HI HB553

Allows courts to appoint one qualified examiner instead of three to evaluate a criminal defendant's fitness to proceed in all cases, effective July 1, 2050.

Removes the requirement that the appointed examiner must be designated by the director of health from within the Department of Health.

Reverts to the original requirement of three examiners for felony cases and one for non-felony cases on July 1, 2022, with one examiner designated by the director of health from within the Department of Health.

Amends section 704-406 to apply simplified examiner appointment procedures to cases involving murder, attempted murder, and class A felonies when determining if a defendant has regained fitness to proceed.

Repeals section 5 of Act 231, Session Laws of Hawaii 2016, regarding previous fitness to proceed examination requirements.