HB 1442 Summary

• Permits examination of criminal defendants via telehealth and establishes automatic screening for nonviolent petty misdemeanor defendants to determine eligibility for involuntary hospitalization or assisted community treatment when fitness to proceed remains unresolved.

• Requires court-based certified examiners to provide expedited fitness reports within two days for petty misdemeanor cases not involving violence, with fitness hearings held within two days of the report filing.

• Extends the maximum period for court-ordered assisted community treatment from one year to two years and eliminates the need for courts to reconsider unchanged factors when deciding petition extensions.

• Authorizes courts to require probation violators to undergo mental health evaluation and treatment as a condition of continued probation when the violation appears associated with a mental disease, disorder, or defect.

• Requires the Department of Health to establish or contract with behavioral health crisis centers in each county providing 24/7 services with dedicated first responder drop-off areas, and directs establishment of a statewide Hawaii Urgency Response Center.