuant to
51    section 66-337, Idaho Code, the department of health and welfare shall  deter-
52    mine  whether  the  defendant  is fit to proceed with trial. The department of
53    health and welfare shall review its commitments pursuant to chapter  4,  title
54    66,  Idaho  Code,  and may recommend that the defendant is fit to proceed with
55    trial. If the district court which committed the defendant pursuant to section


                                          4

 1    66-406, Idaho Code, agrees with the department's recommendation and finds  the
 2    conditions  which  justified the order pursuant to section 66-406, Idaho Code,
 3    do not continue to exist, criminal proceedings may resume. If the defendant is
 4    fit to proceed ,  the court in which the criminal charge is pending
 5    shall be notified and the criminal proceedings may resume.  If,  however,  the
 6    court  is  of the view that so much time has elapsed, excluding any time spent
 7    free from custody by reason of the escape of the defendant, since the  commit-
 8    ment  of the defendant that it would be unjust to resume the criminal proceed-
 9    ing, the court may dismiss the charge.
10        ( 5  6 )  If a defendant escapes from custody during
11    his confinement, the director shall immediately notify the  court  from  which
12    committed,  the  prosecuting attorney and the sheriff of the county from which
13    committed. The court shall forthwith issue an  order  authorizing  any  health
14    officer,  peace  officer,  or  the  director of the institution from which the
15    defendant escaped, to take the defendant into custody and  immediately  return
16    him to his place of confinement.

17        SECTION  3.  That  Section  66-337, Idaho Code, be, and the same is hereby
18    amended to read as follows:

19        66-337.  REVIEW, TERMINATION OF COMMITMENT AND DISCHARGE OF PATIENTS.  (a)
20    The department director or his designee shall as frequently as practicable but
21    at  least once at the end of the first ninety (90) days examine or cause to be
22    examined every patient committed to his custody or admitted  to  an  inpatient
23    facility  of  the  state  of  Idaho,  and  determine  whether to conditionally
24    release, discharge or terminate the commitment of the patient. If the  patient
25    has  not been conditionally released, discharged, or had the commitment termi-
26    nated a similar review shall be conducted every one hundred twenty (120)  days
27    thereafter. A report of each review and determination regarding an involuntary
28    patient  shall  be  sent  to the committing court, prosecuting attorney of the
29    county of commitment, if any, the patient's attorney, and either the patient's
30    spouse, guardian, next of kin or friend.
31        (b)  The commitment of an involuntary patient shall be terminated  if  the
32    patient  is no longer mentally ill or is no longer likely to injure himself or
33    others or is no longer gravely  disabled;  provided,  that  patients  admitted
34    under section 18-214, Idaho Code, acquitted of criminal charges filed prior to
35    July 1, 1982, on grounds of mental disease or defect, or committed pursuant to
36    sections 18-212( 3  4 ) and 66-329, Idaho Code, as unfit
37    to  proceed, may not be released from an inpatient facility unless thirty (30)
38    days before such release, the department director or his designee shall notify
39    the committing court and prosecuting attorney of the contemplated release.
40        (c)  Upon notification of intention to release from an inpatient  facility
41    either a patient admitted under section 18-214, Idaho Code, acquitted of crim-
42    inal  charges  filed  prior  to  July 1, 1982, on grounds of mental disease or
43    defect, or committed pursuant to sections 18-212( 3  4 )
44    and 66-329, Idaho Code, as unfit to proceed, and upon motion of an  interested
45    party  or  the  court on its own motion, the court shall determine whether the
46    conditions justifying such release exist. In making  such  determination,  the
47    court  may  order  an independent examination of the patient. The cost of such
48    independent examination must be borne by the party making the  motion  or,  if
49    indigent,  the  county  having jurisdiction of the case. If no motion is made,
50    the patient may be released according to the notice.
51        (d)  Section 18-214, Idaho Code, shall remain in full force and effect for
52    every individual previously acquitted pursuant to section 18-213, Idaho  Code.
53    Section  18-214, Idaho Code, as last amended by section 2, chapter 13, laws of


