Report Title:
Health; Mental Health Court; Conditional Release and Discharge; Forensic Patients; Appropriation
Description:
Requires the department of health to submit an annual report on forensic patients; requires yearly court status hearings for individuals ordered to be conditionally released or hospitalized as an inpatient by the mental health court; reduces the minimum length of hospitalization from ninety to thirty days for individuals who are recommitted after conditional release; makes appropriation for mental health court operations; creates criminal offense of assault in second degree for assault on employee of state-operated or state-contracted mental health facility. Effective 7/1/2025. (SD2)
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES |
H.B. NO. |
466 |
TWENTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE, 2007 |
H.D. 1 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
S.D. 2 |
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A BILL FOR AN ACT
RELATING TO HEALTH.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
PART I
SECTION 1. Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 117, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, adopted by the twenty-third Hawaii state legislature in 2006 called for the Governor to convene a task force to "evaluate and recommend possible procedural, statutory, and public policy changes to minimize the census at Hawaii State Hospital and promote community based health services for forensic patients." The purpose of this part is to enact the recommendations made by that task force.
SECTION 2. Chapter 334, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:
"§334‑ Annual report; forensic patient data. The department of health shall submit an annual report to the legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of each regular legislative session which shall at minimum summarize yearly data on forensic patients including:
(1) Gross numbers for admission to and discharge from the Hawaii state hospital;
(2) The number of admissions to, discharges from, and lengths of stays in the Hawaii state hospital, broken down by the following commitment categories:
(A) Original order under section 704-411(1)(a);
(B) Pending examination under section 704-413(3);
(C) Maximum seventy-two hour recommitment pending examination under section 704-413(1);
(D) Original order under section 704-404; and
(E) Original order under section 704-406;
(3) Number of persons committed to the Hawaii state hospital by each court and county;
(4) Gross lengths of stay in the Hawaii state hospital for:
(A) Patients discharged during the fiscal year; and
(B) Individuals remaining as inpatients at the end of the fiscal year;
(5) Number of patients in the Hawaii state hospital on forensic status, broken down by categories of underlying crimes, such as by crimes against the person, sex offenses, and property crimes and by grade of offense."
SECTION 3. Section 704-411, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:
"§704-411 Legal effect of acquittal on the ground of physical or mental disease, disorder, or defect excluding responsibility; commitment; conditional release; discharge; procedure for separate post-acquittal hearing. (1) When a defendant is acquitted on the ground of physical or mental disease, disorder, or defect excluding responsibility, the court, on the basis of the report made pursuant to section 704‑404, if uncontested, or the medical or psychological evidence given at the trial or at a separate hearing, shall make an order as follows:
(a) The court shall order the defendant to be committed to the custody of the director of health to be placed in an appropriate institution for custody, care, and treatment if the court finds that the defendant:
(i) Is affected by a physical or mental disease, disorder, or defect;
(ii) Presents a risk of danger to self or others; and
(iii) Is not a proper subject for conditional release;
provided that the director of health shall place defendants charged with misdemeanors or felonies not involving violence or attempted violence in the least restrictive environment appropriate in light of the defendant's treatment needs and the need to prevent harm to the person confined and others;
(b) The court shall order the defendant to be [released
on such conditions] granted conditional release with conditions as
the court deems necessary if the court finds that the defendant is affected by
physical or mental disease, disorder, or defect and that the defendant presents
a danger to self or others, but that the defendant can be controlled adequately
and given proper care, supervision, and treatment if the defendant is released
on condition; or
(c) The court shall order the defendant discharged if the court finds that the defendant is no longer affected by physical or mental disease, disorder, or defect or, if so affected, that the defendant no longer presents a danger to self or others and is not in need of care, supervision, or treatment.
(2) The court, upon its own motion or on the motion of the prosecuting attorney or the defendant, shall order a separate post-acquittal hearing for the purpose of taking evidence on the issue of physical or mental disease, disorder, or defect and the risk of danger that the defendant presents to self or others.
(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 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 such 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 accord with section 704-404(3), (4)(a) and (b), (6), (7), (8), and (9). As used in this section, the term "licensed psychologist" includes psychologists exempted from licensure by section 465-3(a)(3).
