Juveniles: competency.

Existing law requires a court, if it has a doubt that a minor who is subject to any juvenile proceedings is competent, to suspend all proceedings. Upon suspension of proceedings, existing law requires the court to appoint an expert, as specified, to evaluate the minor. Existing law states that these provisions do not authorize or require the placement of a minor who is incompetent in a developmental center or community facility operated by the State Department of Developmental Services without a determination by a regional center director, or the director's designee, that the minor has a developmental disability and is eligible for services, as specified. This bill would delete the statement that the provisions above do not authorize or require the placement of a minor who is incompetent in a developmental center or community facility operated by the State Department of Developmental Services without a determination by a regional center director, or the director's designee, that the minor has a developmental disability and is eligible for services. Existing law requires, upon a finding of incompetency, that the court refer the minor to services designed to help the minor attain competency, as specified. Existing law requires the court to consider appropriate alternatives to juvenile hall confinement, including, but not limited to, developmental centers, placement through regional centers, short-term residential therapeutic programs, crisis residential programs, civil commitment, foster care, relative placement, or other nonsecure placement, and other residential treatment programs. This bill would remove developmental centers from the alternatives the court is required to consider in that circumstance. This bill would declare that it is to take effect immediately as an urgency statute.