Bill Text: HI HB1620 | 2020 | Regular Session | Amended
Bill Title: Relating To The Administration Of Justice.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 4-0)
Status: (Enrolled - Dead) 2020-07-10 - Transmitted to Governor. [HB1620 Detail]
Download: Hawaii-2020-HB1620-Amended.html
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES |
H.B. NO. |
1620 |
THIRTIETH LEGISLATURE, 2020 |
H.D. 2 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
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A BILL FOR AN ACT
RELATING TO THE ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
PART I
SECTION 1. Chapter 704, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:
"§704- Effect
of finding of unfitness to proceed for defendants charged with petty
misdemeanors not involving violence or attempted violence; criminal justice
diversion program. (1) In cases where the defendant is charged with
a petty misdemeanor not involving violence or attempted violence, if, at the
hearing held pursuant to section 704-404(2)(a) or at a further hearing held
after the appointment of an examiner pursuant to section 704-404(2)(b), the
court determines that the defendant lacks fitness to proceed, the court may:
(a) Suspend the
proceedings and order the defendant to be transferred to the custody of the
director of health and placed in a hospital or other suitable facility for
further examination and assessment for up to seven days; or
(b) Dismiss the
charges with or without prejudice.
(2) If the defendant's clinical team determines
that the defendant meets the criteria for involuntary hospitalization set forth
in section 334-60.2, the director of health shall file a petition for
involuntary hospitalization pursuant to section 334-60.3 in family court. If the petition is granted, the defendant
shall remain hospitalized for a time period as provided by section 334-60.6.
(3) If the defendant's clinical team determines
that the defendant does not meet the criteria for involuntary hospitalization,
or the family court denies the petition for involuntary hospitalization, or in
the anticipation of discharge after involuntary hospitalization pursuant to
section 334-60.3, the clinical team shall determine whether an assisted
community treatment plan is appropriate pursuant to chapter 334, part VIII. If the clinical team determines that an
assisted community treatment plan is appropriate, the psychiatrist or advanced
practice registered nurse from the clinical team shall prepare the certificate
for assisted community treatment specified by section 334-123. The clinical team shall identify a community
mental health outpatient program that agrees to provide mental health services
to the defendant as the designated mental health program under the assisted
community treatment order. The defendant
may be held at the hospital or other suitable facility pending the family court
hearing on the petition for assisted community treatment. If the petition is granted, the defendant
shall be released for treatment with the designated mental health program once
the assisted community treatment order is issued and the initial treatment
consistent with the assisted community treatment plan is administered to the
defendant.
(4) If the petition for assisted community
treatment is not granted or the clinical team determines that an assisted community
treatment order is not appropriate, the defendant shall be:
(a) Referred to an
appropriate outpatient mental health program for continued support, care, and
treatment; and
(b) Discharged from the hospital or other suitable facility."
SECTION 2. Section 704-404, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended as follows:
1. By amending subsections (1) and (2) to read:
"(1) Whenever there is reason
to doubt the defendant's fitness to proceed, the court may immediately suspend all
further proceedings in the prosecution; provided that for any defendant not
subject to an order of commitment to a hospital for the purpose of the
examination, neither the right to bail nor proceedings pursuant to chapter 804
shall be suspended. If a trial jury has been
[empanelled,] empaneled, it shall be discharged or retained at the
discretion of the court. The discharge of
the trial jury shall not be a bar to further prosecution.
(2) Upon suspension of further proceedings in the
prosecution[,]:
(a) In nonfelony cases, if a court-based
certified examiner is available, the court shall appoint the court-based
certified examiner to examine and provide an expedited report solely upon the
issue of the defendant's fitness to proceed.
The court-based certified examiner shall file the examiner's report with
the court within two days of the appointment of the examiner. A fitness determination hearing shall be held
within two days of the filing of the report, or as soon thereafter as is
practicable;
(b) In nonfelony cases where a court-based
certified examiner is not available, the court shall appoint [three
qualified examiners in felony cases, and] one qualified examiner [in
nonfelony cases,] to examine and report upon the defendant's fitness to
proceed. The court may appoint
as the examiner either a psychiatrist or a licensed psychologist; and
(c) In felony cases,
the court shall appoint three qualified examiners to examine and report upon
the defendant's fitness to proceed. The
court shall appoint as examiners [at least one psychiatrist and at least
one licensed psychologist. The third
examiner may be a psychiatrist, licensed psychologist, or qualified physician. One] psychiatrists, licensed
psychologists, or qualified physicians; provided that one of the three
examiners shall be a psychiatrist or licensed psychologist designated by the
director of health from within the department of health.
