Date: 03/14/2013

Final
BILL SUMMARY for SB13-116

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY

Votes: View--> Action Taken:
Refer Senate Bill 13-116 to the Committee of the WPASS



01:40 PM -- Senate Bill 13-116

Representative Lee, sponsor, presented Senate Bill 13-116, concerning the authority of forensic psychologists to conduct mental health evaluations. The bill authorizes licensed psychologists who have a certification in forensic psychology to perform mental health evaluations to determine a criminal defendant's sanity or impaired mental condition if appointed by the courts. Under current law, psychologists may only be appointed to assist a psychiatrist in performing such evaluations.

Representative Lee announced that the Colorado District Attorneys' Council and the Colorado Criminal Defense Bar support the bill.

01:43 PM -- Dr. Rick Ginsberg, representing the Colorado Psychological Association, testified in support of the bill. Dr. Ginsberg discussed the process of drafting the bill. He spoke about the process of conducting sanity evaluations under current law and how that process would change if the bill becomes law. He stated that forensic psychologists can currently perform competency evaluations and commented about the training required for an individual to become a forensic psychologist. Dr. Ginsberg indicated that only four other states mandate that a psychiatrist conduct sanity evaluations.

01:48 PM -- Dr. Richard Martinez, representing the Colorado Psychiatric Society, testified in support of the bill. Dr. Martinez spoke about his professional credentials and experience. He discussed the training required to become a forensic psychiatrist or psychologist. He talked about the number of sanity evaluations conducted in Colorado each year and how many of those evaluations conclude in a not guilty by reason of insanity plea.

01:51 PM -- Dr. Nicole Kitei, representing the Task Force for the Continuing Examination of Persons with Mental Illness who are Involved in the Criminal and Juvenile Justice System, testified in support of the bill. Dr. Kitei discussed the accreditation process for forensic psychiatrists and psychologists. She expressed her opinion that expanding the pool of qualified evaluators will decrease the amount of time defendants spend awaiting trial.

01:55 PM -- Dr. B. Thomas Gray, representing the Colorado Psychological Association, testified in support of the bill. Dr. Gray spoke about his professional background. He discussed the shrinking pool of qualified psychiatrists who are willing to conduct sanity evaluations.

02:01 PM -- Peg Ackerman, representing the County Sheriffs of Colorado, testified in support of the bill.
BILL:SB13-116
TIME: 02:02:46 PM
MOVED:Lee
MOTION:Refer Senate Bill 13-116 to the Committee of the Whole. The motion passed on a vote of 10-0, with 1 excused.
SECONDED:Wright
VOTE
Buckner
Yes
Court
Yes
Gardner
Excused
Lawrence
Yes
McLachlan
Yes
Murray
Yes
Pettersen
Yes
Salazar
Yes
Wright
Yes
Lee
Yes
Kagan
Yes
Final YES: 10 NO: 0 EXC: 1 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS



02:04 PM

The committee took a brief recess.