=======

art.011/6/011/5/011/4

=======

     ARTICLE 11

RELATING TO COURTS AND STATE HOSPITALS

     SECTION 1. Section 8-8-1 of the General Laws in Chapter 8-8 entitled "District Court" is

hereby amended to read as follows:

     8-8-1. District Court established -- Chief and associate justices.

     There is established a district court for the state of Rhode Island which shall consist of a

chief judge and thirteen (13) fourteen (14) associate judges. The district court shall be a court of

record and shall have a seal with such words and devices as it shall adopt.

     SECTION 2. Chapter 8-8 of the General Laws entitled "District Court" is hereby amended

by adding thereto the following section:

     8-8-1.2. Mental health treatment calendar.

     (a) Findings and declarations. The general assembly finds and declares as follows:

     (1) Mental illness is a prevalent and persistent issue in Rhode Island within the criminal

population in general and the incarcerated population in particular. Approximately one-fifth (1/5)

of all inmates at the adult correctional institutions have a diagnosed mental illness, while nearly

eighty percent (80%) have a history of substance abuse. Many suffer from both maladies.

     (2) Mental illness can often go unrecognized and untreated, leaving some individuals to

suffer and spiral downward until they are caught in the criminal justice system. These individuals

often become trapped in a cycle of repeated prosecution and incarceration.

     (3) Individuals with mental illness who are charged with crimes can benefit from

alternatives to incarceration when feasible, and when permitted to obtain proper treatment for

persistent mental health and substance abuse disorders through a jail diversion treatment program

that recognizes their special set of circumstances while at the same time providing accountability

for their wrong-doing and providing for the safety of the public.

     (b) The district court shall create a voluntary mental health treatment calendar to better

address individuals who suffer from mental illness and are charged with a misdemeanor. The

district court will provide the tools and skills necessary to address these individuals’ unique

challenges thus helping them develop the insight needed to reintegrate successfully into society and

maintain a productive and law-abiding lifestyle within the community.

     (c) There shall be established, funded and staffed a mental health alternative sentencing

and treatment calendar within the jurisdiction of the district court for hearing, addressing and

disposing of certain misdemeanor offenses in an effort to direct eligible defendants into a court

program that integrates support and treatment plans with the judicial process, potentially resulting

in alternatives to traditional prosecution, sentencing and incarceration; reducing the risk of

recidivism; realizing cost savings for the state and increasing public safety. Successful completion

may result in a full dismissal of charges or in reduced charges and alternative sentencing. The

mental health treatment calendar shall be overseen by a district court judge to be appointed pursuant

to chapter 16.1 of title 8, subject to an appropriation made by the general assembly.

     (d) The chief judge of the district court shall create a mental health treatment calendar in

the district court and shall assign a district court judge and associated personnel to the extent

necessary to hear and decide all criminal actions involving offenses committed by defendants

accepted into the program. [The calendar shall be called the mental health treatment calendar.]

     (e) An eligible defendant is any person who stands charged in a district court complaint

with one or more misdemeanors, and:

     (1) Suffers from a mental, behavioral or emotional disorder resulting in serious functional

impairment which substantially interferes with or limits one or more major life activities; and

     (2) Is determined by the court to be appropriate for participation in the mental health

treatment calendar.

     (3) An individual’s history of substance and alcohol abuse may also be considered to the

extent necessary to make a proper diagnosis of a co-occurring disorder.

     SECTION 3. Section 9-5-9 of the General Laws in Chapter 9-5 entitled "Writs, Summons

and Process" is hereby amended to read as follows:

     9-5-9. Warrants for commitment to institutions Warrants for commitment to state-

operated facilities.

     Any warrant or mittimus issued from any superior or district court committing any person

to the institute of mental health Eleanor Slater Hospital or Rhode Island State Psychiatric Hospital

shall be directed to and executed by duly authorized agents of the department of human services

behavioral healthcare, developmental disabilities and hospitals, who shall make return thereon, the

provisions of any other law to the contrary notwithstanding.

     SECTION 4. Sections 40.1-3-7 and 40.1-3-9 of the General Laws in Chapter 40.1-3 entitled

"Curative Services" are hereby amended to read as follows:

     40.1-3-7. Rules and regulations for Eleanor Slater hospital.

     The director of the department shall establish, in his or her discretion, rules for the

government of the hospital Eleanor Slater Hospital, regulations for the admission of patients, and

shall generally be vested with all the powers necessary for the proper carrying on of the work

entrusted to him or her.

     40.1-3-9. Staff and employees of the state of Rhode Island medical center Staff and

employees of the Eleanor Slater Hospital and of the Rhode Island State Psychiatric Hospital.

     The director of behavioral healthcare, developmental disabilities and hospitals shall

appoint, or delegate to another employee of the department the authority to appoint, employees, as

he or she may deem necessary for the proper management of the institutions facilities of either or

both the Eleanor Slater Hospital or the Rhode Island State Psychiatric Hospital.

     SECTION 5. Chapter 40.1-3 of the General Laws entitled "Curative Services" 1s hereby

amended by adding thereto the following section:

     40.1-3-7.1. Rules and regulations for the Rhode Island State Psychiatric Hospital.

     The director of the department shall establish, in his or her discretion, rules for the

governance of the Rhode Island State Psychiatric Hospital, regulations for the admission of

patients, and shall generally be vested with all the powers necessary for the proper carrying on of

the work entrusted to him or her.

     SECTION 6. Section 40.1-3-8 of the General Laws m Chapter 40.1-3 entitled "Curative

Services" is hereby repealed:

     40.1-3-8. Change of names of hospital for mental diseases and state infirmary.

     The name of the state institution at Cranston formerly known as the state asylum for the

insane or the state hospital for the insane or the state hospital for mental diseases, and the name of

the state institution at Cranston formerly known as tile state almshouse or the state infirmary, or

the general hospital, shall hereafter be known as the "Eleanor Slater Hospital." In any general law,

other public law, or resolution of the general assembly, and in any document, record, instrument,

or proceeding authorized by any such law or resolution, unless the context or subject matter

otherwise requires, the words "state asylum for the insane" and the words "state hospital for the

insane" or "state hospital for mental disease" shall be construed to mean the "Eleanor Slater

Hospital."

     SECTION 7. Sections 40.1-5-2, 40.1-5-5, 40.1-5-6, 40.1-5-7, 40.1-5-7.1, 40.1-5-8, 40.1-5-

11, 40.1-5-27.1, 40.1-5-31, 40.1-5-32, 40.1-5-33 and 40.1-5-34 of the General Laws in Chapter

40.1-5 entitled "Mental Health Law" are hereby amended to read as follows:

     40.1-5-2. Definitions.

     Whenever used in this chapter, or in any order, rule, or regulation made or promulgated

pursuant to this chapter, or in any printed forms prepared by the department or the director, unless

otherwise expressly stated, or unless the context or subject matter otherwise requires:

     (1) "Alternatives to admission or certification" means alternatives to a particular facility or

treatment program, and shall include, but not be limited to, voluntary or court-ordered outpatient

treatment, day treatment in a hospital, night treatment in a hospital, placement in the custody of a

friend or relative, placement in a nursing home, referral to a community mental health clinic and

home health aide services, or any other services that may be deemed appropriate.

     (2) "Care and treatment" means psychiatric care, together with such medical, nursing,

psychological, social, rehabilitative, and maintenance services as may be required by a patient in

association with the psychiatric care provided pursuant to an individualized treatment plan recorded

in the patient's medical record.

     (3) "Department" means the state department of behavioral healthcare, developmental

disabilities and hospitals.

     (4) "Director" means the director of the state department of behavioral healthcare,

developmental disabilities and hospitals.

