CS/HB 985 Summary

• Requires the Agency for Persons with Disabilities to provide written notice of eligibility determinations to individuals, with appeal rights under the Medicaid fair hearing process in section 393.125

• Mandates annual court hearings to review the continued need for involuntary placement in residential services for persons with intellectual disability or autism

• Changes examining committee composition from three disinterested experts to at least two but no more than three qualified experts, and requires the court to pay reasonable fees for evaluations and testimony

• Allows the court to determine reasonable fees for mental health experts appointed in criminal competency evaluations instead of requiring payment from county general revenue funds

• Establishes a 2-year limit on conditional release for community-based competency training for incompetent defendants with intellectual disability or autism, with referral to appropriate civil or forensic facilities if competency is not restored