SB493 Summary

• Modifies the timing of mental health and substance abuse assessments for persons accused of felony offenses, requiring them to occur after initial appearance but before a finding of guilt, rather than after conviction and prior to sentencing.

• Maintains the requirement that assessments be administered and scored by personnel certified by the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services.

• Preserves existing protections that assessment results remain inadmissible in criminal proceedings unless specifically waived by the defendant or used for sentencing determination purposes.

• Allows the court and district attorney to consider assessment results when determining sentencing options for defendants who have pled guilty.

• Becomes effective November 1, 2013.