2000 Legislation
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SENATE BILL NO. 1318 – Defendant, treatmnt decisn, court

SENATE BILL NO. 1318

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Daily Data Tracking History



S1318................................................by JUDICIARY AND RULES
DEFENDANTS - Amends existing law to provide for a court determination of a
defendant's capacity to make informed decisions about treatment; and to
provide for involuntary treatment under certain conditions.
                                                                        
01/27    Senate intro - 1st rdg - to printing
01/28    Rpt prt - to Jud
02/10    Rpt out - rec d/p - to 2nd rdg
02/11    2nd rdg - to 3rd rdg
02/15    3rd rdg - PASSED - 31-0-4
      AYES--Andreason, Boatright, Bunderson,  Burtenshaw, Cameron, Crow,
      Danielson, Darrington, Davis, Deide, Dunklin, Frasure,  Geddes,
      Hawkins, Ingram, Keough, King-Barrutia, McLaughlin, Noh, Parry,
      Richardson, Riggs, Risch,  Sandy, Schroeder, Stegner, Stennett,
      Thorne, Wheeler, Whitworth, Williams
      NAYS--None
      Absent and excused--Branch, Ipsen, Lee, Sorensen
    Floor Sponsor - Dunklin
    Title apvd - to House
02/16    House intro - 1st rdg - to Jud
03/24    Rpt out - rec d/p - to 2nd rdg
03/27    2nd rdg - to 3rd rdg
04/03    3rd rdg - PASSED - 63-0-7
      AYES -- Alltus, Barraclough(Barraclough), Barrett, Bieter, Black,
      Boe, Bruneel, Callister, Campbell, Chase, Cheirrett, Cuddy, Deal,
      Denney, Ellsworth, Field(13), Field(20), Gagner, Geddes, Gould,
      Hadley, Hammond, Hansen(23), Hansen(29), Henbest, Hornbeck, Jaquet,
      Jones, Judd, Kellogg, Kendell, Kunz, Lake, Linford,
      Loertscher(Loertscher), Mader, Marley, McKague, Meyer, Montgomery,
      Mortensen, Moss, Moyle, Pearce, Pischner, Pomeroy, Reynolds, Ringo,
      Robison, Sali, Schaefer, Sellman, Shepherd, Smith, Smylie, Stevenson,
      Stoicheff, Stone, Taylor, Tilman, Trail, Wood, Zimmermann
      NAYS -- None
      Absent and excused -- Bell, Clark, Crow, Kempton, Ridinger, Wheeler,
      Mr Speaker
    Floor Sponsor - Sali
    Title apvd - to Senate
04/04    To enrol - rpt enrol - Pres signed
04/05    Sp signed
04/06    To Governor
04/12    Governor signed
         Session Law Chapter 234
         Effective: 07/01/00

Bill Text


 S1318
                                                                        
                                                                        
  ||||              LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF IDAHO             ||||
 Fifty-fifth Legislature                  Second Regular Session - 2000
                                                                        
                                                                        
                                       IN THE SENATE
                                                                        
                                    SENATE BILL NO. 1318
                                                                        
                              BY JUDICIARY AND RULES COMMITTEE
                                                                        
  1                                        AN ACT
  2    RELATING TO THE EXAMINATION OF  A  DEFENDANT  REGARDING  FITNESS  TO  PROCEED;
  3        AMENDING  SECTION 18-211, IDAHO CODE, TO PROVIDE FOR EVALUATION OF WHETHER
  4        THE DEFENDANT CAN MAKE INFORMED DECISIONS ABOUT TREATMENT;  AMENDING  SEC-
  5        TION  18-212,  IDAHO CODE, TO PROVIDE FOR DETERMINATION OF THE DEFENDANT'S
  6        CAPACITY TO MAKE INFORMED DECISIONS ABOUT TREATMENT,  TO  PROVIDE  A  TIME
  7        LIMIT FOR THE COMMITMENT TO CUSTODY AND TO PROVIDE FOR A HEARING REGARDING
  8        INVOLUNTARY  TREATMENT;  AMENDING  SECTION  66-337, IDAHO CODE, TO PROVIDE
  9        CORRECT CITATIONS; AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
                                                                        
 10    Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Idaho:
                                                                        