     (5)(i) "Facility" means a state hospital or psychiatric inpatient facility in the department

any public or private hospital licensed by the Rhode Island department of health that maintains staff

and facilities, including inpatient units, for the care and treatment of persons with psychiatric

illness, psychiatric disorders, and/or psychiatric disabilities; and in order to operate pursuant to

Mental Health Act as codified in this chapter, such facility and/or inpatient unit must be approved

by the director of the department of behavioral healthcare, developmental disabilities and hospitals

upon application of such facility and/or inpatient unit, a psychiatric inpatient facility maintained by

a political subdivision of the state for the care and/or treatment of the mentally disabled; a general

or specialized hospital maintaining staff and facilities for this purpose; and any of the several

community mental health services established pursuant to chapter 8.5 of this title; and any other

facility within the state providing inpatient psychiatric care and/or treatment and approved by the

director upon application of this facility. Included within this definition shall be all hospitals,

institutions, facilities, and services under the control and direction of the director and the

department, as provided in this chapter. Nothing contained herein shall be construed to amend or

repeal any of the provisions of chapter 16 of title 23.

     (ii) The Eleanor Slater Hospital shall be required to apply to the department for approval

from the director to operate pursuant to this chapter.

     (iii) The Rhode Island State Psychiatric Hospital shall be required to apply to the

department for approval from the director to operate pursuant to this chapter.

     (6) "Indigent person" means a person who has not sufficient property or income to support

himself or herself, and to support the members of his or her family dependent upon him or her for

support, and/or is unable to pay the fees and costs incurred pursuant to any legal proceedings

conducted under the provisions of this chapter.

     (7) "Likelihood of serious harm" means:

     (i) A substantial risk of physical harm to the person himself or herself as manifested by

behavior evidencing serious threats of, or attempts at, suicide;

     (ii) A substantial risk of physical harm to other persons as manifested by behavior or threats

evidencing homicidal or other violent behavior; or

     (iii) A substantial risk of physical harm to the mentally disabled person as manifested by

behavior that has created a grave, clear, and present risk to his or her physical health and safety.

     (iv) In determining whether there exists a likelihood of serious harm, the physician and the

court may consider previous acts, diagnosis, words, or thoughts of the patient. If a patient has been

incarcerated, or institutionalized, or in a controlled environment of any kind, the court may give

great weight to such prior acts, diagnosis, words, or thoughts.

     (9)(8) "Mental health professional" means a psychiatrist, psychologist, or social worker

and such other persons, including psychiatric nurse clinicians, as may be defined by rules and

regulations promulgated by the director.

     (10)(9) "NICS database" means the National Instant Criminal Background Check System

as created pursuant to section 103(b) of the Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act (Brady Act),

Pub. L. No. 103-159, 107 Stat. 1536 as established by 28 C.F.R. 25.1.

     (11)(10)"Patient" means a person admitted voluntarily, certified or re-certified admitted to

a facility according to the provisions of this chapter.

     (12)(11) "Physician" means a person duly licensed by the Rhode Island department of

health to practice medicine or osteopathy in this state pursuant to chapter 37 of title 5.

     (8)(12) "Mental disability" "Psychiatric disability" means a mental disorder in which the

capacity of a person to exercise self-control or judgment in the conduct of his or her affairs and

social relations, or to care for his or her own personal needs, is significantly impaired.

     (13) "Psychiatric nurse clinician" means a licensed, professional registered nurse with a

master's degree in psychiatric nursing or related field who is licensed by the Rhode Island

department of health pursuant to chapter 34 of title 5 and who is currently working in the mental

health field as defined by the American Nurses Association, and/or a licensed advanced practice

registered nurse with a population focus of psychiatric/mental health population focus as defined

in paragraphs (2) and (12)(vi) of § 5-34-3.

     (14) "Psychiatrist" means a person duly licensed by the Rhode Island department of health

to practice medicine or osteopathy in this state pursuant to chapter 37 of title 5 who has, in addition,

completed three (3) years of graduate psychiatric training in a program approved by the American

Medical Association or American Osteopathic Association.

     (15) "Psychologist" means a person certified licensed by the Rhode Island department of

health pursuant to chapter 44 of title 5.

     (16) "Social worker" means a person with who has a masters or further advanced degree

from a school of social work, that is accredited by the council of social work education and who is

licensed by the Rhode Island department of health pursuant to chapter 39.1 of title 5.

     40.1-5-5. Admission of patients generally -- Rights of patients -- Patients' records --

Competence of patients.

     (a) Admissions. Any person who is in need of care and treatment in a facility, as herein

defined, may be admitted or certified, received, and retained as a patient in a facility by complying

with any one of the following admission procedures applicable to the case:

     (1) Voluntary admission.

     (2) Emergency certification.

     (3) Civil court certification.

     (b) Forms. The director shall prescribe and furnish forms for use in admissions and patient

notification procedures under this chapter.

     (c) Exclusions. No defective delinquent, person with a mental psychiatric disability, or

person under the influence of alcohol or drugs shall be certified to a facility, as herein defined,

solely by reason of that condition, unless the person also qualified for admission or certification

under the provisions of this chapter.

     (d) Examining physician. For purposes of certification, no examining physician shall be

related by blood or marriage to the person who is applying for the admission of another, or to the

person who is the subject of the application; nor shall he or she have any interest, contractually,

testamentary, or otherwise (other than reasonable and proper charges for professional services

rendered), in or against the estate or assets of the person who is the subject of the application; nor

shall he or she be a manager, trustee, visitor, proprietor, officer, stockholder, or have any pecuniary

interest, directly or indirectly, or, except as otherwise herein expressly provided, be a director,

resident physician, or salaried physician, or employee in any facility to which it is proposed to

admit the person.

     (e) Certificates. Certificates, as required by this chapter, must provide a factual description

of the person's behavior that indicates that the person concerned is mentally psychiatrically

disabled, creates a likelihood of serious harm, and is in need of care and treatment in a facility as

defined in this chapter. They shall further set forth such other findings as may be required by the

particular certification procedure used. Certificates shall also show that an examination of the

person concerned was made within five (5) days prior to the date of admission or certification,

unless otherwise herein provided. The date of the certificate shall be the date of the commencement

of the examination, and in the event examinations are conducted separately or over a period of

days, then the five-day (5) period above referred to (unless otherwise expressly provided) shall be

measured from the date of the commencement of the first examination. All certificates shall contain

the observations upon which judgments are based, and shall contain other information as the

director may by rule or regulation require.

     (f) Rights of patients. No patient admitted or certified to any facility under any provision

of this chapter shall be deprived of any constitutional, civil, or legal right, solely by reason of such

admission or certification nor shall the certification or admission modify or vary any constitutional

or civil right, including, but not limited to, the right or rights:

     (1) To privacy and dignity;

     (2) To civil service or merit rating or ranking and appointment;

     (3) Relating to the granting, forfeiture or denial of a license, permit, privilege, or benefit

pursuant to any law;

     (4) To religious freedom;

     (5) To be visited privately at all reasonable times by his or her personal physician, attorney,

and clergyperson, and by other persons at all reasonable times unless the official in charge of the

facility determines either that a visit by any of the other persons or a particular visitation time would

not be in the best interests of the patient and he or she incorporates a statement for any denial of

visiting rights in the individualized treatment record of the patient;

     (6) To be provided with stationery, writing materials, and postage in reasonable amounts

and to have free unrestricted, unopened, and uncensored use of the mails for letters;

     (7) To wear one's own clothes, keep and use personal possessions, including toilet articles;

to keep and be allowed to spend a reasonable sum of money for canteen expenses and small

purchases; to have access to individual storage space for his or her private use; and reasonable

access to telephones to make and receive confidential calls; provided, however, that any of these

rights may be denied for good cause by the official in charge of a facility or a physician designated

by him or her. A statement of the reasons for any denial shall be entered in the individualized

treatment record of the patient;

     (8) To seek independent psychiatric examination and opinion from a psychiatrist or mental

health professional of his or her choice;

     (9) To be employed at a gainful occupation insofar as the patient's condition permits,

provided however, that no patient shall be required to perform labor;

     (10) To vote and participate in political activity;

     (11) To receive and read literature;

     (12) To have the least possible restraint imposed upon the person consistent with affording

him or her the care and treatment necessary and appropriate to his or her condition;

     (13) To have access to the mental health advocate upon request;

     (14) To prevent release of his or her name to the advocate or next of kin by signing a form

provided to all patients for that purpose at the time of admission.

