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Rep. LaVar Christensen, Vice Chair
Rep. Derek Brown
Rep. Fred Cox
Rep. Brian Doughty
Rep. Chris Herrod
Rep. Eric Hutchings
Rep. Ken Ivory
Rep. Brian King
Rep. V. Lowry Snow
Rep. Mark A. Wheatley
Rep. Brad Wilson
Chair McIff called the meeting to order at 8:10 a.m.
MOTION: Rep. Brown moved to approve the minutes of February 23, 2012. The motion passed unanimously with Rep. Hutchings absent for the vote.
H.B. 0231S01 Guardianship Amendments (Rep. K. Powell)
Rep. Powell presented the bill to the committee.
MOTION: Rep. Ivory moved to amend the bill as follows:
1. Page 8, Lines 226 through 231 :
226 (e) reflects the individual's need for a combination and sequence of special,
227 interdisciplinary, or generic services, supports, or other assistance that is of lifelong or
228 extended duration and is individually planned and coordinated
229 applied to infants and young children means individuals from birth to age five, inclusive, who
230 have substantial developmental delay or specific congenital or acquired conditions with a high
231 probability of resulting in developmental disabilities if services are not provided } .
The motion passed unanimously with Rep. Hutchings absent for the vote.
Spoke to the bill: Mr. Rick Schwermer, Office of the Courts
Mr. Tim Shea, Office of the Courts
Spoke in opposition
to the bill: Mr. Michael Jensen
MOTION: Rep.Ivory moved to pass the bill out favorably as amended. The motion passed unanimously with Rep. Hutchings absent for the vote.
H.B. 346 Amendments Regarding Competency to Stand Trial (Rep. L. Christensen)
Rep. Christensen presented the bill to the committee.
MOTION: Rep. Christensen moved to amend the bill as follows:
1. Page 1, Lines 15 through 16 :
15 trial to
16 including
2. Page 5, Lines 130 through 133 :
130 (11)
131 consider the totality of the circumstances, which
132 Subsection (11)(b) }
133 section.
3. Page 5, Lines 134 through 141 :
134
135 relevant evidence, witnesses, and testimony to ensure that there is no manipulation of the
136 process or a wrongful or artificial attempt or motivation on the part of the defendant to avoid
137 being found competent to stand trial.
138 (c) All witnesses and evidence regarding the defendant's personal contact with
139 individuals which may relate to the competency of the defendant to stand trial shall be
140 considered by the court and applied to its determination of the defendant's competency under
141 this section. }
The motion passed unanimously with Rep. Hutchings absent for the vote.
Spoke to the bill: Mr. Ron Gordon, director, CCJJ
Spoke in favor of the bill: Ms. Gayle Ruzika, Utah Eagle Forum
MOTION: Rep. Cox moved to pass the bill out favorably as amended.
SUBSTITUTE
MOTION: Rep. King moved to amend the bill as follows:
1. Page 1, Lines 16 through 19 :
16 including testimony of witnesses who have been in contact with the defendant
17 . provides that a defendant who is not restored to competency to stand trial after
18 forensic treatment shall be temporarily detained and undergo civil commitment
19 proceedings } .
2. Page 1, Line 27 through Page 2, Line 28 :
27
28 77-15-6.5, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2008, Chapter 212 }
3. Page 6, Line 182 through Page 12, Line 360 :
182
183
184 hearings -- Notice to prosecuting attorneys.
185 (1) Except as provided in Subsection (5), if after hearing[,] the person is found to be
186 incompetent to stand trial, the court shall order the defendant committed to the custody of the
187 executive director of the Department of Human Services or his designee for the purpose of
188 treatment intended to restore the defendant to competency. The court may recommend but not
189 order placement of the defendant. The court may, however, order that the defendant be placed
190 in a secure setting rather than a nonsecure setting. The director or his designee shall designate
191 the specific placement of the defendant during the period of evaluation and treatment to restore
192 competency.
