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GA SB391

Bill

Status

Engrossed

3/11/2010

Primary Sponsor

Jack Hill

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Origin

Senate

2009-2010 Regular Session

AI Summary

  • Amends Georgia Code Section 17-7-130 to establish specific procedures for children (persons under superior court jurisdiction per Code Section 15-11-28) who are found mentally incompetent to stand trial in criminal cases
  • Authorizes the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities to place children found incompetent to stand trial in a secure hospital or secure community facility designated by the department, rather than following the standard adult transfer process
  • Adds new definitions to the statute, including "child," "developmental disability," and revised definitions of "inpatient" and "outpatient" as applied to children, specifying these terms cover children who are mentally ill or have a developmental disability and need involuntary placement
  • Exempts children from the standard process of referral to probate court for civil commitment proceedings under Title 37 when criminal charges are dismissed, creating a separate pathway for juvenile defendants
  • Retains the existing framework for nonviolent and misdemeanor offenses allowing outpatient evaluation and bail eligibility, while ensuring that any civil commitment of a child defendant includes placement authority for the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities in secure facilities

Legislative Description

Proceedings; provide for certain children found incompetent to stand trial

Last Action

House Committee Favorably Reported

4/27/2010

Committee Referrals

Judiciary - Non-Civil3/16/2010
Judiciary2/9/2010

Full Bill Text

No bill text available