[In nonfelony cases, the court may appoint as
examiners either a psychiatrist or a licensed psychologist.] All examiners shall be appointed from a list
of certified examiners as determined by the department of health. The court, in appropriate circumstances, may
appoint an additional examiner or examiners.
The examination may be conducted while the defendant is in custody or on
release or, in the court's discretion, when necessary the court may order the
defendant to be committed to a hospital or other suitable facility for the
purpose of the examination for a period not exceeding thirty days, or a longer
period as the court determines to be necessary for the purpose. The court may direct that one or more
qualified physicians or psychologists retained by the defendant be permitted to
witness the examination. As used in this
section, the term "licensed psychologist" includes psychologists exempted
from licensure by section 465-3(a)(3) and "qualified physician" means
a physician qualified by the court for the specific evaluation ordered."
2. By amending subsection (5) to read:
"(5) [The] Except in the case of an
examination pursuant to subsection (2)(a), the report of the examination
for fitness to proceed shall include the following:
(a) A description of the nature of the examination;
(b) A diagnosis of
the physical or mental condition of the defendant;
[(b)]
(c) An opinion as to the defendant's
capacity to understand the proceedings against the defendant and to assist in
the defendant's own defense;
[(c)]
(d) An assessment of the risk of danger to
the defendant or to the person or property of others for consideration and
determination of the defendant's release on conditions; and
[(d)]
(e) Where more than one examiner is
appointed, a statement that the opinion rendered was arrived at independently
of any other examiner, unless there is a showing to the court of a clear need
for communication between or among the examiners for clarification. A description of the communication shall be
included in the report. After all
reports are submitted to the court, examiners may confer without restriction."
3. By amending subsection (7) to read:
"(7) [Three copies] A copy of the
report of the examination, including any supporting documents, shall be filed
with the clerk of the court[, who shall cause copies to be delivered to the
prosecuting attorney and to counsel for the defendant]."
SECTION 3. Section 704-406, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (1) to read as follows:
"(1) If the court determines that the defendant
lacks fitness to proceed, the proceeding against the defendant shall be
suspended, except as provided in [section] sections 704‑407[,]
and 704‑ , and the court shall commit the
defendant to the custody of the director of health to be placed in an
appropriate institution for detention, assessment, care, and treatment;
provided that [the commitment shall be limited in certain cases as follows:
(a) When] when
the defendant is charged with a petty misdemeanor not involving violence or
attempted violence, the [commitment shall be limited to no longer than sixty
days from the date the court determines the defendant lacks fitness to proceed;
and
(b) When the
defendant is charged with a misdemeanor not involving violence or attempted
violence, the commitment shall be limited to no longer than one hundred twenty
days from the date the court determines the defendant lacks fitness to proceed.]
defendant shall be diverted from the criminal justice system pursuant to
section 704- .
If the court is satisfied that the defendant may be
released on conditions without danger to the defendant or to another or risk of
substantial danger to property of others, the court shall order the defendant's
release, which shall continue at the discretion of the court, on conditions the
court determines necessary[; provided that the release on conditions of a
defendant charged with a petty misdemeanor not involving violence or attempted
violence shall continue for no longer than sixty days, and the release on
conditions of a defendant charged with a misdemeanor not involving violence or
attempted violence shall continue for no longer than one hundred twenty days]. A copy of all reports filed pursuant to
section 704-404 shall be attached to the order of commitment or order of
release on conditions that is provided to the
department of health. When the
defendant is committed to the custody of the director of health for detention, assessment,
care, and treatment, the county police departments shall provide to the
director of health and the defendant copies of all police reports from cases
filed against the defendant that have been adjudicated by the acceptance of a
plea of guilty or nolo contendere, a finding of guilt, acquittal, acquittal
pursuant to section 704-400, or by the entry of a plea of guilty or nolo
contendere made pursuant to chapter 853; provided that the disclosure to the director
of health and the defendant does not frustrate a legitimate function of the
county police departments; provided further that expunged records, records of
or pertaining to any adjudication or disposition rendered in the case of a
juvenile, or records containing data from the United States National Crime
Information Center shall not be provided.
