BILL · 2023–24 SESSION · LATEST VERSION E2SSB 5440
SB 5440: Competency evaluations
Providing timely competency evaluations and restoration services to persons suffering from behavioral health disorders.
Summary
Makes a number of changes to provisions governing competency evaluation and competency restoration procedures and requirements.
Expands the duties of forensic navigators, and requires appointment of a forensic navigator for defendants charged with a nonfelony or certain class C felonies.
Requires jails to allow clinical intervention specialists access to persons referred for competency evaluation or restoration services, and specifies the duties of clinical intervention specialists.
Prohibits jails or juvenile detention facilities from discontinuing or substituting a person's medications for a serious mental health disorder if the person is medically stable on the drug, with limited exceptions.
Establishes requirements relating to persons who have been found incompetent to stand trial based on an intellectual or developmental disability, dementia, or traumatic brain injury, and requires the University of Washington to run a pilot project to address short-term stabilization and transition support for individuals found incompetent due to an intellectual or developmental disability.
Requires the Health Care Authority to take steps to increase compensation of staff in outpatient competency restoration programs, subject to funding.
From the Engrossed Second Substitute House Bill Report (E2SSB 5440), written by the Legislature's nonpartisan staff. Read the full report ↗
AN ACT Relating to providing timely competency evaluations and restoration services to persons suffering from behavioral health disorders within the framework of the forensic mental health care system consistent with the requirements agreed to in the Trueblood settlement agreement;