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S.B. 49

             1     

COMPETENCY TO BE EXECUTED -

             2     
AMENDMENTS

             3     
2004 GENERAL SESSION

             4     
STATE OF UTAH

             5     
Sponsor: David L. Gladwell

             6     
             7      LONG TITLE
             8      General Description:
             9          This bill establishes procedures regarding addressing issues of incompetency that may
             10      arise after a defendant has been sentenced to death.
             11      Highlighted Provisions:
             12          This bill:
             13          .    defines elements of incompetency to be executed, which include if the inmate is not
             14      aware of the impending execution and if the inmate does not understand that the
             15      execution is for committing the crime of murder;
             16          .    provides a procedure for the Department of Corrections to give notice to the court if
             17      an inmate sentenced to death may be incompetent;
             18          .    provides the procedure for filing a petition requesting an inquiry into the inmate's
             19      competency to be executed;
             20          .    provides the process for an examination of the inmate;
             21          .    provides for a court hearing and determination;
             22          .    provides for treatment for the inmate;
             23          .    provides that the Department of Corrections and the Department of Human Services
             24      pay for the competency examination of the inmate; and
             25          .    provides that the prosecution may appeal from a finding that an inmate is not
             26      competent to be executed.
             27      Monies Appropriated in this Bill:


             28          None
             29      Other Special Clauses:
             30          None
             31      Utah Code Sections Affected:
             32      AMENDS:
             33          77-18a-1, as last amended by Chapter 11, Laws of Utah 2003
             34          77-19-8, as last amended by Chapter 13, Laws of Utah 1994
             35      ENACTS:
             36          77-19-201, Utah Code Annotated 1953
             37          77-19-203, Utah Code Annotated 1953
             38          77-19-204, Utah Code Annotated 1953
             39          77-19-205, Utah Code Annotated 1953
             40          77-19-206, Utah Code Annotated 1953
             41      RENUMBERS AND AMENDS:
             42          77-19-202, (Renumbered from 77-19-13, as last amended by Chapter 13, Laws of Utah
             43      1994)
             44     
             45      Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
             46          Section 1. Section 77-18a-1 is amended to read:
             47           77-18a-1. Appeals -- When proper.
             48          (1) An appeal may be taken by the defendant from:
             49          (a) the final judgment of conviction, whether by verdict or plea;
             50          (b) an order made after judgment that affects the substantial rights of the defendant;
             51          (c) an interlocutory order when upon petition for review the appellate court decides the
             52      appeal would be in the interest of justice; or
             53          (d) any order of the court judging the defendant by reason of a mental disease or defect
             54      incompetent to proceed further in a pending prosecution.
             55          (2) An appeal may be taken by the prosecution from:
             56          (a) a final judgment of dismissal, including a dismissal of a felony information
             57      following a refusal to bind the defendant over for trial;
             58          (b) an order arresting judgment;


             59          (c) an order terminating the prosecution because of a finding of double jeopardy or
             60      denial of a speedy trial;
             61          (d) a judgment of the court holding a statute or any part of it invalid;
             62          (e) an order of the court granting a pretrial motion to suppress evidence when upon a
             63      petition for review the appellate court decides that the appeal would be in the interest of justice;
             64          (f) under circumstances not amounting to a final order under Subsection (2)(a), a
             65      refusal to bind the defendant over for trial on a felony as charged or a pretrial order dismissing
             66      or quashing in part a felony information, when upon a petition for review the appellate court
             67      decides that the appeal would be in the interest of justice;
             68          (g) an order of the court granting a motion to withdraw a plea of guilty or no contest;
             69      [or]
             70          (h) a finding pursuant to Title 77, Chapter 15a, Exemptions from Death Penalty in
             71      Capital Cases, that a capital defendant is exempt from a sentence of death, when upon a
             72      petition for review the appellate court decides that the appeal would be in the interest of
             73      justice[.]; or
             74          (i) a finding pursuant to Title 77, Chapter 19, Part 2, Competency for Execution, that
             75      an inmate sentenced to death is incompetent to be executed.
             76          Section 2. Section 77-19-8 is amended to read:
             77           77-19-8. Judgment of death, when suspended, and by whom.
             78          A judge, tribunal, or officer, other than the governor or the Board of Pardons and
             79      Parole, may not suspend the execution of a judgment of death, except:
             80          (1) a temporary stay of judgment of death may [issue] be issued by a court of
             81      competent jurisdiction when the judgment is appealed, automatically reviewed, or subjected to
             82      collateral attack in a post conviction proceeding; or
             83          (2) in cases of suspected incompetency or pregnancy of the defendant, execution may
             84      be temporarily suspended by the executive director of the Department of Corrections or his
             85      designee under Section [ 77-19-13 ] 77-19-202 .
             86          Section 3. Section 77-19-201 is enacted to read:
             87     
Part 2. Competency for Execution