The county police departments shall segregate or sanitize from the
police reports information that would result in the likely or actual
identification of individuals who furnished information in connection with the
investigation or who were of investigatory interest. No further disclosure of records shall be
made except as provided by law."
SECTION 4. Section 704-411, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (3) to read as follows:
"(3) When ordering a hearing pursuant to subsection (2):
(a) In nonfelony cases, the court shall appoint a qualified examiner to examine and report upon the physical and mental condition of the defendant. The court may appoint either a psychiatrist or a licensed psychologist. The examiner may be designated by the director of health from within the department of health. The examiner shall be appointed from a list of certified examiners as determined by the department of health. The court, in appropriate circumstances, may appoint an additional examiner or examiners; and
(b) In felony cases,
the court shall appoint three qualified examiners to examine and report upon
the physical and mental condition of the defendant. In each case, the court shall appoint [at
least one psychiatrist and at least one licensed psychologist. The third member may be a psychiatrist, a
licensed psychologist, or a qualified physician. One] as examiners psychiatrists,
licensed psychologists, or qualified physicians; provided the one of the
three shall be a psychiatrist or licensed psychologist designated by the
director of health from within the department of health. The three examiners shall be appointed from a
list of certified examiners as determined by the department of health.
To facilitate the examination and the proceedings
thereon, the court may cause the defendant, if not then confined, to be
committed to a hospital or other suitable facility for the purpose of
examination for a period not exceeding thirty days or a longer period as the
court determines to be necessary for the purpose upon written findings for good
cause shown. The court may direct that
qualified physicians or psychologists retained by the defendant be permitted to
witness the examination. The examination
and report and the compensation of persons making or assisting in the
examination shall be in accordance with section 704-404(3), (5)(a) [and],
(b), (d), and (e), (7), (8), (9), (10), and (11). As used in this section, the term "licensed
psychologist" includes psychologists exempted from licensure by section
465‑3(a)(3) and "qualified physician" means a physician
qualified by the court for the specific evaluation ordered."
SECTION 5. Section 704-414, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (1) to read as follows:
"(1) Upon filing of an application pursuant to
section 704-412 for discharge or conditional release, or upon the filing of an
application pursuant to section 704-413 for discharge, the court shall appoint
three qualified examiners in felony cases, and one qualified examiner in
nonfelony cases, to examine and report upon the physical and mental condition
of the defendant. In felony cases, the
court shall appoint [at least one psychiatrist and at least one licensed
psychologist. The third member may be a
psychiatrist, a licensed psychologist, or a qualified physician. One] as examiners psychiatrists,
licensed psychologists, or qualified physicians; provided that one of the
three shall be a psychiatrist or licensed psychologist designated by the
director of health from within the department of health. The examiners shall be appointed from a list
of certified examiners as determined by the department of health. To facilitate the examination and the
proceedings thereon, the court may cause the defendant, if not then confined,
to be committed to a hospital or other suitable facility for the purpose of the
examination and may direct that qualified physicians or psychologists retained
by the defendant be permitted to witness the examination. The examination and report and the
compensation of persons making or assisting in the examination shall be in
accordance with section 704-404(3), (5)(a) [and], (b), (d),
and (e), (7), (8), (9), (10), and (11).
As used in this section, the term "licensed psychologist"
includes psychologists exempted from licensure by section 465-3(a)(3) and "qualified
physician" means a physician qualified by the court for the specific
evaluation ordered."
PART II
SECTION 6. The legislature finds that the recommendations of the Hawaii Summit on Improving the Governmental Response to Community Mental Illness hosted by the State Justice Institute, National Center for State Courts, Conference of Chief Justices, and the Conference of State Court Administrators on November 6, 2019, as well as studies such as the 2016-2017 Policy Paper by the Conference of State Court Administrators' "Decriminalization of Mental Illness: Fixing a Broken System", demonstrate that jails nationwide have become the default mental health method of treatment for numerous low-level defendants whose needs could be far more effectively addressed by diversion into behavioral health treatment. Moreover, once the issue of mental health surfaces during a judicial proceeding, the defendant more often than not actually spends far more time being incarcerated without being treated and being denied due process while awaiting mental health evaluations. With the cost of incarceration in Hawaii averaging over $150 per day and the high rate of recidivism shown by these studies because of the lack of treatment, the legislature finds that allowing the parties to opt out of judicial proceedings by entering into agreements at any stage of the process is more cost-effective with respect to time, money, and community results.
