Enrolled Bill Summary

Senate Bill 562	Senate Author:  Zaffirini et al.
Effective:  6-14-19	House Sponsor:  Price et al.

            Senate Bill 562 amends the Code of Criminal Procedure, Government Code, and Health and Safety Code to revise provisions relating to the commitment of a defendant who is incompetent to stand trial or who is acquitted by reason of insanity. Among other provisions, the bill removes the condition on the commitment of certain defendants that such commitment must be to a maximum security unit. The bill provides for an assessment of whether a defendant committed to a maximum security unit by the Health and Human Services Commission is manifestly dangerous and for the transfer of a defendant who is determined not to be manifestly dangerous to a non‑maximum security facility.

            Senate Bill 562 requires each commissioners court of a county with a population of more than 200,000 to establish a mental health court program in accordance with certain provisions governing specialty courts, subject to certain funding and verification, and authorizes the commissioners courts of two or more counties to elect to establish a mental health court program for the participating counties. The bill provides for the expunction of criminal records of a person who completes a mental health court program and meets other conditions.