             88          77-19-201. Definition.
             89          As used in this part, "incompetent to be executed" means that if, due to mental


             90      condition, an inmate is unaware either:
             91          (1) of the fact of the inmate's impending execution; or
             92          (2) that the inmate is to be executed for the murder or murders for which he was
             93      sentenced to death.
             94          Section 4. Section 77-19-202 , which is renumbered from Section 77-19-13 is
             95      renumbered and amended to read:
             96           [77-19-13].     77-19-202. Incompetency or pregnancy of person sentenced to death
             97      -- Procedures.
             98          (1) If, after judgment of death, [there is] the executive director of the Department of
             99      Corrections has good reason to believe [the defendant is incompetent to proceed under this
             100      chapter, or] that an inmate sentenced to death is pregnant, or has good reason to believe that an
             101      inmate's competency to be executed under this chapter should be addressed by a court, the
             102      executive director of the Department of Corrections or his designee shall immediately give
             103      written notice to the court in which the judgment of death was rendered, to the prosecuting
             104      attorney, and counsel for [defendant] the inmate. The judgment shall be stayed pending further
             105      order of the court.
             106          (2) (a) On receipt of the notice under Subsection (1) of good reason for the court to
             107      address an inmate's competency to be executed, the court shall order that the mental condition
             108      of the [defendant] inmate shall be examined under the provisions of [Title 77, Chapter 15]
             109      Section 77-19-204 .
             110          (b) If the [defendant] inmate is found incompetent, the court shall immediately transmit
             111      a certificate of the findings to the Board of Pardons and Parole [and enter an order for
             112      commitment under Title 77, Chapter 15] and continue the stay of execution pending further
             113      order of the court.
             114          (c) If the [defendant] inmate is subsequently found competent at any time, the judge
             115      shall immediately transmit a certificate of the findings to the Board of Pardons and Parole, and
             116      shall draw and have delivered another warrant under Section 77-19-6 , together with a copy of
             117      the certificate of the findings. The warrant shall state an appointed day on which the judgment
             118      is to be executed, which may not be fewer than 30 nor more than 60 days from the date of the
             119      drawing of the warrant, at an hour determined by the Department of Corrections.
             120          (3) (a) If the court finds the [defendant] inmate is pregnant, it shall immediately


             121      transmit a certificate of the finding to the Board of Pardons and Parole and to the executive
             122      director of the Department of Corrections or his designee, and the court shall issue an order
             123      staying the execution of the judgment of death during the pregnancy.
             124          (b) When the court determines the [defendant] inmate is no longer pregnant, it shall
             125      immediately transmit a certificate of the finding to the Board of Pardons and Parole and draw
             126      and have delivered another warrant under Section 77-19-6 , with a copy of the certificate of the
             127      finding. The warrant shall state an appointed day on which the judgment is to be executed,
             128      which may not be fewer than 30 nor more than 60 days from the date of the drawing of the
             129      warrant, at an hour determined by the Department of Corrections.
             130          Section 5. Section 77-19-203 is enacted to read:
             131          77-19-203. Petition for inquiry as to competency to be executed -- Filing --
             132      Contents -- Successive petitions.
             133          (1) If an inmate who has been sentenced to death is or becomes incompetent to be
             134      executed, a petition under Subsection (2) may be filed in the district court of the county where
             135      the inmate is confined.
             136          (2) The petition shall:
             137          (a) contain a certificate stating that it is filed in good faith and on reasonable grounds to
             138      believe the inmate is incompetent to be executed; and
             139          (b) contain a specific recital of the facts, observations, and conversations with the
             140      inmate that form the basis for the petition.
             141          (3) The petition may be based upon knowledge or information and belief and may be
             142      filed by the inmate alleged to be incompetent, legal counsel for the inmate, or by an attorney
             143      representing the state.
             144          (4) Before ruling on a petition filed by an inmate or his counsel alleging that the inmate
             145      is incompetent to be executed, the court shall give the state and the Department of Corrections
             146      an opportunity to respond to the allegations of incompetency.
             147          (5) If a petition is filed after an inmate has previously been found competent under
             148      either this chapter or under Title 77, Chapter 15, Inquiry into Sanity of Defendant, no further
             149      hearing on competency may be granted unless the successive petition:
             150          (a) alleges with specificity a substantial change of circumstances subsequent to the
             151      previous determination of competency; and