193 (2) The examiner or examiners designated by the executive director to assess the
194 defendant's progress toward competency may not be involved in the routine treatment of the
195 defendant. The examiner or examiners shall provide a full report to the court and prosecuting
196 and defense attorneys within 90 days of arrival of the defendant at the treating facility. If any
197 examiner is unable to complete the assessment within 90 days, that examiner shall provide to
198 the court and counsel a summary progress report which informs the court that additional time is
199 necessary to complete the assessment, in which case the examiner shall have up to an
200 additional 90 days to provide the full report. The full report shall assess:
201 (a) the facility's or program's capacity to provide appropriate treatment for the
202 defendant;
203 (b) the nature of treatments provided to the defendant;
204 (c) what progress toward competency restoration has been made with respect to the
205 factors identified by the court in its initial order;
206 (d) the defendant's current level of mental disorder or mental retardation and need for
207 treatment, if any; and
208 (e) the likelihood of restoration of competency and the amount of time estimated to
209 achieve it.
210 (3) The court on its own motion or upon motion by either party or by the executive
211 director may appoint additional mental health examiners to examine the defendant and advise
212 the court on his current mental status and progress toward competency restoration.
213 (4) Upon receipt of the full report, the court shall hold a hearing to determine the
214 defendant's current status. At the hearing, the burden of proving that the defendant is
215 competent is on the proponent of competency. Following the hearing, the court shall determine
216 by a preponderance of evidence whether the defendant is:
217 (a) competent to stand trial;
218 (b) incompetent to stand trial with a substantial probability that the defendant may
219 become competent in the foreseeable future; or
220 (c) incompetent to stand trial without a substantial probability that the defendant may
221 become competent in the foreseeable future.
222 (5) (a) If the court enters a finding pursuant to Subsection (4)(a), the court shall
223 proceed with the trial or such other procedures as may be necessary to adjudicate the charges.
224 (b) If the court enters a finding pursuant to Subsection (4)(b), the court may order that
225 the defendant remain committed to the custody of the executive director of the Department of
226 Human Services or his designee for the purpose of treatment intended to restore the defendant
227 to competency.
228 (c) If the court enters a finding pursuant to Subsection (4)(c), the court shall order [the
229 defendant released from the custody of the director unless the prosecutor informs the court]
230 that commitment proceedings pursuant to Title 62A, Chapter 5, Services [to] for People with
231 Disabilities, or Title 62A, Chapter 15, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Act, will be
232 initiated. These commitment proceedings must be initiated within seven days after the court's
233 order entering the finding in Subsection (4)(c), unless the court enlarges the time for good
234 cause shown. The defendant may be ordered to remain in the custody of the director until
235 commitment proceedings have been concluded. If the defendant is committed, the court which
236 entered the order pursuant to Subsection (4)(c), shall be notified by the director at least 10 days
237 prior to any release of the committed person.
238 (6) If the defendant is recommitted to the department pursuant to Subsection (5)(b), the
239 court shall hold a hearing one year following the recommitment.
240 (7) At the hearing held pursuant to Subsection (6), except for defendants charged with
241 the crimes listed in Subsection (8), a defendant who has not been restored to competency shall
242 be [ordered released or] temporarily detained pending civil commitment proceedings under the
243 same terms as provided in Subsection (5)(c).
244 (8) If the defendant has been charged with aggravated murder, murder, attempted
245 murder, manslaughter, or a first degree felony and the court determines that the defendant is
246 making reasonable progress towards restoration of competency at the time of the hearing held
247 pursuant to Subsection (6), the court may order the defendant recommitted for a
period not to
248
exceed 18 months for the purpose of treatment to restore the defendant to
competency with a
249
mandatory review hearing at the end of the 18-month period.
250
(9) Except for defendants charged with aggravated murder or murder, a
defendant who
251
has not been restored to competency at the time of the hearing held pursuant to
Subsection (8)
252
shall be [ordered released or] temporarily detained pending civil commitment
proceedings
253
under the same terms as provided in Subsection (5)(c).
254
(10) If the defendant has been charged with aggravated murder or murder and
the court
255
determines that he is making reasonable progress towards restoration of
competency at the time
256
of the mandatory review hearing held pursuant to Subsection (8), the court may
order the
257
defendant recommitted for a period not to exceed 36 months for the purpose of
treatment to
258
restore him to competency.
259
(11) If the defendant is recommitted to the department pursuant to Subsection
(10), the
260
court shall hold a hearing no later than at 18-month intervals following the
recommitment for
261
the purpose of determining the defendant's competency status.