 11        SECTION 1.  That Section 18-211, Idaho Code, be, and the  same  is  hereby
 12    amended to read as follows:
                                                                        
 13        18-211.  EXAMINATION  OF  DEFENDANT  --  APPOINTMENT  OF PSYCHIATRISTS AND
 14    LICENSED PSYCHOLOGISTS -- HOSPITALIZATION -- REPORT.  (1)  Whenever  there  is
 15    reason  to  doubt  the  defendant's fitness to proceed as set forth in section
 16    18-210, Idaho Code, the court shall appoint at least one (1) qualified psychi-
 17    atrist or licensed psychologist or shall request the director of  the  depart-
 18    ment  of  health  and welfare to designate at least one (1) qualified psychia-
 19    trist or licensed psychologist to examine and report upon the mental condition
 20    of the defendant to assist counsel with defense or understand the proceedings.
 21    The appointed examiner shall also evaluate whether the defendant lacks  capac-
 22    ity to make informed decisions about treatment. The costs of examination shall
 23    be paid by the defendant if he is financially able. The determination of abil-
 24    ity to pay shall be made in accordance with chapter 8, title 19, Idaho Code.
 25        (2)  Within  three  (3) days, excluding Saturdays, Sundays and legal holi-
 26    days, of the appointment or designation, the examiner shall determine the best
 27    location for the examination. If practical, the examination shall be conducted
 28    locally on an outpatient basis.
 29        (3)  If the examiner determines that confinement is necessary for purposes
 30    of the examination, the court may order the defendant  to  be  confined  to  a
 31    jail, a hospital, or other suitable facility for that purpose for a period not
 32    exceeding  thirty (30) days. The order of confinement shall require the county
 33    sheriff to transport the defendant to and from the facility and  shall  notify
 34    the facility of any known medical, behavioral, or security requirements of the
 35    defendant.  The  court,  upon  request, may make available to the examiner any
 36    court records relating to the defendant.
 37        (4)  In such examination any method may be employed which is  accepted  by
 38    the  examiner's profession for the examination of those alleged not to be com-
 39    petent to assist counsel in their defense.
 40        (5)  Upon completion of the examination a report shall be submitted to the
 41    court and shall include the following:
 42        (a)  a description of the nature of the examination;
 43        (b)  a diagnosis or evaluation of the mental condition of the defendant;
                                                                        
                                           2
                                                                        
  1        (c)  an opinion as to the defendant's capacity to understand the  proceed-
  2        ings against him and to assist in his own defense;
  3        (d)  an  opinion whether the defendant lacks the capacity to make informed
  4        decisions about treatment. "Lack of capacity to  make  informed  decisions
  5        about  treatment" means the defendant's inability, by reason of his mental
  6        condition, to achieve a rudimentary understanding of the purpose,  nature,
  7        and  possible significant risks and benefits of treatment, after conscien-
  8        tious efforts at explanation.
  9        (6)  If the examination cannot be conducted by reason of the unwillingness
 10    of the defendant to participate therein, the report shall so state  and  shall
 11    include,  if  possible,  an  opinion  as  to whether such unwillingness of the
 12    defendant was the result of mental disease or defect.
 13        (7)  The report of the examination shall be filed in triplicate  with  the
 14    clerk  of the court, who shall cause copies to be delivered to the prosecuting
 15    attorney and to counsel for the defendant.
 16        (8)  When the defendant wishes to be examined by  an  expert  of  his  own
 17    choice,  such  examiner  shall  be  permitted to have reasonable access to the
 18    defendant for the purpose of examination.
 19        (9)  In addition to the psychiatrist or licensed psychologist,  the  court
 20    may  appoint  additional  experts  to  examine  the  defendant. In the event a
 21    defendant is suspected of  being  developmentally  disabled,  the  examination
 22    shall  proceed with those experts set out in subsection (7) of section 66-402,
 23    Idaho Code.
 24        (10) If the defendant lacks capacity  to  make  informed  decisions  about
 25    treatment,  as  defined in section 66-317, Idaho Code, the court may authorize
 26    consent to be given pursuant to section 66-322, Idaho Code. If  the  defendant
 27    lacks capacity to make informed decisions as defined in subsection (9) of sec-
 28    tion  66-402, Idaho Code, the court may authorize consent to be given pursuant
 29    to sections 66-404 and 66-405, Idaho Code.
 30        (11) If the defendant was confined solely for the purpose of  examination,
 31    he shall be released from the facility within three (3) days, excluding Satur-
 32    days,  Sundays  and legal holidays following notification of completion of the
 33    examination.
                                                                        