             152          (b) is sufficient to raise a significant question about the inmate's competency to be
             153      executed.
             154          Section 6. Section 77-19-204 is enacted to read:
             155          77-19-204. Order for hearing -- Examinations of inmate -- Scope of examination
             156      and report.
             157          (1) When a court has good reason to believe an inmate sentenced to death is
             158      incompetent to be executed, it shall stay the execution and shall order the Department of
             159      Human Services to examine the inmate and report to the court concerning the inmate's mental
             160      condition.
             161          (2) (a) The inmate subject to examination under Subsection (1) shall be examined by at
             162      least two mental health experts who are not involved in the inmate's current treatment.
             163          (b) The Department of Corrections shall provide information and materials to the
             164      examiners relevant to a determination of the inmate's competency to be executed.
             165          (3) The inmate shall make himself available and fully cooperate in the examination by
             166      the Department of Human Services and any other independent examiners for the defense or the
             167      state.
             168          (4) The examiners shall in the conduct of their examinations and in their reports to the
             169      court consider and address, in addition to any other factors determined to be relevant by the
             170      examiners:
             171          (a) the inmate's awareness of the fact of the inmate's impending execution;
             172          (b) the inmate's understanding that the inmate is to be executed for the crime of
             173      murder;
             174          (c) the nature of the inmate's mental disorder, if any, and its relationship to the factors
             175      relevant to the inmate's competency; and
             176          (d) whether psychoactive medication is necessary to maintain or restore the inmate's
             177      competency.
             178          (5) The examiners who are examining the inmate shall each provide an initial report to
             179      the court and the attorneys for the state and the inmate within 60 days of the receipt of the
             180      court's order. The report shall inform the court of the examiner's opinion concerning the
             181      competency of the inmate to be executed, or, in the alternative, the examiner may inform the
             182      court in writing that additional time is needed to complete the report. If the examiner informs


             183      the court that additional time is needed, the examiner shall have up to an additional 30 days to
             184      provide the report to the court and counsel. The examiner shall provide the report within 90
             185      days from the receipt of the court's order unless, for good cause shown, the court authorizes an
             186      additional period of time to complete the examination and provide the report.
             187          (6) (a) All interviews with the inmate conducted by the examiners shall be videotaped,
             188      unless otherwise ordered by the court for good cause shown. The Department of Corrections
             189      shall provide the videotaping equipment and facilitate the videotaping of the interviews.
             190          (b) Immediately following the videotaping, the videotape shall be provided to the
             191      attorney for the state, who shall deliver it as soon as practicable to the judge in whose court the
             192      competency determination is pending.
             193          (c) The court shall grant counsel for the state and for the inmate, and examiners who
             194      are examining the inmate under this part access to view the videotape at the court building
             195      where the court is located that is conducting the competency determination under this part.
             196          (7) Any written report submitted by an examiner shall:
             197          (a) identify the specific matters referred for evaluation;
             198          (b) describe the procedures, techniques, and tests used in the examination and the
             199      purpose or purposes for each;
             200          (c) state the examiner's clinical observations, findings, and opinions on each issue
             201      referred for examination by the court, and indicate specifically those issues, if any, on which
             202      the examiner could not give an opinion; and
             203          (d) identify the sources of information used by the examiner and present the basis for
             204      the examiner's clinical findings and opinions.
             205          (8) (a) When the reports are received, the court shall set a date for a competency
             206      hearing, which shall be held within not less than five and not more than 15 days, unless the
             207      court extends the time for good cause.
             208          (b) Any examiner directed by the Department of Human Services to conduct the
             209      examination may be subpoenaed to provide testimony at the hearing. If the examiners are in
             210      conflict as to the competency of the inmate, all of them should be called to testify at the hearing
             211      if they are reasonably available.
             212          (c) The court may call any examiner to testify at the hearing who is not called by the
             213      parties. An examiner called by the court may be cross-examined by counsel for the parties.