     (g) Records. A facility shall maintain for each patient admitted pursuant to this chapter, a

comprehensive medical record. The record shall contain a recorded, individualized treatment plan,

which shall at least monthly be reviewed by the physician of the facility who is chiefly responsible

for the patient's care, notations of the reviews to be entered in the record. The records shall also

contain information indicating at the time of admission or certification what alternatives to

admission or certification are available to the patient; what alternatives have been investigated; and

why the investigated alternatives were not deemed suitable. The medical record shall further

contain other information as the director may by rule or regulation require.

     (h) Competence. A person shall not, solely by reason of his or her admission or certification

to a facility for examination or care and treatment under the provisions of this chapter, thereby be

deemed incompetent to manage his or her affairs; to contract; to hold, or seek a professional,

occupational, or vehicle operator's license; to make a will; or for any other purpose. Neither shall

any requirement be made, by rule, regulation, or otherwise, as a condition to admission and

retention, that any person applying for admission shall have the legal capacity to contract, it being

sufficient for the purpose, that the person understand the nature and consequence of making the

application.

     40.1-5-6. Voluntary admission.

     (a)(1) General. Any individual of lawful age may apply for voluntary admission to any

facility provided for by this law seeking care and treatment for alleged mental psychiatric disability.

The application shall be in writing, signed by the applicant in the presence of at least one witness,

who shall attest to the application by placing his or her name and address thereon. If the applicant

has not yet attained his or her eighteenth (18th) birthday, the application shall be signed by him or

her and his or her parent, guardian, or next of kin.

     (2) Admission of children. Any person who is under the age of eighteen (18) and who

receives medical benefits funded in whole or in part by either the department of children, youth and

families or by the department of human services may be admitted to any facility provided for by

this chapter seeking care and treatment for alleged mental psychiatric disability only after an initial

mental health crisis intervention is completed by a provider who is licensed by the department of

children, youth and families for emergency services, has proper credentials, and is contracted with

the RIte Care health plan or the state and the provider, after considering alternative services to

hospitalization with the child, family and other providers, requests prior authorization for the

admission from a representative of the child and family's insurance company or utilization review

organization representing the insurance company. If the inpatient hospital admits a child without

the crisis intervention and prior authorization from the insurance company or utilization review

organization, the hospital will be paid a rate equivalent to an Administratively Necessary Day

(AND) for each day that the insurance company or utilization review organization representing the

insurance company determines that the child did not meet the inpatient level-of-care criteria. The

state shall ensure that this provision is included in all publicly financed contracts and agreements

for behavioral health services. Activities conducted pursuant to this section shall be exempt from

the provisions of § 23-17.12 [repealed], but shall be subject to the provisions of subsection (b) of

this section.

     (3) The department of human services shall develop regulations for emergency admissions

that would allow the admitting hospital to maintain its compliance with the provisions of the act

while meeting the need of the child.

     (b) Period of treatment. If it is determined that the applicant is in need of care and treatment

for mental psychiatric disability and no suitable alternatives to admission are available, he or she

shall be admitted for a period not to exceed thirty (30) days. Successive applications for continued

voluntary status may be made for successive periods not to exceed ninety (90) days each, so long

as care and treatment is deemed necessary and documented in accordance with the requirements of

this chapter and no suitable alternatives to admission are available.

     (c) Discharge.

     (1) A voluntary patient shall be discharged no later than the end of the business day

following of his or her presenting a written notice of his or her intent to leave the facility to the

medical official in charge or the medical official designated by him or her, unless that official or

another qualified person from the facility files an application for the patient's civil court

certification pursuant to § 40.1-5-8. The notice shall be on a form prescribed by the director and

made available to all patients at all times. If a decision to file an application for civil court

certification is made, the patient concerned and his or her legal guardian(s), if any, shall receive

immediately, but in no event later than twelve (12) hours from the making of the decision, notice

of the intention from the official in charge of the facility, or his or her designee, and the patient

may, in the discretion of the official, be detained for an additional period not to exceed two (2)

business days, pending the filing and setting down for hearing of the application under § 40.1-5-8.

     (2) A voluntary patient who gives notice of his or her intention or desire to leave the facility

may at any time during the period of his or her hospitalization prior to any certification pursuant to

§ 40.1-5-8, following the giving of the notice, submit a written communication withdrawing the

notice, whereby his or her voluntary status shall be considered to continue unchanged until the

expiration of thirty (30) or ninety (90) days as provided in subsection (b). In the case of an

individual under eighteen (18) years of age, the notice or withdrawal of notice may be given by

either of the persons who made the application for his or her admission, or by a person of equal or

closer relationship to the patient, who shall, as well, receive notice from the official in charge

indicating a decision to present an application for civil court certification. The official may in his

or her discretion refuse to discharge the patient upon notice given by any person other than the

person who made the application, and in the event of such a refusal, the person giving notice may

apply to a justice of the family court for release of the patient.

     (d) Examination at facility. The medical official in charge of a facility shall ensure that all

voluntary patients receive preliminary physical and psychiatric examinations within twenty-four

(24) hours of admission. Furthermore, a complete psychiatric examination shall be conducted to

determine whether the person qualifies for care and treatment under the provisions of this chapter.

The examination shall begin within forty-eight (48) hours of admission and shall be concluded as

soon as practicable, but in no case shall extend beyond five (5) days. The examination shall include

an investigation with the prospective patient of (1) What alternatives for admission are available

and (2) Why those alternatives are not suitable. The alternatives for admission investigated and

reasons for unsuitability, if any, shall be recorded on the patient's record. If it is determined that the

patient does not belong to the voluntary class in that a suitable alternative to admission is available,

or is otherwise ineligible for care and treatment, he or she shall be discharged.

     (e) Rights of voluntary patients. A voluntary patient shall be informed, in writing, of his or

her status and rights as a voluntary patient immediately upon his or her admission, and again at the

time of his or her periodic review(s) as provided in § 40.1-5-10, including his or her rights pursuant

to § 40.1-5-5(f). Blank forms for purposes of indicating an intention or desire to leave a facility

shall be available at all times and on and in all wards and segments of a facility wherein voluntary

patients may reside.

     40.1-5-7. Emergency certification.

     (a) Applicants.

     (1) Any physician who, after examining a person, has reason to believe that the person is

in need of immediate care and treatment, and is one whose continued unsupervised presence in the

community would create an imminent likelihood of serious harm by reason of mental psychiatric

disability, may apply at a facility for the emergency certification of the person thereto. The medical

director, or any other physician employed by the proposed facility for certification, may apply

under this subsection if no other physician is available and he or she certifies this fact. If an

examination is not possible because of the emergency nature of the case and because of the refusal

of the person to consent to the examination, the applicant on the basis of his or her observation may

determine, in accordance with the above, that emergency certification is necessary and may apply

therefor. In the event that no physician is available, a qualified mental health professional who

believes the person to be in need of immediate care and treatment, and one whose continued

unsupervised presence in the community would create an imminent likelihood of serious harm by

reason of mental psychiatric disability, may make the application for emergency certification to a

facility. Application shall in all cases be made to the facility that, in the judgment of the applicant

at the time of application, would impose the least restraint on the liberty of the person consistent

with affording him or her the care and treatment necessary and appropriate to his or her condition.

     (2) Whenever an applicant, who is not employed by a community mental health center

established pursuant to chapter 8.5 of this title, has reason to believe that either the institute of

mental health Rhode Island State Psychiatric Hospital or the Eleanor Slater Hospital is the

appropriate facility for the person, the application shall be directed to the community mental health

center that serves the area in which the person resides, if the person is a Rhode Island resident, or

the area in which the person is physically present, if a nonresident, and the qualified mental health

professional(s) at the center shall make the final decision on the application to either the institute

of mental health Rhode Island State Psychiatric Hospital or the Eleanor Slater Hospital or may

determine whether some other disposition should be made.

