HB 1327 - Forensic Mental Health

• Reduces the period for dismissing charges against incompetent defendants from 5 years to 2 years, with court authority to extend up to 5 years, and allows earlier dismissal if defendant agrees to conditional release plan with forensic case manager supervision.

• Establishes mental health courts in each circuit with authority to divert mentally ill individuals from incarceration, supervise conditional release, and coordinate with mental health services; courts must have a coordinator and are funded through existing resources or grants.

• Creates a forensic probation and parole program within the Department of Corrections to manage reentry of mentally ill inmates, including designation of forensic probation officers who coordinate with mental health case managers to improve compliance and reduce incarceration.

• Requires prison medical facilities to include specialized mental health treatment wards and directs the Department of Corrections to create crisis intervention teams for mentally ill inmates and provide mental health training to correctional personnel, all within current resources.

• Mandates competency and commitment hearings be held within 30 days of notification, establishes involuntary outpatient treatment plans requiring medication compliance, and requires a forensic mental health transition plan for incarcerated adults with serious mental illness who do not pose public safety risks.