HB 1741
AN ACT relating to certain proceedings and supervision following certain
89th Regular Session
Jan 14, 2025 - Jun 2, 2025 • Session ended
Awaiting Committee Assignment
Bill filed, pending referral to House committee
Committee
Not yet assigned
Fiscal Note
Not available
What This Bill Does
Establishes a legal process for transferring jurisdiction of mentally ill defendants found not guilty by reason of insanity between counties for outpatient treatment and supervision. Courts can now transfer a case to another county if it offers better resources, support networks, and mental health treatment options for the acquitted person, with specific criteria guiding the transfer decision. The bill also requires the Health and Human Services Commission to conduct a comprehensive study on these transfers between 2005-2026, analyzing county-level treatment patterns, funding, and outcomes for acquitted individuals receiving community-based mental health supervision.
Subject Areas
Bill Text
relating to certain proceedings and supervision following certain adjudications occurring in a criminal case. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Article 46C.264(a), Code of Criminal Procedure, (a) Court-ordered [The court may order the] outpatient or community-based treatment and supervision may [to] be provided to the acquitted person only in a county in which [in any appropriate county where the] necessary resources are available and in which: (1) the person was acquitted; or (2) the court receiving jurisdiction over the person under Article 46C.2645 is located. SECTION 2. Subchapter F, Chapter 46C, Code of Criminal Procedure, is amended by adding Article 46C.2645 to read as Art. 46C.2645. TRANSFER OF JURISDICTION OVER ACQUITTED PERSON RECEIVING COURT-ORDERED OUTPATIENT OR COMMUNITY-BASED TREATMENT AND SUPERVISION. (a) This article applies only with respect to an acquitted person for whom outpatient or community-based treatment and supervision are sought to be provided in a county other than the county in which the committing court is (b) Either party may file a motion to transfer, to a county other than the county in which the committing court is located, jurisdiction over an acquitted person who has been ordered to receive outpatient or community-based treatment and supervision. The motion must be filed in the county to which the transfer is sought and in a court with jurisdiction over the category of offense of which the person was acquitted and must include: (1) a description of the alternative placements in the county of the committing court, as considered by the parties, and why the placements are unsuitable; (2) a statement that the local mental health authority in the proposed county has been notified; (3) the factors that create the nexus, as described by Subsection (c)(4), between the acquitted person and the proposed (4) any other factors that support the transfer. (c) Not later than the 45th day after the date a motion described by Subsection (b) is filed, the court shall conduct a hearing on the motion. The court shall consider the following factors in determining whether to accept jurisdiction over the (1) whether sufficient resources are available to provide outpatient or community-based treatment and supervision in (2) whether the acquitted person can be adequately supervised in the proposed county while maintaining the safety of the community and the acquitted person; (3) whether the local mental health authority in the proposed county has agreed to provide the outpatient or community-based treatment and supervision; (4) whether there is a nexus between the acquitted person and the proposed county that would add stability and support for the person, including the acquitted person having: (A) an active support network in that county, including family and friends; and (B) previously received mental health services from the local mental health authority in the proposed county at any time during the five-year period preceding the date of the person's (5) the acquitted person's proposed outpatient or community-based treatment plan; and (6) other factors that the court considers relevant. (d) After the court makes a determination that accepting jurisdiction over the acquitted person is appropriate, the committing court shall transfer the case to that court. (e) After the case is transferred, the acquitted person's discharge planning shall be completed by the court accepting jurisdiction and the applicable local mental health authority and state hospital serving the county in which that court is located. SECTION 3. (a) The Health and Human Services Commission shall conduct a study on persons who were, during the period beginning on September 1, 2005, and ending on August 31, 2026: (1) found not guilty by reason of insanity; and (2) ordered by the court to participate in outpatient or community-based treatment and supervision. (b) Not later than December 1, 2026, the commission shall prepare and submit to the legislature a written report containing the results of the study and any recommendations for legislative or other action. The report must include the following, with regard to the acquitted persons who, during the applicable period described by Subsection (a) of this section, are ordered by the court to participate in outpatient or community-based treatment and (1) a list of each county with regard to which acquitted persons are ordered to participate in treatment and (2) the number of acquitted persons ordered to participate in treatment and supervision in: (A) counties in which the court ordering the treatment and supervision is located; or (B) counties other than the county in which the court ordering the treatment and supervision is located; (3) the reasons acquitted persons are ordered to participate in treatment and supervision in a county described by Subdivision (2)(B) of this subsection; (4) issues identified by treatment providers and other stakeholders concerning acquitted persons being ordered to participate in treatment and supervision in a county described by Subdivision (2)(B) of this subsection; (5) information on whether there is sufficient funding for acquitted persons to participate in all types of outpatient treatment and supervision in this state; and (6) a description of outcomes for acquitted persons participating in all types of outpatient treatment and supervision SECTION 4. (a) The changes in law made by this Act in amending Article 46C.264(a), Code of Criminal Procedure, and adding Article 46C.2645, Code of Criminal Procedure, apply to any defendant who is subject to proceedings under Chapter 46C, Code of Criminal Procedure, before, on, or after the effective date of this (b) Notwithstanding Section 5, Chapter 831 (S.B. 837), Acts of the 79th Legislature, Regular Session, 2005, for a person who committed any element of the offense before September 1, 2005, Chapter 46C, Code of Criminal Procedure, as amended by this Act, (1) an initial determination of not guilty by reason (2) any subsequent proceedings that occur in relation to a determination of not guilty by reason of insanity made under Chapter 46C or former Article 46.03, Code of Criminal Procedure, as applicable, including commitment hearings, recommitment hearings, and court orders requiring participation in outpatient or community-based treatment and supervision. SECTION 5. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.
Bill Sponsors
Legislators who authored or co-sponsored this bill.
Bill History
Bill filed: AN ACT relating to certain proceedings and supervision following certain
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