     (b) Applications. An application for certification hereunder shall be in writing and filed

with the facility to which admission is sought. The application shall be executed within five (5)

days prior to the date of filing and shall state that it is based upon a personal observation of the

prospective patient by the applicant within the five-day (5) period. It shall include a description of

the applicant's credentials and the behavior that constitutes the basis for his or her judgment that

the prospective patient is in need of immediate care and treatment and that a likelihood of serious

harm by reason of mental psychiatric disability exists, and shall include, as well, any other relevant

information that may assist the admitting physician at the facility to which application is made.

Whenever practicable, prior to transporting or arranging for the transporting of a prospective patient

to a facility, the applicant shall telephone or otherwise communicate with the facility to describe

the circumstances and known clinical history to determine whether it is the proper facility to receive

the person, and to give notice of any restraint to be used or to determine whether restraint is

necessary. The application shall state whether the facility, in the judgment of the applicant at the

time of application, would impose the least restraint on the liberty of the person consistent with

affording him or her the care and treatment necessary and appropriate to his or her condition.

Whenever practicable, prior to transporting or arranging for the transporting of a prospective patient

to a facility, the applicant shall telephone or otherwise communicate with the facility to describe

the circumstances and known clinical history to determine whether it is the proper facility to receive

the person, and to give notice of any restraint to be used or to determine whether restraint is

necessary.

     (c) Confirmation; discharge; transfer. Within one hour after reception at a facility, the

person regarding whom an application has been filed under this section shall be seen by a physician.

As soon as possible, but in no event later than twenty-four (24) hours after reception, a preliminary

examination and evaluation of the person by a psychiatrist or a physician under his or her

supervision shall begin. The psychiatrist shall not be an applicant hereunder. The preliminary

examination and evaluation shall be completed within seventy-two (72) hours from its inception

by the psychiatrist. If the psychiatrist determines that the patient is not a candidate for emergency

certification, he or she shall be discharged. If the psychiatrist(s) determines that the person who is

the subject of the application is in need of immediate care and treatment and is one whose continued

unsupervised presence in the community would create an imminent likelihood of serious harm by

reason of mental psychiatric disability, he or she shall confirm the admission for care and treatment

under this section of the person to the facility, provided the facility is one that would impose the

least restraint on the liberty of the person consistent with affording him or her the care and treatment

necessary and appropriate to his or her condition and that no suitable alternatives to certification

are available. If at any time the official in charge of a facility, or his or her designee, determines

that the person is not in need of immediate care and treatment, or is not one whose continued

unsupervised presence in the community would create an imminent likelihood of serious harm by

reason of mental psychiatric disability, or suitable alternatives to certification are available, he or

she shall immediately discharge the person. In addition, the official may arrange to transfer the

person to an appropriate facility if the facility to which he or she has been certified is not one that

imposes the least restraint on the liberty of the person consistent with affording him or her the care

and treatment necessary and appropriate to his or her condition.

     (d) Custody. Upon the request of an applicant under this section, to be confirmed in writing,

it shall be the duty of any peace officer of this state or of any governmental subdivision thereof to

whom request has been made, to take into custody and transport the person to the facility

designated, the person to be expeditiously presented for admission thereto to take into custody and

immediately transport the person to the designated facility for admission thereto.

     (e) Ex parte court order. An applicant under this section may present a petition to any judge

of the district court or any justice of the family court, in the case of a person who is the subject of

an application who has not yet attained his or her eighteenth birthday, for a warrant directed to any

peace officer of the state or any governmental subdivision thereof to take into custody the person

who is the subject of the application and immediately transport the person to a designated facility.

The application shall set forth that the person who is to be certified is in need of immediate care

and treatment and his or her continued unsupervised presence in the community would create an

imminent likelihood of serious harm by reason of mental psychiatric disability, and the reasons

why an order directing a peace officer to transport the person to a designated facility is necessary.

     (f) Notification of rights. No person shall be certified to a facility under the provisions of

this section unless appropriate opportunity is given to apply for voluntary admission under the

provisions of § 40.1-5-6 and unless he or she, or a parent, guardian, or next of kin, has been

informed, in writing, on a form provided by the department, by the official in charge of the facility:

(1) That he or she has a right to the voluntary admission; (2) That a person cannot be certified until

all available alternatives to certification have been investigated and determined to be unsuitable;

and (3) That the period of hospitalization or treatment in a facility cannot exceed ten (10) days

under this section, except as provided in subsection (g) of this section.

     (g) Period of treatment. A person shall be discharged no later than ten (10) days measured

from the date of his or her admission under this section, unless an application for a civil court

certification has been filed and set down for a hearing under the provisions of § 40.1-5-8, or the

person remains as a voluntary patient pursuant to § 40.1-5-6.

     40.1-5-7.1. Emergency transportation by police.

     (a) Any police officer may take an individual into protective custody and take or cause the

person to be taken to an emergency room of any hospital, by way of emergency vehicle, if the

officer has reason to believe that:

     (1) The individual is in need of immediate care and treatment, and is one whose continued

unsupervised presence in the community would create an imminent likelihood of serious harm by

reason of mental psychiatric disability if allowed to be at liberty pending examination by a licensed

physician; or

     (2) The individual is in need of immediate assistance due to mental psychiatric disability

and requests the assistance.

     (b) The officer making the determination to transport will document the reason for the

decision in a police report and travel with the individual to the hospital to relay the reason for

transport to the attending medical staff.

     40.1-5-8. Civil court certification.

     (a) Petitions. A verified petition may be filed in the district court, or family court in the

case of a person who has not reached his or her eighteenth (18th) birthday, for the certification to a

facility of any person who is alleged to be in need of care and treatment in a facility, and whose

continued unsupervised presence in the community would create a likelihood of serious harm by

reason of mental psychiatric disability. The petition may be filed by any person with whom the

subject of the petition may reside; or at whose house he or she may be; or the father or mother,

husband or wife, brother or sister, or the adult child of the person; the nearest relative if none of the

above are available; or his or her guardian; or the attorney general; or a local director of public

welfare; or the director of the department of behavioral healthcare, developmental disabilities and

hospitals; the director of the department of human services; or the director of the department of

corrections; the director of the department of health; the warden of the adult correctional

institutions; the superintendent of the boys training school for youth, or his or her designated agent;

or the director of any facility, or his or her designated agent, whether or not the person shall have

been admitted and is a patient at the time of the petition. A petition under this section shall be filed

only after the petitioner has investigated what alternatives to certification are available and

determined why the alternatives are not deemed suitable.

     (b) Contents of petition. The petition shall state that it is based upon a personal observation

of the person concerned by the petitioner within a ten-day (10) period prior to filing. It shall include

a description of the behavior that constitutes the basis for the petitioner's judgment that the person

concerned is in need of care and treatment and that a likelihood of serious harm by reason of mental

psychiatric disability exists. In addition, the petitioner shall indicate what alternatives to

certification are available; what alternatives have been investigated; and why the investigated

alternatives are not deemed suitable.

     (c) Certificates and contents thereof. A petition hereunder shall be accompanied by the

certificates of two (2) physicians unless the petitioner is unable to afford, or is otherwise unable to

obtain, the services of a physician or physicians qualified to make the certifications. The certificates

shall be rendered pursuant to the provisions of § 40.1-5-5, except when the patient is a resident in

a facility, the attending physician and one other physician from the facility may sign the certificates,

and shall set forth that the prospective patient is in need of care and treatment in a facility and

would likely benefit therefrom, and is one whose continued unsupervised presence in the

community would create a likelihood of serious harm by reason of mental psychiatric disability

together with the reasons therefor. The petitions and accompanying certificates shall be executed

under penalty of perjury, but shall not require the signature of a notary public thereon.

     (d) Preliminary hearing.