 34        SECTION 2.  That Section 18-212, Idaho Code, be, and the  same  is  hereby
 35    amended to read as follows:
                                                                        
 36        18-212.  DETERMINATION OF FITNESS OF DEFENDANT TO PROCEED -- SUSPENSION OF
 37    PROCEEDING AND COMMITMENT OF DEFENDANT -- POSTCOMMITMENT HEARING. (1) When the
 38    defendant's fitness to proceed is drawn in question, the issue shall be deter-
 39    mined  by  the  court. The court shall also determine, based on the examiner's
 40    findings, whether the defendant lacks  capacity  to  make  informed  decisions
 41    about  treatment.  If  neither  the  prosecuting  attorney nor counsel for the
 42    defendant contests the finding of the report filed pursuant to section 18-211,
 43    Idaho Code, the court may make the determination on the basis of such  report.
 44    If  the  finding is contested, the court shall hold a hearing on the issue. If
 45    the report is received in evidence upon such hearing, the party  who  contests
 46    the  finding  thereof  shall have the right to summon and to cross-examine the
 47    psychiatrist or licensed psychologist who submitted the report  and  to  offer
 48    evidence upon the issue.
 49        (2)  If  the court determines that the defendant lacks fitness to proceed,
 50    the proceeding against him shall be suspended, except as provided  in  subsec-
 51    tions  (45)  and  (56)  of this section, and the court shall commit him to the
 52    custody of the director of the department of health and welfare, for a  period
 53    not  exceeding  ninety  (90)  days,  for  care and treatment at an appropriate
                                                                        
                                           3
                                                                        
  1    facility of the department of health and welfare or if the defendant is  found
  2    to  be  dangerously mentally ill as defined in section 66-1305, Idaho Code, to
  3    the department of correction for a period not exceeding ninety (90) days.  The
  4    order of commitment shall include the finding by the court whether the defend-
  5    ant lacks capacity to make informed decisions about treatment. For purposes of
  6    this  section  "facility"  shall  mean  a  state hospital, institution, mental
  7    health center, or those facilities enumerated in  subsection  (8)  of  section
  8    66-402,  Idaho Code, equipped to evaluate or rehabilitate such defendants. The
  9    order of commitment shall require the county sheriff to transport the  defend-
 10    ant to and from the facility and require an evaluation of the defendant's men-
 11    tal  condition at the time of admission to the facility, and a progress report
 12    on the defendant's mental condition. The  progress  report  shall  include  an
 13    opinion whether the defendant is fit to proceed, or if not, whether there is a
 14    substantial  probability the defendant will be fit to proceed within the fore-
 15    seeable future. If the report concludes that there is a substantial  probabil-
 16    ity  that  the defendant will be fit to proceed in the foreseeable future, the
 17    court may order the continued commitment of the defendant  for  an  additional
 18    one  hundred eighty (180) days. If at any time the director of the facility to
 19    which the defendant is committed determines that the defendant is fit to  pro-
 20    ceed, such determination shall be reported to the court.
 21        (3)  If  during  a  commitment  under this section a defendant who has the
 22    capacity to make informed decisions about treatment refuses any and all treat-
 23    ment, or the only treatment available to restore  competency  for  trial,  the
 24    court  shall,  within  seven  (7)  days,  excluding  weekends and holidays, of
 25    receiving notice of the defendant's refusal from the facility, conduct a hear-
 26    ing on whether to order involuntary treatment or order such  other  terms  and
 27    conditions  as may be determined appropriate. The burden shall be on the state
 28    to demonstrate grounds for involuntary treatment including,  but  not  limited
 29    to:  the  prescribed  treatment is essential to restore the defendant's compe-
 30    tency, the medical necessity and appropriateness of the prescribed  treatment,
 31    no  less intrusive treatment alternative exists to render the defendant compe-
 32    tent for trial, and other relevant information. If each of these  findings  is
 33    made by the court, treatment shall be ordered consistent with the findings.
 34        (4)  Each report shall be filed in triplicate with the clerk of the court,
 35    who  shall  cause  copies  to  be delivered to the prosecuting attorney and to
 36    counsel for the defendant. Upon receipt of a report, the  court  shall  deter-
 37    mine,  after  a  hearing  if  a  hearing  is requested, the disposition of the
 38    defendant and the proceedings against him. If the court  determines  that  the
 39    defendant is fit to proceed, the proceeding shall be resumed. If at the end of
 40    the  initial ninety (90) days the court determines that the defendant is unfit
 41    and there is not a substantial probability the defendant will be fit  to  pro-
 42    ceed  within  the foreseeable future or if the defendant is not fit to proceed
 43    after the expiration of the additional one hundred eighty (180) days, involun-
 44    tary commitment proceedings shall be instituted  pursuant  to  either  section
 45    66-329  or  66-406,  Idaho  Code, in the court in which the criminal charge is
 46    pending.
 47        (45)  In its review of commitments pursuant to section 66-337, Idaho Code,
 48    the department of health and welfare shall determine whether the defendant  is
 49    fit  to  proceed with trial. The department of health and welfare shall review
 50    its commitments pursuant to chapter 4, title 66, Idaho Code, and may recommend
 51    that the defendant is fit to proceed with trial. If the district  court  which
 52    committed  the  defendant  pursuant to section 66-406, Idaho Code, agrees with
 53    the department's recommendation and finds the conditions which  justified  the
 54    order pursuant to section 66-406, Idaho Code, do not continue to exist, crimi-
 55    nal  proceedings  may resume. If the defendant is fit to proceed, the court in
                                                                        
