CA AB1962

State Department of State Hospitals must adopt guidelines for education and training standards for psychiatrists and licensed psychologists appointed to evaluate defendant mental competency, with adoption deadline of July 1, 2017.

Guidelines development requires convening a workgroup including the Judicial Council, judges, defense counsel, district attorneys, counties, disability advocates, state psychologists and psychiatrists, and professional associations.

Courts must appoint experts meeting the established guidelines or those with equivalent experience and skills when evaluating defendant mental competency.

Courts retain discretion to appoint experts who do not meet the guidelines if no reasonably available expert meeting the guidelines exists.