     (1) Upon a determination that the petition sets forth facts constituting reasonable grounds

to support certification, the court shall summon the person to appear before the court at a

preliminary hearing, scheduled no later than five (5) business days from the date of filing. This

hearing shall be treated as a priority on the court calendar and may be continued only for good

cause shown. In default of an appearance, the court may issue a warrant directing a police officer

to bring the person before the court.

     (2) At the preliminary hearing, the court shall serve a copy of the petition upon the person

and advise him or her of the nature of the proceedings and of his or her right to counsel. If the

person is unable to afford counsel, the court forthwith shall appoint the mental health advocate for

him or her. If the court finds that there is no probable cause to support certification, the petition

shall be dismissed, and the person shall be discharged unless the person applies for voluntary

admission. However, if the court is satisfied by the testimony that there is probable cause to support

certification, a final hearing shall be held not less than seven (7) days, nor more than twenty-one

(21) days, after the preliminary hearing, unless continued at the request of counsel for the person,

and notice of the date set down for the hearing shall be served on the person. Copies of the petition

and notice of the date set down for the hearing shall also be served immediately upon the person's

nearest relatives or legal guardian, if known, and to any other person designated by the patient, in

writing, to receive copies of notices. The preliminary hearing can be waived by a motion of the

patient to the court if the patient is a resident of a facility.

     (e) Petition for examination.

     (1) Upon motion of either the petitioner or the person, or upon its own motion, the court

may order that the person be examined by a psychiatrist appointed by the court. The examination

may be conducted on an outpatient basis and the person shall have the right to the presence of

counsel while it is being conducted. A report of the examination shall be furnished to the court, the

petitioner, and the person and his or her counsel at least forty-eight (48) hours prior to the hearing.

     (2) If the petition is submitted without two (2) physicians' certificates as required under

subsection (c), the petition shall be accompanied by a motion for a psychiatric examination to be

ordered by the court. The motion shall be heard on the date of the preliminary hearing set by the

court pursuant to subsection (d), or as soon thereafter as counsel for the subject person is engaged,

appointed, and ready to proceed. The motion shall be verified or accompanied by affidavits and

shall set forth facts demonstrating the efforts made to secure examination and certification by a

physician or physicians and shall indicate the reasons why the efforts failed.

     (3) After considering the motion and testimony as may be offered on the date of hearing

the motion, the court may deny the application and dismiss the petition, or upon finding: (i) That

there is a good cause for the failure to obtain one or more physician's certificates in accordance

with subsection (c); and (ii) That there is probable cause to substantiate the allegations of the

petition, the court shall order an immediate examination by two (2) qualified psychiatrists, pursuant

to subsection (e)(1).

     (f) Professional assistance. A person with respect to whom a court hearing has been ordered

under this section shall have, and be informed of, a right to employ a mental health professional of

his or her choice to assist him or her in connection with the hearing and to testify on his or her

behalf. If the person cannot afford to engage such a professional, the court shall, on application,

allow a reasonable fee for the purpose.

     (g) Procedure. Upon receipt of the required certificates and/or psychiatric reports as

applicable hereunder, the court shall schedule the petition for final hearing unless, upon review of

the reports and certificates, the court concludes that the certificates and reports do not indicate, with

supporting reasons, that the person who is the subject of the petition is in need of care and treatment;

that his or her unsupervised presence in the community would create a likelihood of serious harm

by reason of mental psychiatric disability; and that all alternatives to certification have been

investigated and are unsuitable, in which event the court may dismiss the petition.

     (h) Venue. An application for certification under this section shall be made to, and all

proceedings pursuant thereto shall be conducted in, the district court, or family court in the case of

a person who has not yet reached his or her eighteenth (18th) birthday, of the division or county in

which the subject of an application may reside or may be, or when the person is already a patient

in a facility, in the district court or family court of the division or county in which the facility is

located, subject, however, to application by any interested party for change of venue because of

inconvenience of the parties or witnesses or the condition of the subject of the petition or other

valid judicial reason for the change of venue.

     (i) Hearing. A hearing scheduled under this section shall be conducted pursuant to the

following requirements:

     (1) All evidence shall be presented according to the usual rules of evidence that apply in

civil, non-jury cases. The subject of the proceedings shall have the right to present evidence in his

or her own behalf and to cross examine all witnesses against him or her, including any physician

who has completed a certificate or filed a report as provided hereunder. The subject of the

proceedings shall have the further right to subpoena witnesses and documents, the cost of such to

be borne by the court where the court finds upon an application of the subject that the person cannot

afford to pay for the cost of subpoenaing witnesses and documents.

     (2) A verbatim transcript or electronic recording shall be made of the hearing that shall be

impounded and obtained or examined only with the consent of the subject thereof (or in the case of

a person who has not yet attained his or her eighteenth (18th) birthday, his or her parent, guardian,

or next of kin) or by order of the court.

     (3) The hearing may be held at a location other than a court, including any facility where

the subject may currently be a patient, where it appears to the court that holding the hearing at

another location would be in the best interests of the subject thereof.

     (4) The burden of proceeding and the burden of proof in a hearing held pursuant to this

section shall be upon the petitioner. The petitioner has the burden of demonstrating that the subject

of the hearing is in need of care and treatment in a facility; is one whose continued unsupervised

presence in the community would create a likelihood of serious harm by reason of mental

psychiatric disability; and what alternatives to certification are available, what alternatives to

certification were investigated, and why these alternatives were not deemed suitable.

     (5) The court shall render a decision within forty-eight (48) hours after the hearing is

concluded.

     (j) Order. If the court at a final hearing finds by clear and convincing evidence that the

subject of the hearing is in need of care and treatment in a facility, and is one whose continued

unsupervised presence in the community would, by reason of mental psychiatric disability, create

a likelihood of serious harm, and that all alternatives to certification have been investigated and

deemed unsuitable, it shall issue an order committing the person to the custody of the director for

care and treatment or to an appropriate facility. In either event, and to the extent practicable, the

person shall be cared for in a facility that imposes the least restraint upon the liberty of the person

consistent with affording him or her the care and treatment necessary and appropriate to his or her

condition. No certification shall be made under this section unless and until full consideration has

been given by the certifying court to the alternatives to in-patient care, including, but not limited

to, a determination of the person's relationship to the community and to his or her family; of his or

her employment possibilities; and of all available community resources, alternate available living

arrangements, foster care, community residential facilities, nursing homes, and other convalescent

facilities. A certificate ordered pursuant to this section shall be valid for a period of six (6) months

from the date of the order. At the end of that period the patient shall be discharged, unless he or she

is discharged prior to that time, in which case the certification shall expire on the date of the

discharge.

     (k) Appeals.

     (1) A person certified under this section shall have a right to appeal from a final hearing to

the supreme court of the state within thirty (30) days of the entry of an order of certification. The

person shall have the right to be represented on appeal by counsel of his or her choice or by the

mental health advocate if the supreme court finds that he or she cannot afford to retain counsel.

Upon a showing of indigency, the supreme court shall permit an appeal to proceed without payment

of costs, and a copy of the transcript of the proceedings below shall be furnished to the subject of

the proceedings, or to his or her attorney, at the expense of the state. The certifying court shall

advise the person of all his or her rights pursuant to this section immediately upon the entry of an

order of certification.

     (2) Appeals under this section shall be given precedence, insofar as practicable, on the

supreme court dockets. The district and family courts shall promulgate rules with the approval of

the supreme court to insure the expeditious transmission of the record and transcript in all appeals

pursuant to this chapter.

     (l) Submission to NICS database.

     (1) The district court shall submit the name, date of birth, gender, race or ethnicity, and

date of civil commitment to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS)

database of all persons subject to a civil court certification order pursuant to this section within

forty-eight (48) hours of certification.

     (2) Any person affected by the provisions of this section, after the lapse of a period of three

(3) years from the date such civil certification is terminated, shall have the right to appear before

the relief from disqualifiers board.

