AZ SB1250

Amends Arizona law to prohibit capital sentencing for defendants found to have serious mental illness at the time of the offense, in addition to existing protections for defendants with intellectual disabilities.

Requires courts to appoint prescreening psychological experts to evaluate defendants' intelligence quotients and whether they had serious mental illness at the time of the offense when the state seeks the death penalty.

Establishes that defendants with serious mental illness must receive life or natural life sentences instead of death penalties, with the burden of proof on the defendant by clear and convincing evidence.

Defines "serious mental illness" as active symptoms substantially impairing capacity to appreciate the nature or wrongfulness of conduct, exercise rational judgment, or conform conduct to law, including schizophrenia spectrum disorders, bipolar disorder, major depression, delusional disorder, PTSD, and traumatic brain injury.

Protects statements made during mental health evaluations and hearings from being used in criminal guilt proceedings, though examiners may be called as witnesses.