Inmates: involuntary administration of psychotropic medications.

Existing law provides that a person sentenced to imprisonment in a state prison may be deprived of rights only as is reasonably related to legitimate penological interests. Existing law states that nothing in this provision shall be construed to permit the involuntary administration of psychotropic medication unless the process specified in Keyhea v. Rushen (1986) 178 Cal.App.3d 526 has been followed. Existing law further requires that this process be conducted by an administrative law judge. This bill would delete the provision regarding the medication process specified in Keyhea v. Rushen. The bill would instead provide that no inmate shall be administered psychotropic medication on a nonemergency basis without the inmate's informed consent, unless after a noticed hearing is conducted in which an administrative law judge determines by clear and convincing evidence that the inmate has a mental illness or disorder, that as a result of that illness the inmate is gravely disabled and lacks the capacity to consent or refuse treatment or is a danger to self or others if not medicated, that there is no less intrusive alternative to involuntary medication, and that the medication is in the inmate's best medical interest. The bill would provide that it is not intended to prohibit a physician from taking appropriate action in an emergency, as specified, and would require notice of a hearing to be filed with the Office of Administrative Hearings within 72 hours of administering medication on an emergency basis. When medication is administered on an emergency basis, the bill would require the hearing to commence within 21 days of the filing. The bill would provide that an order providing for the involuntary administration of psychotropic medication shall be valid for one year from the date the determination is made, and that the order may be renewed annually at subsequent hearings before an administrative law judge, as provided. In each case, this bill would require that the inmate be provided with written notice, as specified, and appointed counsel at least 21 days prior to the hearing. The bill would provide that an inmate is entitled to file one motion for reconsideration following a determination that he or she may receive involuntary medication and may seek a hearing to present new evidence, upon good cause shown. This bill would incorporate changes to Section 2600 of the Penal Code made by AB 109, which has been chaptered but is not operative, to become operative only if AB 109 becomes operative.