     (3) Upon notice of a successful appeal pursuant to subsection (k), the district court shall,

as soon as practicable, cause the appellant's record to be updated, corrected, modified, or removed

from any database maintained and made available to the NICS and reflect that the appellant is no

longer subject to a firearms prohibition as it relates to 18 U.S.C. § 922(d)(4) and 18 U.S.C. §

922(g)(4).

     (m) Equitable authority. In addition to the powers heretofore exercised, the district and

family courts are hereby empowered, in furtherance of their jurisdiction under this chapter, to grant

petitions for instructions for the provision or withholding of treatment as justice and equity may

require.

     40.1-5-11. Discharge -- Recertification.

     (a) The official in charge of any facility, or his or her designated agent, on having his or

her reasons noted on the patient's records, shall discharge any patient certified or admitted pursuant

to the provisions of this chapter, when:

     (1) Suitable alternatives to certification or admission are available;

     (2) The patient is, in the judgment of the official, recovered;

     (3) The patient is not recovered, but discharge, in the judgment of the official, will not

create a likelihood of serious harm by reason of mental psychiatric disability.

     (b) When a patient discharge is requested and if the discharge is denied, the reasons therefor

shall be stated, in writing, and noted in the patient's record and a copy thereof shall be given to the

person applying for the release.

     (c) At the expiration of the six-month (6) period set forth in § 40.1-5-8(j), or any subsequent

six-month (6) period following recertification pursuant to this section, the patient shall be

unconditionally released unless a recertification petition is filed by the official in charge of a

facility, or his or her designated agent, within no less than fifteen (15) days and no more than thirty

(30) days prior to the scheduled expiration date of a six-month (6) period. A hearing must be held

pursuant to the petition and a decision rendered before the expiration of the six-month (6) period.

A recertification hearing shall follow all of the procedures set forth in § 40.1-5-8 and recertification

may be ordered only if the petitioner proves by clear and convincing evidence that the conduct and

responses of the patient during the course of the previous six-month (6) period indicate that the

patient is presently in need of care and treatment in a facility; is one whose continued unsupervised

presence in the community would create a likelihood of serious harm by reason of mental

psychiatric disability; and that all alternatives to recertification have been investigated and deemed

unsuitable.

     40.1-5-27.1. Disclosure by mental health professional.

     (a) Notwithstanding §§ 40.1-5-26 and 40.1-5-27, a mental health professional providing

care and treatment to an adult person with a mental psychiatric disability as defined in § 40.1-5-

2(8) § 40.1-5-2(12) may provide certain information to a family member or other person if this

family member or other person lives with and provides direct care to the mentally psychiatrically

disabled person, and without such direct care there would be significant deterioration in the

mentally psychiatrically disabled person's daily functioning, and such disclosure would directly

assist in the care of the mentally psychiatrically disabled person. Disclosure can be made only at

the written request of the family member or person living with the mentally psychiatrically disabled

person.

     (b) Prior to the disclosure, the mentally psychiatrically disabled person shall be informed,

in writing, of the request, the name of the person requesting the information, the reason for the

request, and the specific information being provided. Prior to disclosure, the mentally

psychiatrically disabled person shall be provided the opportunity to give or withhold consent. If the

mentally psychiatrically disabled person withholds consent, the information shall not be disclosed

and the family member or other person shall be provided the opportunity to appeal. Disclosures

shall be limited to information regarding diagnosis, admission to or discharge from a treatment

facility, the name of the medication prescribed, and side effects of prescribed medication.

     (c) On or before April 1, 1993, the department of behavioral healthcare, developmental

disabilities and hospitals shall promulgate rules and regulations to further define and interpret the

provisions of this section. In the development of these rules and regulations, the department shall

work with an advisory committee composed, at a minimum, of proportionate representation from

the following: the Coalition of Consumer Self Advocates, the Alliance for the Mentally Ill, the

Mental Health Association of Rhode Island, the Council of Community Mental Health Centers, the

mental health advocate, and Rhode Island Protection and Advocacy Services. Rules and regulations

by the department shall include the provision of an appeals process, that would serve to protect the

rights of mentally psychiatrically disabled persons under the law.

     40.1-5-31. Maintenance of facilities.

     Facilities under the jurisdiction, supervision, and control of the department shall be

maintained, and services shall be provided, for the care and treatment of the mentally

psychiatrically disabled of the state and for other persons and related purposes as shall be provided

and authorized by law.

     40.1-5-32. Transfer of patients.

     (a) No transfer of a patient already in a facility shall be made to a facility, or section of a

facility, maintained for patients certified upon an order of a court or judge having criminal

jurisdiction in a proceeding arising out of a criminal offense. The official in charge of a facility, or

his or her designated agent, shall have reasonable discretion to order or permit transfers within a

facility for reason of finances, adequacy of personnel, and upon conditions set forth in rules or

regulations promulgated by the director pursuant hereto.

     (b) A patient certified to any facility pursuant to the provisions of this chapter may be

transferred, with his or her consent or that of his or her guardian, to any facility within or without

the state or to an institution operated by the Veterans' Administration or to any agency of the United

States government for the treatment of mental psychiatric disability at a facility under its

jurisdiction, within or without the state, when deemed in the interest of the patient and approved

by the transferring and receiving facilities. A transfer as above described may be accomplished

without the consent of a patient, or his or her guardian, only upon prior application to, and a hearing

in, the district court (or family court in the case of a patient under eighteen (18) years of age) and a

specific finding by the court that the proposed transfer is in the best interests of the patient and is

to a facility that will afford the patient the care and treatment necessary and appropriate to his or

her condition.

     (c) A patient received on voluntary admission may be transferred as provided in subsection

(b) with his or her consent; and if the patient shall not yet have attained his or her eighteenth

birthday, with the consent of his or her parent, guardian, next of kin, or person who signed for his

or her admission. A voluntary patient may be transferred to another facility without his or her

consent only upon the filing of a petition for certification to the facility, and a finding of probable

cause at a preliminary hearing in accordance with § 40.1-5-8.

     (d) Patients transferred to facilities without the state, or to the Veterans' Administration or

the United States Public Health Service, or another agency operated by the United States

government, shall be subject to the rules and regulations of the facility or institution to which they

are transferred, and the person or official in charge thereof, in connection with the care and

treatment of the patient, being vested with the same powers as persons in charge of similar facilities

within the state, provided that no such transfer shall be made to a facility maintained for the purpose

of patients committed upon an order of a court or judge having criminal jurisdiction in a proceeding

arising out of a criminal offense. Transfers of patients between states that have entered into the

interstate compact on mental health shall be pursuant to and in accordance with said compact

whenever applicable.

     40.1-5-33. Payment for care and treatment.

     For the purposes of this chapter, facilities shall be maintained by the state for the care,

treatment, and maintenance of the mentally psychiatrically disabled, and the patients may be

maintained and treated in the facilities or in foster family care, and may receive the services

conditioned upon prompt and regular payments for the care, maintenance, and treatment or for the

services in amounts as fixed by the director. In the discretion of the director, the rates so fixed may

be the reimbursement rates or in excess thereof. A preference shall be given to persons whose

estate, or the person or persons legally liable for their support, cannot sufficiently pay for the care

and treatment, or for the services in licensed private facilities or from sources outside the

department. The director, in his or her discretion, may accept payments for services at less than the

reimbursement rates, but the acceptance of the lesser payments shall not release the patient, his or

her estate, or relatives, if they have sufficient financial ability, from the obligation to make up the

difference between the amount fixed, accepted, or paid and the full reimbursement rates.

     40.1-5-34. Exclusiveness of this chapter.

     Where under any provision of any existing law, except in the case of a person held under

criminal process, or under process of the family court for an act that would be considered a crime

if committed by an adult, any person with mental psychiatric disability, as defined in this chapter,

shall have recourse to or be dealt with as provided in this chapter, exclusively. This section shall

prevail notwithstanding the provisions of § 14-1-5(1)(v).

