HB 1349 - Mental Health Treatment Summary

• Department of Children and Families may issue conditional designations to mental health facilities for up to 60 days to implement corrective measures before full designation is required.

• Sheriffs must administer or permit administration of psychiatric medication to forensic clients held in county jails before their admission to state mental health treatment facilities.

• Examining experts must report on clinical safety assessments, specific treatment alternatives (including community-based options), and provide detailed explanations of why alternative treatments are insufficient for incompetent defendants.

• Courts must review expert reports and determine that alternative treatment options have been fully considered and found insufficient before committing defendants to the department for treatment.

• Initial competency reports deadline changed from 6 months to 60 days after admission; competency hearings must occur within 30 days of notification that a defendant has regained competency; medication continuity must be maintained when transferring defendants from mental health facilities to county jails.