Hawaii-2011-HB1088-Introduced

SECTION 1. The purpose of this bill is to authorize the department of public safety to render necessary medical and mental health treatment to the inmates and detainees in its custody in an efficient and quicker fashion when those inmates or detainees refuse such treatment.

SECTION 2. Chapter 353, Hawaii Revised statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

"§353- Involuntary medical treatment criteria. An inmate or detainee in the custody of the department may be ordered to receive involuntary treatment, including but not limited to the taking or application of medication, if the court finds:

(1) That the subject actually poses a danger of physical harm to self or others; and

(2) That treatment with medication is medically appropriate; and

(3) Considering less intrusive alternatives, the treatment is essential to forestall the danger posed by the subject."

SECTION 3. Chapter 353, Hawaii Revised statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

"§353- Initiation of proceeding for involuntary medical treatment. (a) The director, or his designee, may file a petition alleging that a person in the custody of the department meets the criteria for involuntary medical treatment. The petition shall be executed subject to the penalties of perjury but need not be sworn to before a notary public and shall be filed in the circuit court of the circuit wherein the subject is in custody. The attorney general, the attorney general's deputy, special deputy, or appointee designated to present the case shall assist the petitioner to state the substance of the petition in plain and simple language. The petition may be accompanied by a certificate of the licensed physician or psychologist who has examined the person within two days before submission of the petition, unless the person whose treatment is sought has refused to submit to medical or psychological examination, in which case the fact of refusal shall be alleged in the petition. The certificate shall set forth the signs and symptoms relied upon by the physician or psychologist to determine the person is in need of treatment, whether or not the person is capable of realizing and making a rational decision with respect to the person's need for treatment, and the recommended treatment. If the petitioner believes that further evaluation is necessary before treatment, the petitioner may request such further evaluation.

(b) In the event the subject of the petition has been given an examination, evaluation, or treatment in a psychiatric facility or by the department within five days before submission of the petition, and treatment is recommended by the staff of the facility or the department, the petition may be accompanied by a certificate of the department's medical director or the mental health administrator in lieu of a physician's or psychologist's certificate."

SECTION 4. Chapter 353, Hawaii Revised statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

"§353-__ Notice; waiver of notice; hearing on petition; waiver of hearing on petition for involuntary hospitalization. (a) The court shall set a hearing on the petition and notice of the hearing shall be served personally on the subject of the petition and served personally or by certified or registered mail, return receipt requested, deliverable to the addressee only, on the subject's spouse or reciprocal beneficiary, legal parents, adult children, and legal guardian, if one has been appointed. If the subject of the petition has no living spouse or reciprocal beneficiary, legal parent and adult children, or if none can be found, notice of the hearing shall be served on at least one of the subject's closest adult relatives if any can be found. Notice of the hearing shall also be served on the public defender, attorney for the subject of the petition, or other court-appointed attorney as the case may be. If the subject of the petition is a minor, notice of the hearing shall also be served upon the person who has had the principal care and custody of the minor during the sixty days preceding the date of the petition if such person can be found within the state. Notice shall also be given to such other persons as the court may designate.

(b) The notice shall include the following:

(1) The date, time, place of hearing, a clear statement of the purpose of the proceedings and of possible consequences to the subject; and a statement of the legal standard upon which commitment is authorized;

(2) A copy of the petition;

(3) A written notice, in plain and simple language, that the subject may waive such a hearing by voluntarily agreeing to the care or treatment proposed;

(4) A filled-out form indicating such waiver;

(5) A written notice, in plain and simple language, that the subject or the subject's guardian or representative may apply at any time for a hearing on the issue of the subject's need for care or treatment, if the subject has previously waived such a hearing;

(6) Notice that the subject is entitled to the assistance of an attorney and that the public defender has been notified of these proceedings;

(7) Notice that if the subject does not want to be represented by the public defender the subject may contact the subject's own attorney;

(8) Notice, if such be the case, that the petitioner intends to adduce evidence to show that the subject of the petition is an incapacitated or protected person, or both, under article V of chapter 560, and whether or not appointment of a guardian is sought at the hearing. If appointment of a guardian is to be recommended, and a nominee is known at the time the petition is filed, the identity of the nominee shall be disclosed.

