STATE OF OKLAHOMA

1st Session of the 54th Legislature (2013)

HOUSE BILL 1459	By:	Ownbey

AS INTRODUCED

An Act relating to public guardians; amending 22 O.S. 2011, Section 1175.6b, which relates to persons in the custody of the Office of Public Guardian; directing status report to be sealed by the court; requiring access to certain information be strictly controlled; providing exceptions; and providing an effective date.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA:
SECTION 1.     AMENDATORY     22 O.S. 2011, Section 1175.6b, is amended to read as follows:
Section 1175.6b  A.  If the person is found to be incompetent primarily because the person is mentally retarded as defined in Section 1408 of Title 10 of the Oklahoma Statutes, and is also found by the court to be dangerous as defined by Section 1175.1 of this Title title, the court shall suspend the criminal proceedings, and shall place the person into the custody of the Office of Public Guardian.  The Office of Public Guardian shall act with all powers set forth in the Oklahoma Public Guardianship Act, and:
1.  The Office of Public Guardian shall place any person placed in its custody under this title in a facility or residential setting, private or public, willing to accept the individual and that has a level of supervision and security that is appropriate to the needs of the person;
2.  Such placements shall be within the sole discretion of the Office of Public Guardian;
3.  All such placements made by the Office of Public Guardian shall be made within six (6) months of the date of the order awarding custody to the Office of Public Guardian;
4.  The Office of Public Guardian shall report to the court at least every six (6) months as to the status of the person including, but not limited to, the type of placement, services provided, level of supervision, the medical and psychological health of the person, whether the person would be dangerous if conditionally released into a nonsecure environment, the assistance and services that would be required for such conditional release and whether the person has achieved competency.  The status report shall not constitute a public record and shall be sealed by the court.  Access to the information contained in the status report shall be strictly controlled.  Except upon court order, no information contained in the status report shall be disclosed to persons other than:
a.	the subject of the proceeding and the subject’s attorney, and
b.	the district attorney for which the case is pending;
5.  If the person is determined by the Office of Public Guardian to have regained competency or that conditional release to a private guardian or other caretaker is appropriate, a hearing shall be scheduled within twenty (20) days.  If found competent by the court or a jury after such rehearing, criminal proceedings shall be resumed.  If the court finds conditional release to be appropriate, the court shall make an appropriate order for conditional release; and
6.  The provisions of subsections C, H and I of Section 6-101 of Title 30 of the Oklahoma Statutes shall not apply to custody orders arising under this title.
B.  If the person is found to be incompetent for reasons other than the person is a person requiring treatment as defined by Section 1-103 of Title 43A of the Oklahoma Statutes and is found to be not dangerous as defined by Section 1175.1 of this title, the court shall suspend the criminal proceedings and either refer the person to the Department of Human Services for consideration of voluntary assistance or conditionally release the person as set forth in this section.
1.  For any person recommended for conditional release, a written plan for services shall be prepared by the Department of Human Services and filed with the court.  In its order of conditional release, the court shall specify the conditions of release and shall direct the appropriate agencies or persons to submit annual reports regarding the person’s compliance with the conditions of release and progress:
a.	to be eligible for conditional release, the person shall agree, in writing, that during the period the person is granted conditional release and is subject to the provisions thereof, there shall be free transmission of all pertinent information, including clinical information regarding the person, among the person’s treatment providers, the appropriate district attorneys, law enforcement and court personnel.  To affect this agreement, the person shall execute any releases required by law to allow for the dissemination of this information,
b.	the court’s order placing the person on conditional release shall include notice that the person’s conditional release may be revoked upon good cause,
c.	the district attorney, as well as any agency or individual involved in providing services with regard to the person’s conditional release, may prepare and file an affidavit under oath if the district attorney, agency, or individual believes that the person has failed to comply with the conditions of release.  The court shall then conduct a hearing to determine if the person has violated the conditions of release.  Notice of the hearing shall be issued, at least twenty-four (24) hours before the hearing, to the Department of Human Services, the person, trial counsel for the person, and the client advocate general of the Department of Human Services.  After reviewing the evidence concerning any alleged violation of the conditions of the release, the person’s progress, treatment alternatives, and the need for public safety, the court may order no change to the conditions for the person’s release or modify the conditions of release, and
d.	the person placed on conditional release shall remain in a conditional release status until the reviewing court issues a full release from all conditions.
2.  If the person is determined by the Department of Human Services to have regained competency, a hearing shall be scheduled within twenty (20) days:
a.	if found competent by the court or a jury after such rehearing, criminal proceedings shall be resumed,
b.	if the person is found to continue to be incompetent, the person shall be returned to either conditional release or referred to the Department of Human Services for consideration of voluntary assistance.
SECTION 2.  This act shall become effective November 1, 2013.

54-1-5329	EK	01/14/13