HB0020

Official summary

Bill No.: <billno> Drafter: <drafterinit> Bill No.: HB0020 Drafter: JHR LSO No.: 09LSO-0068 Effective Date: 7/1/2009 Enrolled Act No.: HEA0014 Chapter No.: 32 Prime Sponsor: Select Committee on Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services Catch Title: Criminal procedure-administration of antipsychotic drugs. Subject: Provides standards for the involuntary administration of antipsychotic drugs to a mentally ill person accused of a serious crime. Summary/Major Elements: The Wyoming State Hospital often keeps mentally ill persons accused of a serious crime for extended periods of time because the accused person refuses to take antipsychotic medications that could render the person fit to stand trial. This bill authorizes a court to order the involuntary administration of antipsychotic medications to render an accused competent to stand trial if the court makes specified findings, including the administration of the medication: Will further the governmental interests of bringing the accused to trail for a timely prosecution and to assure a fair trial; Will substantially improve the likelihood that the accused will be competent to stand trial; Will be substantially unlikely to interfere with the accused's ability to assist counsel in conducting a defense at trial; May be as good, or better than, alternative and less intrusive treatments to achieve substantially the same results. The bill also requires that the antipsychotic drugs be administered pursuant to a prescription from a licensed psychiatrist and the medications be medically appropriate and in the best interests of the accused in light of his medical condition.