(c) If the subject executes and files a waiver of the hearing, upon acceptance by the court following a court determination that the person understands the person's rights and is competent to waive them, the court shall order the subject to be given the care or treatment as it deems to be proper under the circumstance."

SECTION 5. Chapter 353, Hawaii Revised statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

"§353- Hearing on petition. (a) The court may adjourn or continue a hearing for failure to timely notify a spouse or reciprocal beneficiary, guardian, relative, or other person determined by the court to be entitled to notice, or for failure by the subject to contact an attorney as provided in section 353‑ , if the court determines the interests of justice so require.

(b) Unless the hearing is waived, the judge shall hear the petition as soon as possible and no later than ten days after the date the petition is filed unless a reasonable delay is sought for good cause shown by the subject of the petition, the subject's attorney, or those persons entitled to receive notice of the hearing under section 353-__.

(c) The subject of the petition shall be present at all hearings unless the subject waives the right to be present, is unable to attend, or creates conditions which make it impossible to conduct the hearing in a reasonable manner as determined by the judge. A waiver is valid only upon acceptance by the court following a judicial determination that the subject understands the subject's rights and is competent to waive them, or is unable to participate. If the subject is unable to participate, the judge shall appoint a guardian ad litem or a temporary guardian as provided in article V of chapter 560, to represent the subject throughout the proceedings.

(d) Hearings may be held at a convenient location within the circuit. The subject, any interested person, or the court on its own motion may request a hearing in another circuit because of convenience to the parties, witnesses, or the court or because of the individual's mental or physical condition.

(e) The attorney general, the attorney general's deputy, special deputy, or appointee shall present the case for hearings convened under this section.

(f) Counsel for the subject of the petition shall be allowed adequate time for investigation of the matters at issue and for preparation, and shall be permitted to present the evidence that the counsel believes necessary to a proper disposition of the proceedings.

(g) No individual may be found to require care or treatment unless at least one physician or psychologist who has personally examined the individual testifies in person at the hearing. This testimony may be waived by the subject of the petition. If the subject of the petition has refused to be examined by a licensed physician or psychologist, the subject may be examined by a court-appointed licensed physician or psychologist. If the subject refuses and there is sufficient evidence to believe that the allegations of the petition are true, the subject's refusal shall be treated as a denial that the subject is mentally ill or suffering from substance abuse. Nothing in this section, however, shall limit the individual's privilege against self-incrimination.

(h) The subject of the petition in a hearing under this section has the right to secure an independent medical or psychological evaluation at the subject's own expense and present evidence thereon.

(i) If the court finds that the criteria for involuntary treatment under section 353-__ have been met by clear and convincing evidence, the court may issue an order to authorize the Department to involuntarily treat the subject for a period of up to one year unless sooner determined to no longer be in need of treatment or released.

(j) The court may find that the subject of the petition is an incapacitated or protected person, or both, under article V of chapter 560, and may appoint a guardian or conservator, or both, for the subject under the terms and conditions as the court shall determine."

SECTION 6. Section 802-1, Hawaii Revised statutes, is amended to read as follows:

"§802-1 Right to representation by public defender or other appointed counsel. Any indigent person who is (1) arrested for, charged with or convicted of an offense or offenses punishable by confinement in jail or prison or for which such person may be or is subject to the provisions of chapter 571; or (2) threatened by confinement, against the indigent person's will, in any psychiatric or other mental institution or facility; or (3) the subject of a petition for involuntary outpatient treatment under chapter 334; or (4) the subject of a petition for involuntary medical treatment under chapter 353 shall be entitled to be represented by a public defender. If, however, conflicting interests exist, or if the public defender for any other reason is unable to act, or if the interests of justice require, the court may appoint other counsel.

The appearance of the public defender in all judicial proceedings shall be subject to court approval.

The appearance of a public defender in all hearings before the Hawaii paroling authority or other administrative body or agency shall be subject to the approval of the chairperson of the Hawaii paroling authority or the administrative head of the body or agency involved."

SECTION 7. Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 8. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

INTRODUCED BY:	_____________________________
	BY REQUEST

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	1088
TWENTY-SIXTH LEGISLATURE, 2011
STATE OF HAWAII