                                           4
                                                                        
  1    which the criminal charge is pending shall be notified and the  criminal  pro-
  2    ceedings  may  resume. If, however, the court is of the view that so much time
  3    has elapsed, excluding any time spent free  from  custody  by  reason  of  the
  4    escape  of  the defendant, since the commitment of the defendant that it would
  5    be unjust  to resume the  criminal  proceeding,  the  court  may  dismiss  the
  6    charge.
  7        (56)  If  a  defendant  escapes  from  custody during his confinement, the
  8    director shall immediately notify the court from which committed,  the  prose-
  9    cuting  attorney and the sheriff of the county from which committed. The court
 10    shall forthwith issue an order authorizing any health officer, peace  officer,
 11    or  the  director of the institution from which the defendant escaped, to take
 12    the defendant into custody and immediately return him to his place of confine-
 13    ment.
                                                                        
 14        SECTION 3.  That Section 66-337, Idaho Code, be, and the  same  is  hereby
 15    amended to read as follows:
                                                                        
 16        66-337.  REVIEW,  TERMINATION OF COMMITMENT AND DISCHARGE OF PATIENTS. (a)
 17    The department director or his designee shall as frequently as practicable but
 18    at least once at the end of the first ninety (90) days examine or cause to  be
 19    examined  every  patient  committed to his custody or admitted to an inpatient
 20    facility of the  state  of  Idaho,  and  determine  whether  to  conditionally
 21    release,  discharge or terminate the commitment of the patient. If the patient
 22    has not been conditionally released, discharged, or had the commitment  termi-
 23    nated  a similar review shall be conducted every one hundred twenty (120) days
 24    thereafter. A report of each review and determination regarding an involuntary
 25    patient shall be sent to the committing court,  prosecuting  attorney  of  the
 26    county of commitment, if any, the patient's attorney, and either the patient's
 27    spouse, guardian, next of kin or friend.
 28        (b)  The  commitment  of an involuntary patient shall be terminated if the
 29    patient is no longer mentally ill or is no longer likely to injure himself  or
 30    others  or  is  no  longer  gravely disabled; provided, that patients admitted
 31    under section 18-214, Idaho Code, acquitted of criminal charges filed prior to
 32    July 1, 1982, on grounds of mental disease or defect, or committed pursuant to
 33    sections 18-212(34) and 66-329, Idaho Code, as unfit to proceed,  may  not  be
 34    released  from  an  inpatient  facility  unless  thirty  (30) days before such
 35    release, the department director or his designee shall notify  the  committing
 36    court and prosecuting attorney of the contemplated release.
 37        (c)  Upon  notification of intention to release from an inpatient facility
 38    either a patient admitted under section 18-214, Idaho Code, acquitted of crim-
 39    inal charges filed prior to July 1, 1982, on  grounds  of  mental  disease  or
 40    defect,  or  committed pursuant to sections 18-212(34) and 66-329, Idaho Code,
 41    as unfit to proceed, and upon motion of an interested party or  the  court  on
 42    its  own  motion,  the court shall determine whether the conditions justifying
 43    such release exist. In making such determination, the court may order an inde-
 44    pendent examination of the patient. The cost of such  independent  examination
 45    must  be borne by the party making the motion or, if indigent, the county hav-
 46    ing jurisdiction of the case. If  no  motion  is  made,  the  patient  may  be
 47    released according to the notice.
 48        (d)  Section 18-214, Idaho Code, shall remain in full force and effect for
 49    every  individual previously acquitted pursuant to section 18-213, Idaho Code.
 50    Section 18-214, Idaho Code, as last amended by section 2, chapter 13, laws  of
 51    1977, which is placed here for reference only and is not a reenactment of sec-
 52    tion 18-214, Idaho Code, and reads as follows:
 53        18-214.  Commitment of acquitted defendant -- Conditional release -- Revo-
                                                                        