The purpose of this part is to:
(1) Authorize the courts to enter into agreements with the parties where there is reason to believe that the defendant has a physical or mental disease, disorder, or defect that will or has become an issue in the criminal case;
(2) Amend the requirements for appointing qualified examiners to perform examinations for penal responsibility; and
(3) Require an examination for penal responsibility to be conducted within fifteen days after a finding of fitness to proceed.
SECTION 7. Section 704-407.5, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended as follows:
1. By amending subsections (1) and (2) to read:
"(1) Whenever the defendant has filed a notice of intention to rely on the defense of physical or mental disease, disorder, or defect excluding penal responsibility, or there is reason to believe that the physical or mental disease, disorder, or defect of the defendant will or has become an issue in the case, the court may order an examination as to the defendant's physical or mental disease, disorder, or defect at the time of the conduct alleged.
Whenever there
is reason to believe that the physical or mental disease, disorder, or defect
of the defendant will or has become an issue in the case, the court may enter
into an agreement with the parties at any stage of the proceeding to divert the
case into an evaluation of the defendant, treatment of the defendant, including
residential or rehabilitation treatment; or any other course or procedure,
including diversion into specialized courts.
Such agreements may include in-court clinical evaluations.
(2)
[The] For those cases not diverted by an agreement pursuant to
subsection (1), the court shall appoint three qualified examiners [in
felony cases] for class A and class B felonies, as well as for class C
felonies involving violence or attempted violence, and one qualified
examiner in nonfelony cases and class C felonies not involving violence or
attempted violence, to examine and report upon the physical or mental
disease, disorder, or defect of the defendant at the time of the conduct. In [felony] cases[,] requiring
three examiners, the court shall appoint at least one psychiatrist [and]
or at least one licensed psychologist. [The] When applicable, the third
examiner may be a psychiatrist, licensed psychologist, or qualified physician. One of the three examiners shall be a
psychiatrist or licensed psychologist designated by the director of health from
within the department of health. In
nonfelony cases[,] and class C felonies not involving violence or
attempted violence, the court may appoint as examiners either a
psychiatrist or a licensed psychologist. All examiners shall be appointed from a list
of certified examiners as determined by the department of health. The court, in appropriate circumstances, may
appoint an additional examiner or examiners. The court may direct that one or more
qualified physicians or psychologists retained by the defendant be permitted to
witness the examination. As used in this
section, the term "licensed psychologist" includes psychologists
exempted from licensure by section 465-3(a)(3) and "qualified
physician" means a physician qualified by the court for the specific
evaluation ordered."
2. By amending subsection (4) to read:
"(4) For defendants charged with felonies, the
examinations for fitness to proceed under section 704-404 and penal
responsibility under this section shall be conducted separately unless a
combined examination has been ordered by the court upon a request by the
defendant or upon a showing of good cause to combine the examinations. When the examinations are separate, the
examination for penal responsibility under this section shall not be ordered
more than [thirty] fifteen days after a finding of fitness to
proceed. The report of the examination
for fitness to proceed shall be separate from the report of the examination for
penal responsibility unless a combined examination has been ordered. For defendants charged with offenses other
than felonies, a combined examination is permissible when ordered by the
court."
PART III
SECTION 8. This Act does not affect rights and duties that matured, penalties that were incurred, and proceedings that were begun before its effective date.
SECTION 9. Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken. New statutory material is underscored.
SECTION 10. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2050.
Report Title:
Fitness to Proceed; Petty Misdemeanors; DOH; Penal Responsibility; Mental Health Treatment; Agreements
Description:
Amends the effect of finding a defendant charged with a petty misdemeanor not involving violence or attempted violence unfit to proceed. Amends the requirements for fitness determination hearings, court-appointed examiners, and examination reports. Authorizes the courts to enter into agreements to divert into residential, rehabilitative, and other treatment those defendants whose physical or mental disease, disorder, or defect is believed to have become or will become an issue in a judicial case. Amends the requirements for appointing qualified examiners to perform examinations for penal responsibility. Requires an examination for penal responsibility to be conducted within fifteen days after a finding of fitness to proceed. Effective 7/1/2050. (HD2)
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