                                          5

 1    1977, which is placed here for reference only and is not a reenactment of sec-
 2    tion 18-214, Idaho Code, and reads as follows:
 3        18-214.  Commitment of acquitted defendant -- conditional release -- revo-
 4    cation of release within five years. (1) When a defendant is acquitted on  the
 5    ground  of  mental disease or defect excluding responsibility, the court shall
 6    order him to be committed to the custody of the director of the department  of
 7    health  and  welfare  to  be placed in an appropriate institution for custody,
 8    care and treatment.
 9        (2)  If the director of the department of health and  welfare  is  of  the
10    view that a person committed to his custody, pursuant to paragraph (1) of this
11    section,  may be discharged or released on condition without danger to himself
12    or to others, he shall make application for the discharge or release  of  such
13    person  in  a report to the court by which such person was committed and shall
14    transmit a copy of such application and report to the prosecuting attorney  of
15    the  county  from which the defendant was committed. The court shall thereupon
16    appoint at least two (2) qualified psychiatrists to examine such person and to
17    report within sixty (60) days, or such longer period as  the court  determines
18    to  be necessary for the purpose, their opinion as to his mental condition. To
19    facilitate such examination and the proceedings thereon, the court  may  cause
20    such person to be confined in any institution located near the place where the
21    court  sits,  which may hereafter be designated by the director of the depart-
22    ment of health and welfare as suitable for the temporary  detention  of  irre-
23    sponsible persons.
24        (3)  If  the  court is satisfied by the report filed pursuant to paragraph
25    (2) of this section and such testimony of the reporting psychiatrists  as  the
26    court  deems necessary that the committed person may be discharged or released
27    on condition without danger to himself or others, the court  shall  order  his
28    discharge or his release on such conditions as the court determines to be nec-
29    essary. If the court is not so satisfied, it shall promptly order a hearing to
30    determine  whether  such person may safely be discharged or released. Any such
31    hearing shall be deemed a civil proceeding and the burden shall  be  upon  the
32    committed  person  to  prove  that  he  may  safely be discharged or released.
33    According to the determination of the court upon the  hearing,  the  committed
34    person  shall  thereupon  be  discharged or released on such conditions as the
35    court determines to be necessary, or shall be recommitted to  the  custody  of
36    the  director of the department of health and welfare, subject to discharge or
37    release only in accordance with the procedure prescribed  above  for  a  first
38    hearing.
39        (4)  If,  within five (5) years after the conditional release of a commit-
40    ted person, the court shall determine, after hearing evidence, that the condi-
41    tions of release have not been fulfilled and that for the safety of such  per-
42    son or for the safety of others his conditional release should be revoked, the
43    court shall forthwith order him to be recommitted to the custody of the direc-
44    tor  of  the  department of health and welfare subject to discharge or release
45    only in accordance with the procedure prescribed above for a first hearing.
46        (5)  A committed person may make application for his discharge or  release
47    to  the court by which he was committed, and the procedure to be followed upon
48    such application shall be the same as that prescribed above in the case of  an
49    application  by the director of the department of health and welfare. However,
50    no such application by a committed person need be considered until he has been
51    confined for a period of not less than six (6) months from  the  date  of  the
52    order  of  commitment  and if the determination of the court be adverse to the
53    application, such person shall not be permitted to file a further  application
54    until  one  (1)  year has elapsed from the date of any preceding hearing on an
55    application for his release or discharge.


                                          6

 1        (6)  If a defendant escapes  from  custody  during  his  confinement,  the
 2    director  shall  immediately notify the court from which committed, the prose-
 3    cuting attorney and the sheriff of the county from which committed. The  court
 4    shall  forthwith issue an order authorizing any health officer, peace officer,
 5    or the director of the institution from which the defendant escaped,  to  take
 6    the defendant into custody and immediately return him to his place of confine-
 7    ment.

Statement of Purpose / Fiscal Impact




                          STATEMENT OF PURPOSE

                               RS08546C1

The proposed amendments to sections 18-211 and 18-212, Idaho Code
are to address an existing issue that arises when criminal
defendants present issues of their ability to stand trial and to
understand the proceedings against them. Currently the court may
commit these individuals to the Department of Health and Welfare
for care and treatment to rehabilitate them to stand trial. 
Current law does not address the issue of the defendant's ability
to consent to treatment. Absent this determination and direction
from the court the defendant can refuse treatment in the
institution and delay return to court and also utilize resources
that may be better used by others. This amendment provides for the
designated examiner to address the defendant's capacity to consent
to treatment, provides a definition of that capacity and provides
for the court to determine legal capacity of the individual and
address the treatment issue initially. If the defendant is
determined to have the ability to consent to treatment and then
refuses such treatment to remediate his condition, the issue will
be returned to court for further direction by the judge.

                             FISCAL IMPACT

There is no anticipated fiscal impact. Potentially this change
could better utilize scarce resources by expediting the treatment
necessary to rehabilitate defendants and reduce the time in which
they are required to be in the institutions. It also may reduce
required court hearings necessary to address this issue.





CONTACT
Name: Roseanne Hardin
Agency: Div. of Family and Community Service
Phone: 334-5680


Statement of Purpose/Fiscal Impact
                                                              S111