262
(12) A defendant who has not been restored to competency at the expiration of
the
263
additional 36-month commitment period ordered pursuant to Subsection (10) shall
be [ordered
264
released or] temporarily detained pending civil commitment proceedings under the
same terms
265
as provided in Subsection (5)(c).
266
(13) In no event may the maximum period of detention under this section
exceed the
267
maximum period of incarceration which the defendant could receive if he were
convicted of
268 the charged offense. This Subsection (13) does not preclude pursuing involuntary civil
269 commitment nor does it place any time limit on civil commitments.
270 (14) Neither release from a pretrial incompetency commitment under the provisions of
271 this section nor civil commitment requires dismissal of criminal charges. The court may retain
272 jurisdiction over the criminal case and may order periodic reviews to assess the defendant's
273 competency to stand trial.
274 (15) A defendant who is civilly committed pursuant to Title 62A, Chapter 5, Services
275 [to] for People with Disabilities, or Title 62A, Chapter 15, Substance Abuse and Mental Health
276 Act, may still be adjudicated competent to stand trial under this chapter.
277 (16) (a) The remedy for a violation of the time periods specified in this section, other
278 than those specified in Subsection (5)(c), (7), (9), (12), or (13), shall be a motion to compel the
279 hearing, or mandamus, but not release from detention or dismissal of the criminal charges.
280 (b) The remedy for a violation of the time periods specified in Subsection (5)(c), (7),
281 (9), (12), or (13) shall not be dismissal of the criminal charges.
282 (17) In cases in which the treatment of the defendant is precluded by court order for a
283 period of time, that time period may not be considered in computing time limitations under this
284 section.
285 (18) At any time that the defendant becomes competent to stand trial, the clinical
286 director of the hospital or other facility or the executive director of the Department of Human
287 Services shall certify that fact to the court. The court shall conduct a hearing within 15
288 working days of the receipt of the clinical director's or executive director's report,
unless the
289
court enlarges the time for good cause.
290
(19) The court may order a hearing or rehearing at any time on its own motion
or upon
291
recommendations of the clinical director of the hospital or other facility or the
executive
292
director of the Department of Human Services.
293
(20) Notice of a hearing on competency to stand trial shall be given to the
prosecuting
294
attorney. If the hearing is held in the county where the defendant is confined, notice
shall also
295
be given to the prosecuting attorney for that county.
296
Section 3.
Section
77-15-6.5
is amended to read:
297
77-15-6.5. Petition for involuntary medication of incompetent defendant.
298
(1) As used in this section:
299
(a) "Executive director" means the executive director of the Department of
Human
300
Services or the executive director's designee.
301
(b) "Final order" means a court order that determines the rights of the parties
and
302
concerning which appellate remedies have been exhausted or the time for appeal has
expired.
303
(2) (a) At any time after a defendant has been found incompetent to proceed
and has
304
been committed to the Department of Human Services under Section
77-15-6
for
treatment to
305
restore competency, the executive director shall notify the court, prosecuting
attorney, and
306
attorney for the defendant if the executive director has determined that the
defendant is not
307
responding to treatment and is unlikely to be restored to competency without the
involuntary
308
administration of antipsychotic medication.
309
(b) The executive director shall provide the notification under Subsection (2)(a)
only if
310
there is no basis for involuntarily medicating the defendant for reasons other than to
restore the
311
defendant's competency.
312
(3) In the notice under Subsection (2)(a), the executive director shall state
whether the
313
executive director believes:
314
(a) medication is necessary to render the defendant competent;
315
(b) medication is substantially likely to render the defendant competent;
316
(c) medication is substantially unlikely to produce side effects which would
317
significantly interfere with the defendant's ability to assist in his defense;
318
(d) no less intrusive means are available, and whether any of those means have
been
319
attempted to render the defendant competent; and
320
(e) medication is medically appropriate and is in the defendant's best medical
interest
321
in light of his medical condition.
322
(4) (a) Upon receipt of the notice under Subsection (2)(a), the court shall
conduct a
323
hearing within 30 days, unless the court extends the time for good cause, to
determine whether
324
the court should convene a hearing regarding the involuntary medication of the
defendant.
