KS SB481

Municipal judges may order psychiatric or psychological examinations to determine a defendant's competency to stand trial at any time after the complaint is served and before sentence completion, with all speedy trial requirements suspended during the process

Examinations must be completed within 60 days and may be conducted by state, county, or private institutions, licensed physicians or psychologists, or examiners from the district court's competency examiner list

Costs for examinations are paid from municipal court funds or the municipality's general fund, and statements made by defendants during examinations cannot be used as evidence against them in criminal proceedings

If a defendant is found incompetent, charges must be dismissed without prejudice and the city attorney may file a petition for care and treatment proceedings or refer the case to the district attorney for district court filing

City attorneys may refile charges within the statute of limitations if credible information indicates a previously incompetent defendant has regained competency, requiring a new competency hearing