     SECTION 8. Sections 40.1-5.3-1, 40.1-5.3-2 and 40.1-5.3-3 of the General Laws in

Chapter 40.1-5.3 entitled "Incompetency to Stand Trial and Persons Adjudged Not Guilty by

Reason of Insanity" are hereby amended to read as follows:

     40.1-5.3-1. Facility for incompetent persons and others.

     (a) The state director of behavioral healthcare, developmental disabilities and hospitals

shall maintain, at the state institution of Cranston, an appropriate facility appropriate facilities,

including the Rhode Island State Psychiatric Hospital and the Eleanor Slater Hospital, for the

confinement of persons committed to his or her custody pursuant to this chapter and shall provide

for the proper care, treatment, and restraint of all such persons. All persons now or hereafter

committed, pursuant to the provisions of §§ 40.1-5.3-3, 40.1-5.3-4, 40.1-5.3-7, or the provisions of

prior law, shall be removed or committed, as the case may be, to the facility to the facility into the

custody of the director, or his or her designee, who in turn shall ensure the admission of the person

to either the Rhode Island State Psychiatric Hospital or the Eleanor Slater Hospital in the discretion

of the director or his or her designee.

     (b) The cost of care, maintenance, and treatment of persons committed to the custody of

the director of behavioral healthcare, developmental disabilities and hospitals, as provided in §§

40.1-5.3-3 and 40.1-5.3-4, unless otherwise provided for, shall be paid by the person, if he or she

has any estate, or by the person liable for his or her support, if such there be; otherwise, the director

may maintain without charge or defray the expense of care and treatment of the poor or indigent

persons incompetent to stand trial or acquitted on the grounds of insanity.

     40.1-5.3-2. Transfers to and from general wards Transfers between state-operated

hospitals.

     Whenever any person committed, transferred, or removed to either the Rhode Island State

Psychiatric Hospital or the Eleanor Slater Hospital to the facility provided for in § 40.1-5.3-1 shall

have recovered his or her mental health sufficiently, or if any such person requires more intensive

treatment or supervision to be cared for in the general wards of the institute of mental health, the

director may, upon request of the superintendent chief executive officer or the chief medical officer

of the state either state-operated hospital, transfer discharge the person to the general wards of the

state hospital, and retransfer him or her to the facility provided for in § 40.1-5.3-1 upon a like

request from the first hospital and then admit the person to the general units of either the Rhode

Island State Psychiatric Hospital or Eleanor Slater Hospital, as the case may be.

     40.1-5.3-3. Competency to stand trial.

     (a) Definitions. As used in this section:

     (1) "Attorney for the state" means the attorney general, an authorized assistant attorney

general, or other person as may be authorized by law to act as a representative of the state in a

criminal proceeding;

     (2) "Competent" or "competency" means mental ability to stand trial. A person is mentally

competent to stand trial if he or she is able to understand the character and consequences of the

proceedings against him or her and is able properly to assist in his or her defense;

     (3) "Department" means the state department of behavioral healthcare, developmental

disabilities and hospitals.

     (4) "Director" means the director of the state department of behavioral healthcare,

developmental disabilities and hospitals;

     (5) "Incompetent" or "incompetency" means mentally incompetent to stand trial. A person

is mentally incompetent to stand trial if he or she is unable to understand the character and

consequences of the proceedings against him or her or is unable properly to assist in his or her

defense.

     (b) Presumption of competency. A defendant is presumed competent. The burden of

proving that the defendant is not competent shall be by a preponderance of the evidence, and the

burden of going forward with the evidence shall be on the party raising the issue. The burden of

going forward shall be on the state if the court raises the issue.

     (c) Request for examination. If at any time during a criminal proceeding, prior to the

imposition of sentence, it appears that the defendant is not competent, counsel for the defendant or

the state, or the court, on its own motion, may request an examination to determine the defendant's

competency.

     (d) Examination of defendant.

     (1) If the court finds that the request for examination is justified, the court shall order an

examination of the defendant. The scope of the examination shall be limited to the question of

whether the defendant is competent.

     (2) The examination shall take place on an outpatient basis if the defendant is to be released

on bail or recognizance. If the defendant is ordered confined at the adult correctional institutions,

the examination shall take place at that facility. The department shall appoint or designate the

physician(s) who will conduct the examinations.

     (3) If the defendant is ordered confined to the adult correctional institutions, the physician

shall complete the examination within five (5) days. If the physician determines that the defendant

is incompetent to stand trial, the defendant shall be immediately transferred for admission to the

institute of mental health's forensic unit Rhode Island State Psychiatric Hospital or the Eleanor

Slater Hospital, pending the hearing provided for in subsection (g). At the discretion of the director,

pending the hearing provided for in subsection (g), the defendant may be discharged from one state-

operated hospital for the purpose of contemporaneously admitting the defendant to the other state-

operated hospital pursuant to the procedures enumerated in§ 40.1-5.3-2.

     (e) Bail or recognizance during examination.

     (1) A defendant for whom a competency examination has been ordered shall be entitled to

release on bail or recognizance to the same extent and on the same terms and conditions as if the

issue of competency had not been raised.

     (2) The court may order the defendant to appear at a designated time and place for

outpatient examination, and such an appearance may be made a condition of pretrial release.

     (f) Reports of examining physicians. Each examining physician shall prepare a report, in

writing, in which he or she shall state his or her findings concerning the defendant's competency,

together with the medical and other data upon which his or her findings are based. The report shall

be filed with the court within ten (10) business days if the defendant was ordered confined at the

adult correctional institutions, and as soon as practicable if the defendant was released on bail or

recognizance, and copies given to the attorney for the state and to the defendant or his or her

counsel.

     (g) Hearing. Upon receipt of the report and appropriate notice to the parties, the court shall

hold a hearing unless the report concludes that the defendant is competent and the defendant and

the attorney for the state in open court state their assent to the findings on the record. At the hearing,

the report shall be introduced, other evidence bearing on the defendant's competence may be

introduced by the parties, and the defendant may testify, confront witnesses, and present evidence

on the issue of his or her competency. On the basis of the evidence introduced at the hearing, the

court shall decide if the defendant is competent.

     (h) Commitment of the defendant.

     (1) If the court finds, after the hearing, that a defendant is competent, it shall proceed with

the criminal case.

     (2) If the court finds that a defendant is incompetent, it shall commit him or her to the

custody of the director for the purpose of determining whether or not the defendant is likely to

imperil the peace and safety of the people of the state or the safety of himself or herself and whether

the defendant will regain competency within the maximum period of any placement under this

chapter.

     (3) Not later than fifteen (15) days from the date of the order of commitment, the director

shall prepare and file with the court a written report in which he or she shall state his or her opinion

regarding the defendant's dangerousness; the likelihood of the defendant becoming competent to

stand trial within the maximum period of any placement order; and the recommendations of the

department regarding appropriate care and treatment of the defendant.

     (4) In the event the director is unable to complete the examination of the person in time to

render his or her report within the fifteen-day (15) period, he or she shall report that fact, in writing,

to the court with a statement of the reasons why the examination and report could not be completed

within the prescribed period. A copy of the director's statement shall be given to the attorney general

and to the defendant, or his or her counsel, any of whom may respond in writing, or if the court

deems it appropriate, orally, to the director's statement. The court may thereupon enter an order

extending for an additional twenty (20) days the time in which the director is to file his or her report.

     (i) Hearing.

     (1) Upon receipt of the report and appropriate notice to the director, the attorney general,

and the defendant, or his or her counsel, the court shall hold a hearing at which the report shall be

introduced, other evidence bearing on the question of the mental condition of the person may be

introduced by the parties, and the person may testify, confront witnesses, and present evidence.

     (2) If the court finds that a defendant who is incompetent may be placed on outpatient status

without imperiling the peace or safety of the public or the safety of himself or herself, it may

commit the defendant to an appropriate outpatient facility that agrees to provide treatment to the

defendant and to adhere to the requirements of this section, in order that the defendant may receive

treatment to restore or establish his or her competency.

