S.B. 2631 Summary

• Courts may enter into agreements with parties at any stage of criminal proceedings to divert cases into mental health evaluation, treatment, or specialized courts when there is reason to believe the defendant has a mental or physical disease, disorder, or defect that will or has become an issue in the case.

• For class A and B felonies and class C felonies involving violence, the court shall appoint three qualified examiners including at least one psychiatrist or licensed psychologist; for other cases, one qualified examiner may be appointed.

• Requirement changed from "or" to allow either one psychiatrist or one licensed psychologist (instead of requiring both) to be appointed in felony cases requiring three examiners.

• Examination for penal responsibility must be conducted within fifteen days after a finding of fitness to proceed, reduced from the previous thirty-day requirement.

• Effective date is July 1, 2050.