                                           5
                                                                        
  1    cation  of release within five years. (1) When a defendant is acquitted on the
  2    ground of mental disease or defect excluding responsibility, the  court  shall
  3    order  him to be committed to the custody of the director of the department of
  4    health and welfare to be placed in an  appropriate  institution  for  custody,
  5    care and treatment.
  6        (2)  If  the  director  of  the department of health and welfare is of the
  7    view that a person committed to his custody, pursuant to paragraph (1) of this
  8    section, may be discharged or released on condition without danger to  himself
  9    or  to  others, he shall make application for the discharge or release of such
 10    person in a report to the court by which such person was committed  and  shall
 11    transmit  a copy of such application and report to the prosecuting attorney of
 12    the county from which the defendant was committed. The court  shall  thereupon
 13    appoint at least two (2) qualified psychiatrists to examine such person and to
 14    report  within sixty (60) days, or such longer period as  the court determines
 15    to be necessary for the purpose, their opinion as to his mental condition.  To
 16    facilitate  such  examination and the proceedings thereon, the court may cause
 17    such person to be confined in any institution located near the place where the
 18    court sits, which may hereafter be designated by the director of  the  depart-
 19    ment  of  health  and welfare as suitable for the temporary detention of irre-
 20    sponsible persons.
 21        (3)  If the court is satisfied by the report filed pursuant  to  paragraph
 22    (2)  of  this section and such testimony of the reporting psychiatrists as the
 23    court deems necessary that the committed person may be discharged or  released
 24    on  condition  without  danger to himself or others, the court shall order his
 25    discharge or his release on such conditions as the court determines to be nec-
 26    essary. If the court is not so satisfied, it shall promptly order a hearing to
 27    determine whether such person may safely be discharged or released.  Any  such
 28    hearing  shall  be  deemed a civil proceeding and the burden shall be upon the
 29    committed person to prove that  he  may  safely  be  discharged  or  released.
 30    According  to  the  determination of the court upon the hearing, the committed
 31    person shall thereupon be discharged or released on  such  conditions  as  the
 32    court  determines  to  be necessary, or shall be recommitted to the custody of
 33    the director of the department of health and welfare, subject to discharge  or
 34    release  only  in  accordance  with the procedure prescribed above for a first
 35    hearing.
 36        (4)  If, within five (5) years after the conditional release of a  commit-
 37    ted person, the court shall determine, after hearing evidence, that the condi-
 38    tions  of release have not been fulfilled and that for the safety of such per-
 39    son or for the safety of others his conditional release should be revoked, the
 40    court shall forthwith order him to be recommitted to the custody of the direc-
 41    tor of the department of health and welfare subject to  discharge  or  release
 42    only in accordance with the procedure prescribed above for a first hearing.
 43        (5)  A  committed person may make application for his discharge or release
 44    to the court by which he was committed, and the procedure to be followed  upon
 45    such  application shall be the same as that prescribed above in the case of an
 46    application by the director of the department of health and welfare.  However,
 47    no such application by a committed person need be considered until he has been
 48    confined  for  a  period  of not less than six (6) months from the date of the
 49    order of commitment and if the determination of the court be  adverse  to  the
 50    application,  such person shall not be permitted to file a further application
 51    until one (1) year has elapsed from the date of any preceding  hearing  on  an
 52    application for his release or discharge.
 53        (6)  If  a  defendant  escapes  from  custody  during his confinement, the
 54    director shall immediately notify the court from which committed,  the  prose-
 55    cuting  attorney and the sheriff of the county from which committed. The court
                                                                        
                                           6
                                                                        
  1    shall forthwith issue an order authorizing any health officer, peace  officer,
  2    or  the  director of the institution from which the defendant escaped, to take
  3    the defendant into custody and immediately return him to his place of confine-
  4    ment.
                                                                        
  5        SECTION 4.  This act shall be in full force and effect on and  after  July
  6    1, 2000.

Statement of Purpose / Fiscal Impact


                      STATEMENT OF PURPOSE
                           RS09334Cl 

The proposed amendments to sections 18-211 and 18-212, Idaho 
Code are to address an existingsituation 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 tothe 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. Absentthis 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 more productivelyused by others. This amendment provides 
for the designated examiner to address thedefendant'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 issueinitially. If the defendant is 
determined to have the ability to consent to treatment and then
refused such treatment to remediate his condition, the issue will 
be returned to the court forfurther direction by the judge.

                          FISCAL IMPACT 
There is no anticipated fiscal impact.  Potentially this change could 
better utilize scarce resourcesby expediting the treatment necessary 
to rehabilitate defendants and reduce the time in whichthey are 
required to be in the institutions. It also may reduce required 
court hearing necessary toaddress this issue. 

CONTACT Name:  Roseanne Hardin 
Agency:  Dept. of Health & Welfare; 
Div. of Family & Community Svcs. 
Phone:  334-5680

Statement  of Purpose/Fiscal Impact               S 1318