(4) Whether the court's order under subsection (1) is made on the basis of the medical or psychological evidence given at the trial, or on the basis of the report made pursuant to section 704-404, or the medical or psychological evidence given at a separate hearing, the burden shall be upon the State to prove, by a preponderance of the evidence, that the defendant is affected by a physical or mental disease, disorder, or defect and may not safely be discharged and that the defendant should be either committed or conditionally released as provided in subsection (1).
(5) Except where an individual has applied for conditional release or discharge within the previous year, the court shall conduct a hearing to assess any further need for inpatient hospitalization of a person who is acquitted on the ground of physical or mental disease, disorder, or defect excluding responsibility:
(a) On or about one calendar year after the date of commitment, and once per calendar year thereafter for the next four calendar years; and
(b) Thereafter to paragraph (a), once biennially thereafter on or about the date of commitment.
[(5)] (6) In any proceeding
governed by this section, the defendant's fitness shall not be an issue."
SECTION 4. Section 704-412, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:
"§704-412 Committed person;
application for conditional release or discharge; by the director of health; by
the person. (1) After the expiration of at least ninety days following [the]
an original order of commitment pursuant to section 704‑411,
or after the expiration of at least forty-five days following the revocation
of conditional release pursuant to section 704-413, if the director of
health is of the opinion that the person committed [to the director's
custody] is still affected by a physical or mental disease, disorder, or
defect and may be [released on condition] granted conditional release
or discharged without danger to self or to the person or property of others or
that the person is no longer affected by a physical or mental disease,
disorder, or defect, the director shall make application for [the discharge
or conditional release of the person in] either the conditional release
or discharge of the person, as appropriate. In such a case, the director shall
submit a report to the court [from] by which the person was ordered
committed and shall transmit [a copy] copies of the application
and report to the prosecuting attorney of the county from which the person was
committed[. The] and to the person [shall be given notice of
such application.] committed.
(2) After the expiration of ninety days from
the date of the original order of commitment pursuant to section 704-411,
or after the expiration of forty-five days following the revocation of
conditional release pursuant to section 704‑413, the person committed
may apply to the court from which the person was committed for an order of
discharge upon the ground that the person is no longer affected by a physical
or mental disease, disorder, or defect. The person committed may apply for [discharge
or conditional release] conditional release or discharge upon the
ground that, though still affected by a physical or mental disease, disorder,
or defect, the person may be released without danger to self or to the person
or property of others. A copy of the application shall be transmitted to the
prosecuting attorney of the county from which the [defendant] person
was committed. [If the determination of the court is adverse to the
application,] If the court denies the application, the person shall
not be permitted to file [a further] another application for
either conditional release or discharge until one year [has elapsed from]
after the date of [any preceding hearing on an application for the
person's discharge or conditional release.] the hearing held on the
immediate prior application."
SECTION 5. Section 704-413, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:
"§704-413 Conditional release;
application for modification or discharge; termination of conditional release
and commitment. (1) Any person [released] granted conditional
release pursuant to [section 704-411] this chapter shall
continue to receive mental health or other treatment and care deemed
appropriate by the director of health until discharged from conditional
release. The person shall follow all prescribed treatments and take all
prescribed medications according to the instructions of the person's treating
mental health professional. If [any] a mental health
professional who is treating [any] a [conditionally
released] person granted conditional release believes that either
the person is not complying with the requirements of this section or there is
other evidence that hospitalization is appropriate, the mental health
professional shall report the matter to the probation officer of the [conditionally
released person.] person granted conditional release. The probation
officer may order the [conditionally released] person granted
conditional release to be hospitalized for a period not to exceed
seventy-two hours if the probation officer has probable cause to believe the
person has violated the requirements of this subsection. No person shall be hospitalized
beyond the seventy-two hour period, as computed pursuant to section 1-29,
unless a hearing has been held pursuant to
subsection [(3).] (4); provided that on or before the expiration of
the seventy-two hour period, a court may conduct a hearing to determine whether
the person would benefit from further hospitalization which may render a
revocation unnecessary. If satisfied, the court may order further temporary
hospitalization for a period not to exceed ninety days, subject to extension as
appropriate, but in no event for a period longer than one year. At any time
within that period, the court may determine that a hearing pursuant to
subsection (4) should be conducted.