     (3) If the court finds that a defendant who is incompetent is likely to imperil the peace or

safety of the people of the state or the peace and safety of himself or herself, it may order the

defendant to the facility established Rhode Island State Psychiatric Hospital or the Eleanor Slater

Hospital, pursuant to § 40.1-5.3-1 or to the general wards of the institute of mental health, if the

director agrees that the defendant should be placed on the general wards. A person who is ordered

to be treated on inpatient status shall not be paroled, furloughed, placed on outpatient status or

removed from a locked facility, or otherwise released from the institution where he or she is being

treated except upon petition to the court by the director, on notice to the attorney general and the

defendant, or his or her counsel, and after hearing thereon and entry of an order by a judge of the

court authorizing release. The commitment ordered pursuant to this section shall terminate upon

the occurrence of any of the following:

     (i) The defendant is determined by the court to be competent; or

     (ii) The charges against the defendant are dismissed pursuant to subsection (j); or

     (iii) The charges against the defendant are dismissed or a nolle prosequi is entered; or

     (iv) The defendant is civilly committed pursuant to § 40.1-5-8; or

     (v) The court finds there is no reasonable likelihood that in the foreseeable future the

defendant will become competent and his or her condition is such that he or she cannot properly be

committed under § 40.1-5-8.

     (j) Period of commitment. When a court commits a defendant pursuant to subsection (i)(2)

or (i)(3), it shall compute, counting from the date of entry to the order of commitment, the date of

the expiration of the period of time equal to two thirds (⅔) of the maximum term of imprisonment

for the most serious offense with which the defendant is charged. If the maximum term for the most

serious offense charged is life imprisonment or death, the court shall, for the purpose of

computation, deem the offense to be punishable by a maximum term of thirty (30) years. In the

order of commitment, the court shall provide that if, on the date so computed, the defendant is still

committed under the order, the charges against him or her shall be dismissed.

     (k) Periodic review. The director shall petition the court to review the state of competency

of a defendant committed pursuant to subsection (i)(2) or (i)(3) not later than six (6) months from

the date of the order of commitment and every six (6) months thereafter, or when the director

believes the defendant is no longer incompetent, whichever occurs first. Outpatient facilities that

are providing treatment to defendants in accordance with subsection (i)(2) shall prepare reports to

be submitted to the director in accordance with the requirements of this section. The director shall

attach to the petition a report on the condition of the defendant. If the report indicates that the

defendant remains incompetent, it shall include a prognosis regarding the likelihood that he or she

will become competent prior to the dismissal of the charges pursuant to subsection (j). Copies of

the report shall be given to the attorney for the state and to the defendant or his or her counsel.

     (l) Defendant's right to petition. A defendant committed pursuant to subsection (i)(2) or

(i)(3) may at any time petition the court to review the state of his or her competency.

     (m) Hearing on petition. Upon receipt of a petition pursuant to subsection (k) or (l) and

appropriate notice to the defendant, the state, and the director, the court shall hold a hearing at

which the parties may introduce evidence as to the defendant's competency, including any reports

of the director, and the defendant may testify, confront witnesses, and present evidence as to his or

her competency and prognosis. On the basis of the evidence, the court shall make a finding as to

the defendant's competency and, if he or she is found to be incompetent, whether a reasonable

likelihood exists that he or she will become competent prior to the dismissal of the charges pursuant

to subsection (j). If the court finds that the defendant is competent, it shall enter an order to that

effect. If the court finds that the defendant is incompetent and that a reasonable likelihood exists

that he or she will become competent prior to the dismissal of the charges pursuant to subsection

(j), it shall order continuation of the commitment of the defendant. If the court finds that the

defendant is incompetent and that a reasonable likelihood does not exist that he or she will become

competent prior to the dismissal of the charges pursuant to subsection (j), it shall order that thirty

(30) days thereafter the defendant be discharged from detention under the order of commitment.

Upon entry of the order, the state may commence proceedings seeking to commit the defendant

pursuant to § 40.1-5-8.

     (n) Statements inadmissible. No statements made by a defendant in the course of an

examination conducted pursuant to subsection (d) or during a hearing conducted pursuant to

subsection (i) or (m) shall be admissible in evidence against the defendant in any criminal action

on any issue other than his or her mental condition. The statements shall be admissible on the issue

of his or her mental condition even though they might otherwise be deemed to be privileged

communications.

     (o) Disposition of charges. The court may, at any time, proceed to a disposition of the

charges pending against a defendant who has been committed pursuant to subsection (i)(2) or (i)(3)

if the factual and legal issues involved can be resolved without regard to the competency of the

defendant.

     SECTION 9. Sections 42-12.1-4 and 42-12.1-9 of the General Laws in Chapter 42-12.1

entitled "Department of Behavioral Healthcare, Developmental Disabilities and Hospitals" are

hereby amended to read as follows:

     42-12.1-4. Management of institutions.

     The department of behavioral healthcare, developmental disabilities and hospitals shall

have the management, supervision, and control of both the Eleanor Slater Hospital and the Rhode

Island State Psychiatric Hospital, and such other functions as have been or may be assigned. The

director of the department may delegate to another employee of the department any functions

related to the separate management, supervision and control of the state-operated hospitals. The

department also shall operate, maintain, and repair the buildings, grounds, and other physical

property at those institutions, other than the roads and driveways, which shall be under the care and

supervision of the department of transportation.

     42-12.1-9. The Eleanor Slater Hospital.

     The facilities known as the general hospital, the institution of mental health and the Dr. U.

E. Zambarano within the state of Rhode Island shall hereafter be named the "Eleanor Slater

Hospital." The hospital known as the Eleanor Slater Hospital shall consist of facilities in Cranston

and/or Burrillville, or any units of such facilities, as licensed by the department of health.

     SECTION 10. Chapter 42-12.1 of the General Laws entitled "Department of Behavioral

Healthcare, Developmental Disabilities and Hospitals" is hereby amended by adding thereto the

following section:

     42-12.1-10. The Rhode Island State Psychiatric Hospital.

     (a) A new hospital is hereby established to furnish care to any adult patient in Rhode Island

requiring inpatient psychiatric care, and who meets at least one of the following criteria:

     (1) The individual has been determined to require specialized mental health care and

psychiatric inpatient services that cannot be provided in a correctional facility as defined in § 40.1-

5.3-7:

     (2) The individual has been ordered to inpatient care by a court of competent jurisdiction

for the purpose of competency evaluation, competency restoration, if indicated, and treatment;

     (3) The individual has been ordered to the forensic unit after a finding of not guilty by

reason of insanity until such time, subject to a determination of the director or his/her designee, the

individual may be safely managed in a civil unit of Eleanor Slater Hospital;

     (4) The individual has been transferred to the Rhode Island State Psychiatric Hospital from

the department of corrections when specialized services are required that are better provided in a

hospital setting and are provided until such time. in the discretion of the director, the patient's

condition has improved to the point at which the patient may be returned to the adult correctional

institutions and to receive sufficient treatment, as approved by a judge of the district court or a

justice of the superior court pursuant the applicable procedures and requirements of sections 6, 7,

8, 9 and/or 9.1 of chapter 5.3 of title 40.1.

     (b) The new hospital shall be named the Rhode Island State Psychiatric Hospital and shall

consist of facilities, or any units of such facilities, on the grounds of the John O. Pastore Center in

Cranston. Rhode Island, as licensed by the department of health.

     (c) The Rhode Island State Psychiatric Hospital shall be operated by the department of

behavioral healthcare, developmental disabilities and hospitals and shall be licensed by the

department of health pursuant to chapter 17 of title 23; however, the Rhode Island State Psychiatric

Hospital shall be a separate licensed entity from the Eleanor Slater Hospital; and

     (d) The director of the department of behavioral healthcare, developmental disabilities and

hospitals is authorized to take such actions as may be necessary or prudent to establish the Rhode

Island State Psychiatric Hospital consistent with this chapter.

     SECTION 11. This article shall take effect upon passage.