88R3665 EAS-F
 
  By: Moody H.B. No. 1401
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to procedures regarding defendants who may lack the
  capacity to understand or participate in criminal proceedings or
  who have participated in certain competency restoration programs.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Subchapter B, Chapter 45, Code of Criminal
  Procedure, is amended by adding Article 45.0214 to read as follows:
         Art. 45.0214.  DEFENDANT WITH MENTAL ILLNESS, INTELLECTUAL
  OR DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITY, OR LACK OF CAPACITY. (a) In this
  article:
               (1)  "Caregiver" means a person, including a guardian,
  who is authorized by law, contract, or familial relationship to
  provide care to another person.
               (2)  "Defendant" includes a child as defined by Article
  45.058(h).
         (b)  On motion by the state, the defendant, or a person who
  stands in a parental relation to the defendant or who acts as the
  defendant's caregiver, or on the court's own motion, a justice or
  judge shall determine whether probable cause exists to believe that
  a defendant, including a defendant with a mental illness or an
  intellectual or developmental disability:
               (1)  lacks the capacity to understand the proceedings
  in criminal court or to assist in the defendant's own defense; or
               (2)  is unfit to proceed.
         (c)  If the court determines that probable cause exists for a
  finding under Subsection (b), after providing notice to the state,
  the court may dismiss the complaint.
         (d)  A dismissal of a complaint under Subsection (c) may be
  appealed as provided by Article 44.01.
         SECTION 2.  Article 46B.009, Code of Criminal Procedure, is
  amended to read as follows:
         Art. 46B.009.  TIME CREDITS.  (a) A court sentencing a
  person convicted of a criminal offense shall credit to the term of
  the person's sentence each of the following periods for which the
  person may be confined in a mental health facility, residential
  care facility, or jail:
               (1)  any period of confinement that occurs pending a
  determination under Subchapter C as to the defendant's competency
  to stand trial; and
               (2)  any period of confinement that occurs between the
  date of any initial determination of the defendant's incompetency
  under that subchapter and the date the person is transported to jail
  following a final judicial determination that the person has been
  restored to competency.
         (b)  A court sentencing a person convicted of a criminal
  offense shall credit to the term of the person's sentence any period
  during which the person participated in an outpatient competency
  restoration program.
         SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.