(2) The director of health may apply to the court ordering any person released pursuant to this chapter, for the person's discharge from, or modification of, the order granting conditional release; provided that the person receives community-based menta1 health services from or contracted by the department of health, and the director is of the opinion that the person on conditional release is no longer affected by a physical or mental disease, disorder, or defect and may be discharged or the order may be modified, without danger to the person or to others. The director shall make application for the discharge from, or modification of, the order of conditional release in a report to the court. The director shall transmit a copy of the application and report to the prosecuting attorney of the county from which the conditional release order was made, to the person's treating mental health professionals, and to the probation officer supervising the conditional release. The person on conditional release shall be given notice of the application.
[(2)] (3) Any person [released]
granted conditional release pursuant to [section 704-411] this
chapter may apply to the court ordering the conditional release for
discharge from, or modification of, the order granting conditional release on
the ground that the person is no longer affected by a physical or mental
disease, disorder, or defect and may be discharged, or the order may be
modified, without danger to the person or to others. The application shall be
accompanied by a letter from or supporting affidavit of a qualified physician
or licensed psychologist. A copy of the application and letter or affidavit
shall be transmitted to the prosecuting attorney of the circuit from which the
order issued and to any persons supervising the release, and the hearing on the
application shall be held following notice to such persons. If the [determination
of the] court [is adverse to] denies the application, the
person shall not be permitted to file [further] another
application for either discharge or modification of conditional release until
one year [has elapsed from] after the date of [any preceding
hearing on an application for modification of conditions of release or for
discharge.] the denial.
[(3)] (4) If, at any time after
the order pursuant to [section 704-411] this chapter granting
conditional release, the court determines, after hearing evidence, that:
(a) The person is still affected by a physical or mental disease, disorder, or defect, and the conditions of release have not been fulfilled; or
(b) For the safety of the person or others, the person's conditional release should be revoked,
the court may forthwith modify the conditions of
release or order the person to be committed to the custody of the director of
health, subject to discharge or release [only] in accordance with the
procedure prescribed in section 704-412.
(5) For each individual who is granted conditional release under this chapter, the court shall conduct hearings to assess any need to continue or modify the conditions beginning one calendar year after the date of the original court order for conditional release. If the person remains subject to conditional release, a status hearing shall be held once per year for the next four years, and then in biennial intervals thereafter."
SECTION 6. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $ or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2008-2009 to support the operations and expansion of the mental health court.
The sum appropriated shall be expended by the judiciary for the purposes of this part.
PART II
SECTION 7. Section 707-711, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (1) to read as follows:
"(1) A person commits the offense of assault in the second degree if:
(a) The person intentionally or knowingly causes substantial bodily injury to another;
(b) The person recklessly causes serious or substantial bodily injury to another;
(c) The person intentionally or knowingly causes bodily injury to a correctional worker, as defined in section 710‑1031(2), who is engaged in the performance of duty or who is within a correctional facility;
(d) The person intentionally or knowingly causes bodily injury to another with a dangerous instrument;
(e) The person intentionally or knowingly causes
bodily injury to an educational worker who is engaged in the performance of
duty or who is within an educational facility. For the purposes of this
paragraph, "educational worker" means: any administrator,
specialist, counselor, teacher, or employee of the department of education or
an employee of a charter school; a person who is a volunteer, as defined in
section 90-1, in a school program, activity, or function that is established,
sanctioned, or approved by the department of education; or a person hired by the
department of education on a contractual basis and engaged in carrying out an
educational function; [or]
(f) The person intentionally or knowingly causes
bodily injury to any emergency medical services personnel who is engaged in the
performance of duty. For the purposes of this paragraph, "emergency
medical services personnel" shall have the same meaning as in section
321-222[.]; or
(g) The person intentionally or knowingly causes bodily injury to a person employed at a state-operated or state-contracted mental health facility. For the purposes of this paragraph, "a person employed at a state-operated or state–contracted mental health facility" includes health care professionals as defined in section 451D-2, administrators, orderlies, security personnel, volunteers, and any other person who is engaged in the performance of a duty at or who is within a state-operated or state-contracted mental health facility."
PART III
SECTION 8. Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken. New statutory material is underscored.
SECTION 9. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2025.