             214          (9) (a) An inmate shall be presumed competent to be executed unless the court, by a
             215      preponderance of the evidence, finds the inmate incompetent to be executed. The burden of
             216      proof is upon the proponent of incompetency at the hearing.
             217          (b) An adjudication of incompetency to be executed does not operate as an
             218      adjudication of the inmate's incompetency to give informed consent for medical treatment or
             219      for any other purpose, unless specifically set forth in the court order.
             220          (10) (a) If the court finds the inmate incompetent to be executed, its order shall contain
             221      findings addressing each of the factors in Subsections (4)(a) through (d).
             222          (b) The order finding the inmate incompetent to be executed shall be delivered to the
             223      Department of Human Services, and shall be accompanied by:
             224          (i) copies of the reports of the examiners filed with the court pursuant to the order of
             225      examination, if not provided previously;
             226          (ii) copies of any of the psychiatric, psychological, or social work reports submitted to
             227      the court relative to the mental condition of the inmate; and
             228          (iii) any other documents made available to the court by either the defense or the state,
             229      pertaining to the inmate's current or past mental condition.
             230          (c) A copy of the order finding the inmate incompetent to be executed shall be
             231      delivered to the Department of Corrections.
             232          Section 7. Section 77-19-205 is enacted to read:
             233          77-19-205. Procedures on finding of incompetency to be executed -- Subsequent
             234      hearings -- Notice to attorneys.
             235          (1) (a) If after the hearing under Section 77-19-204 the inmate is found to be
             236      incompetent to be executed, the court shall continue the stay of execution and the inmate shall
             237      receive appropriate mental health treatment.
             238          (b) The court shall order the executive director of the Department of Human Services
             239      to provide periodic assessments to the court regarding the inmate's competency to be executed.
             240          (c) The inmate shall be held in secure confinement, either at the prison or the State
             241      Hospital, as agreed upon by the executive director of the Department of Corrections and the
             242      executive director of the Department of Human Services. If the inmate remains at the prison,
             243      the Department of Human Services shall consult with the Department of Corrections regarding
             244      the inmate's mental health treatment.


             245          (2) (a) The examiner or examiners designated by the executive director of the
             246      Department of Human Services to assess the inmate's progress toward competency may not be
             247      involved in the routine treatment of the inmate.
             248          (b) The examiner or examiners shall each provide a full report to the court and counsel
             249      for the state and the inmate within 90 days of receipt of the court's order. If any examiner is
             250      unable to complete the assessment within 90 days, that examiner shall provide to the court and
             251      counsel for the state and the inmate a summary progress report which informs the court that
             252      additional time is necessary to complete the assessment, in which case the examiner has up to
             253      an additional 90 days to provide the full report, unless the court enlarges the time for good
             254      cause. The full report shall assess:
             255          (i) the facility's or program's capacity to provide appropriate treatment for the inmate;
             256          (ii) the nature of treatments provided to the inmate;
             257          (iii) what progress toward restoration of competency has been made;
             258          (iv) the inmate's current level of mental disorder and need for treatment, if any; and
             259          (v) the likelihood of restoration of competency and the amount of time estimated to
             260      achieve it.
             261          (3) The court on its own motion or upon motion by either party may order the
             262      Department of Human Services to appoint additional mental health examiners to examine the
             263      inmate and advise the court on the inmate's current mental status and progress toward
             264      competency restoration.
             265          (4) (a) Upon receipt of the full report, the court shall hold a hearing to determine the
             266      inmate's current status. At the hearing, the burden of proving that the inmate is competent is on
             267      the proponent of competency.
             268          (b) Following the hearing, the court shall determine by a preponderance of evidence
             269      whether the inmate is competent to be executed.
             270          (5) (a) If the court determines that the inmate is competent to be executed, it shall enter
             271      findings and shall proceed under Subsection 77-19-202 (2)(c).
             272          (b) If the court determines the inmate is still incompetent to be executed, the inmate
             273      shall continue to receive appropriate mental health treatment, and the court shall hold hearings
             274      no less frequently than at 18-month intervals for the purpose of determining the defendant's
             275      competency to be executed.


             276          (6) (a) If at any time the clinical director of the Utah State Hospital or the primary
             277      treating mental health professional determines that the inmate has been restored to competency,
             278      he shall notify the court.
             279          (b) The court shall conduct a hearing regarding the inmate's competency to be executed
             280      within 30 working days of the receipt of the notification under Subsection (6)(a), unless the
             281      court extends the time for good cause. The court may order a hearing or rehearing at any time
             282      on its own motion.
             283          (7) Notice of a hearing on competency to be executed shall be given to counsel for the
             284      state and for the inmate, as well as to the office of the prosecutor who prosecuted the inmate on
             285      the original capital charge.
             286          Section 8. Section 77-19-206 is enacted to read:
             287          77-19-206. Expenses -- Allocation.
             288          The Department of Human Services and the Department of Corrections shall each pay
             289      1/2 of the costs of any examination of the inmate conducted pursuant to Sections 77-19-204
             290      and 77-19-205 to determine if an inmate is competent to be executed.




Legislative Review Note
    as of 1-27-04 11:00 AM


A limited legal review of this legislation raises no obvious constitutional or statutory concerns.

Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel


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