325
(b) The prosecuting attorney shall represent the state at any hearing under this
section.
326
(c) The court shall consider whether the following factors apply in determining
327
whether the defendant should be involuntarily medicated:
328
(i) important state interests are at stake in restoring the defendant's
competency;
329
(ii) involuntary medication will significantly further the important state
interests, in
330
that the medication proposed:
331
(A) is substantially likely to render the defendant competent to stand trial; and
332
(B) is substantially unlikely to produce side effects which would significantly
interfere
333
with the defendant's ability to assist the defense counsel in conducting his defense;
334
(iii) involuntary medication is necessary to further important state interests,
because
335 any alternate less intrusive treatments are unlikely to achieve substantially the same results; and
336 (iv) the administration of the proposed medication is medically appropriate, as it is in
337 the defendant's best medical interest in light of his medical condition.
338 (5) In determining whether the proposed treatment is medically appropriate and is in
339 the defendant's best medical interest, the potential penalty the defendant may be subject to, if
340 the defendant is convicted of any charged offense, is not a relevant consideration.
341 (6) (a) If the court finds by clear and convincing evidence that the involuntary
342 administration of antipsychotic medication is appropriate, it shall make findings addressing
343 each of the factors in Subsection (4)(c) and shall issue an order authorizing the Department of
344 Human Services to involuntarily administer antipsychotic medication to the defendant in order
345 to restore his competency, subject to the periodic reviews and other procedures provided in
346 Section 77-15-6 .
347 (b) When issuing an order under Subsection (6)(a), the court shall consider ordering
348 less intrusive means for administering the drugs, such as a court order to the defendant
349 enforceable by the contempt power, before ordering more intrusive methods of involuntary
350 medication.
351 (7) The provisions in Section 77-15-6 establishing time limitations for treatment of
352 incompetent defendants before they must [be either released or civilly committed] undergo
353 civil commitment proceedings are tolled from the time the executive director gives notice to
354 the court and the parties under Subsection (2) until:
355 (a) the court has issued a final order for the involuntary medication of the defendant,
356 and the defendant has been medicated under that order; or
357 (b) the court has issued a final order that the defendant will not be involuntarily
358 medicated.
359 (8) This section applies only when the prosecution seeks an order of involuntary
360 medication solely for the purpose of rendering a defendant competent to proceed. }
The motion passed with Rep. Brown, Rep. Cox, and Rep. Herrod voting in opposition. Rep. Hutchings and Rep. Ivory were absent for the vote.
MOTION: Rep. Brown moved to pass the bill out favorably as amended. The motion passed unanimously with Rep. Hutchings and Rep. Ivory absent for the vote.
H.B. 452 Family Expenses Amendments (Rep. S. Sandstrom)
Rep. Sandstrom presented the bill to the committee.
MOTION: Rep. Brown moved to amend the bill as follows:
1. Page 2, Lines 28 through 36 :
28 (2)
29 the payment of a family expense when there is a written contract signed by either spouse that
30 allows for the recovery of }
31 (a)
32 (b) interest
33 (c) court costs;
34 (d) attorney fees
(e) any other amounts provided for in the contract
35 (3) This section shall be applied to all contracts that were entered into by either spouse
36 during the marriage.
MOTION: Rep. Snow moved to amend the bill as follows:
1. Page 2, Line 34 :
34 (d)
The motion passed unanimously with Rep. Ivory absent for the vote.
Spoke to the bill: Mr. Quinn Kofford
MOTION: Rep. Herrod moved to pass the bill out favorably as amended. The motion passed with Rep. Brown, Rep. Christensen, Rep. Cox, Rep. Hutchings, and Rep. Wilson voting in opposition. Rep. Ivory was absent for the vote.
S.B. 55 Amendments to Adoption Code (Sen. T. Weiler)
The bill was not considered.
H.B. 433 Expanded Uses of School District Property Tax Revenue (Rep. K. McIff)
The bill was not considered.
H.B. 457 Eminent Domain Revisions (Rep. B. Last)
The bill was not considered.
MOTION: Rep. Snow moved to adjourn the meeting. Chair McIff adjourned the meeting at 9:22 a.m.
___________________________________
Rep. Kay McIff, Chair