GA SB132

Courts must hold a hearing before ordering a mental competency evaluation when the accused or their attorney raises the competency issue, rather than ordering evaluations automatically

Competency evaluations remain sealed and released only to the accused's attorney unless a special plea of mental incompetency is filed, at which point the prosecuting attorney also receives the evaluation

Nonviolent misdemeanor cases receive expedited 45-day evaluation timelines (versus 90 days for other cases) and a maximum 120-day treatment period (versus 9 months for other cases)

Charges must be automatically dismissed for nonviolent misdemeanor defendants who remain incompetent after the 120-day treatment period, with referral to a community service board unless the prosecutor shows cause for exception

DUI charges and misdemeanors involving domestic violence are excluded from the expedited nonviolent misdemeanor procedures and follow standard timelines